Summary:
In zip code 34601, there is one high school, Hernando High School, serving grades 6 through 12 in Brooksville, Florida, with a total enrollment of 1,299 students.
Hernando High School is part of the Hernando school district, which is ranked 46th out of 70 districts in Florida. The school has a 2-star rating and a volatile state ranking history, dropping from the 32nd percentile to the 27th percentile before recovering slightly to the 31st percentile. The most critical issue is chronic absenteeism, which stands at a staggering 55.8%—far above the district average of 40.8% and nearly double the state average of 31.4%. This likely drives the school's severe math crisis, with only 18% of students proficient in Algebra 1 and 28% in Geometry, compared to state averages of 63% and 56%, respectively. In contrast, 9th Grade ELA proficiency is only 5 points behind the state average, suggesting literacy instruction is relatively stronger. The graduation rate is 91.3%, close to the state average, but this may mask a "graduation gap" where students earn diplomas without mastering foundational skills.
Key metrics include a student-teacher ratio of 21.6:1, per-student spending of $9,858, and 51.66% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. While the school underperforms in all subjects, the 45-point gap in Algebra 1 is particularly alarming and points to a systemic issue. The high chronic absenteeism rate is the most important metric to address, as it likely overwhelms other interventions. Despite reasonable funding, outcomes are poor, suggesting resource allocation and class sizes may need to be re-evaluated to better support student needs.
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