Summary:
The 34606 zip code area in Hernando, Florida is home to two elementary schools: Deltona Elementary School and Westside Elementary School. Both schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade and face similar challenges in terms of academic performance and socioeconomic factors.
Neither Deltona Elementary nor Westside Elementary stand out as high-performing schools. Both have relatively low proficiency rates in math and English Language Arts compared to the Hernando district and the state of Florida averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, Deltona Elementary's proficiency rates ranged from 38% to 49% in math and 46% to 48% in English Language Arts, while Westside Elementary's rates ranged from 49% to 65% in math and 47% to 54% in English Language Arts. These scores are all below the district and state averages.
The schools also face similar socioeconomic challenges, with high rates of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (76.49% at Deltona Elementary and 78.5% at Westside Elementary) and chronic absenteeism (31.4% for both schools). Despite the relatively high per-student spending (around $12,000-$13,000) and small class sizes (14:1 student-teacher ratio), the academic performance of these schools suggests that factors beyond just resource allocation may be contributing to their underperformance. Addressing the root causes of the schools' challenges will likely require a comprehensive, data-driven approach to school improvement.
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