Summary:
Zip code 34452 in Inverness, Florida, is home to a single high school, Citrus High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 and is part of the Citrus County school district.
Citrus High School presents a complex picture for parents. On one hand, it boasts an exceptionally high graduation rate of 97.4%, significantly outpacing both the district (94.1%) and state (92.2%) averages. However, this success is sharply contrasted by very low academic proficiency scores. For example, only 30% of students are proficient in Algebra 1, compared to 63% statewide, and Biology 1 proficiency sits at 58% versus the state's 74%. The school's strongest subject is US History, where 72% of students are proficient, nearly matching the state average. This creates a notable paradox: the school graduates nearly all its students, yet a majority are not meeting state benchmarks in core subjects. Additionally, the school's state ranking has been declining over the past three years, dropping from the 48th percentile to the 36th percentile, though it maintains a 2-star rating.
A critical concern for parents is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 44.8%, which is alarmingly high compared to the district (37.7%) and state (31.4%) averages. This likely contributes to the low test scores. The school also has a slightly higher student-teacher ratio of 19.2:1 and spends $9,542 per student. With 43.41% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a significant economically disadvantaged population. The key takeaway is that while Citrus High School excels at ensuring students graduate, it faces serious challenges in academic achievement and attendance that families should investigate further.
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