Summary:
In zip code 33890, there is one elementary school, Zolfo Springs Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 with 512 students in the Hardee district, an area where the district ranks in the bottom 14% of Florida.
Zolfo Springs Elementary School is a school showing strong positive momentum despite serving a high-needs population, with 78.52% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. The school has steadily improved its state ranking over three years, moving from the 35th percentile to the 46th percentile. Its standout strength is mathematics, where it outperforms both the district and state averages in 4th and 5th grade. For example, 4th grade math proficiency reached 70%, which is 5 points higher than the state average. The school also showed impressive growth in 5th grade science, jumping from 45% to 54% proficiency year-over-year. The student-teacher ratio is 14.6:1, and spending per student is $11,916.
The most significant challenge for the school is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 36.9%—well above the state average of 31.4%. This likely impacts performance in English Language Arts (ELA), where the school consistently scores below the state average across all tested grades (3rd: 50% vs. 60%; 4th: 57% vs. 60%; 5th: 59% vs. 61%). The gap between strong math scores and weaker ELA scores is a key area for potential improvement. Overall, Zolfo Springs Elementary School is a school on an upward trajectory, effectively using its resources to drive math achievement, but it must address attendance issues to continue its progress.
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