Summary:
The 33523 zip code area in Florida is home to two elementary schools - Rodney B. Cox Elementary School and Lacoochee Elementary School. While both schools serve economically disadvantaged populations, with over 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Lacoochee Elementary appears to be the higher-performing of the two.
Lacoochee Elementary has consistently outperformed Rodney B. Cox Elementary on state assessments in English Language Arts and Math, with proficiency rates that are 10-20 percentage points higher. In the 2024-2025 school year, for example, 57% of 3rd graders at Lacoochee were proficient in ELA, compared to only 40% at Rodney B. Cox. Additionally, Rodney B. Cox has struggled with low performance, ranking in the bottom 10-15% of Florida elementary schools in recent years and receiving 0-1 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger.
Despite Rodney B. Cox spending more per student ($17,861) than Lacoochee ($14,121), the significant performance gap between the two schools suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as instructional quality and resources, may be contributing to the disparity. Both schools also face challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, exceeding 30%, which likely have a negative impact on student learning and achievement. Addressing attendance issues and identifying strategies to support the academic and social-emotional needs of these economically disadvantaged student populations should be priorities for the Pasco school district.
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