Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary schools in zip code 33351 (Sunrise, FL), serving grades PK-5 (with one K-8 charter), all within the Broward County Public School District, a mid-to-high performing district ranked 23rd out of 70 in Florida.
Franklin Academy Sunrise is the standout academic leader, a large K-8 charter school with a 4-star rating and top 78th percentile state ranking. Its test scores are 10-20 points above district averages, especially in advanced subjects like Algebra 1 and Biology, and it has a very low free/reduced lunch rate (5.77%). In contrast, Banyan Elementary School faces the most challenges, with the lowest enrollment (427), highest free/reduced lunch rate (55.04%), highest chronic absenteeism (34.4%), and the lowest academic performance, dropping from the 52nd to the 23rd percentile in state rankings. Mid-range performers include Discovery Elementary School and Welleby Elementary School, both with strong math proficiency (79% and 74% respectively), while Sandpiper Elementary School is a concerning case, showing a decline in state ranking despite having the highest spending per student ($16,010) and best student-teacher ratio (14.7:1).
A key finding is the inverse relationship between spending and performance: the two highest-spending schools, Sandpiper and Banyan, have the lowest outcomes, while the lowest-spending school, Franklin Academy ($9,404), has the highest. This suggests higher spending is a response to greater student needs, not a guarantee of success. Math is a consistent weakness across most schools, with all but Discovery scoring below district averages in 3rd-5th grade math. Overall, the data highlights a stark performance gap tied to socioeconomic factors, with Franklin Academy’s unique K-8 structure and low poverty rate creating a distinct educational environment compared to its neighbors.
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