Summary:
In zip code 33896, there is one elementary school, Mater Academy Davenport, serving grades K-5 in the Davenport area, which is part of the Polk school district.
Mater Academy Davenport is a school of notable contrasts. It serves a high-poverty population, with nearly 70% of its 815 students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet it consistently outperforms its low-ranked district in nearly every subject. In the most recent school year, the school exceeded the state average in 3rd Grade Math (77% vs. 66%) and 4th Grade ELA (69% vs. 60%), earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 57th percentile statewide. However, the school faces a significant challenge with a 42.4% chronic absenteeism rate, which is over 10 points higher than the state average. This issue may be linked to a pronounced "5th grade slump," where proficiency in 5th Grade ELA (48%) and Math (55%) drops well below state averages, a pattern seen in recent years.
Despite these challenges, the school's ability to achieve above-average results in early grades despite high poverty and a low-ranked district suggests effective teaching and resource use. The school's state ranking has been volatile, fluctuating from the 59th percentile to the 48th and back to the 57th, indicating sensitivity to cohort changes. With a student-teacher ratio of 16.6:1 and per-student spending of $9,465, Mater Academy Davenport shows strong potential in early elementary years but requires targeted interventions to address absenteeism and the academic decline in 5th grade for sustained success.
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