Summary:
Zip code 33523 in Dade City, Florida, is served by two public elementary schools, Rodney B. Cox Elementary School and Lacoochee Elementary School, both part of the Pasco County School District, and exclusively serve grades PK-5 in a high-poverty area where over 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Comparing the two schools reveals a complex picture. Rodney B. Cox Elementary spends significantly more per student ($18,026 vs. $13,724) and has smaller class sizes (15.9:1 ratio vs. 19.7:1), yet it does not consistently outperform its neighbor. Cox excels in 4th-grade Math, achieving 70% proficiency in 2025-2026, which beat both the district (62%) and state (65%) averages. However, Lacoochee Elementary shows strength in 3rd-grade ELA (49% proficiency vs. Cox's 32%) and had a standout 5th-grade Math performance in 2024-2025 (60% proficiency, exceeding the district and state). Both schools struggle with chronic absenteeism, with rates around 38%, which is significantly higher than the district (29.2%) and state (31.4%) averages, and this is likely a major barrier to academic progress.
Key takeaways for parents include that higher spending does not guarantee better results across the board, as Cox's extra resources have not translated into broad academic advantages. Science is a universal weakness, with both schools scoring well below district and state averages in 5th-grade Science. Lacoochee has shown a concerning downward trend in its state ranking, dropping from the 33rd percentile to the 12th percentile over two years. Overall, while each school has specific grade-level strengths—Cox in 4th-grade Math and Lacoochee in 3rd-grade ELA and 5th-grade Math—both face significant challenges with attendance and science proficiency that families should consider.
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