Summary:
Zip code 34608 in Spring Hill, Florida, is home to three public schools within the Hernando district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, with no traditional high school present in the area.
The standout school is Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology, a small middle school ranked in the 82nd percentile statewide with a 4-star rating. It dramatically outperforms its peers, with only 5.1% chronic absenteeism and exceptional proficiency rates like 98% in Algebra 1. In contrast, Explorer K-8, the largest school with 1,544 students, struggles significantly with a 1-star rating and a 42.9% chronic absenteeism rate—far exceeding the district average of 40.8%. Gulf Coast Elementary School serves as a solid middle ground, earning a 3-star rating and consistently outperforming district averages in core subjects like 3rd grade ELA (71% proficient vs. 61% district).
Key metrics reveal that spending does not guarantee results: Explorer K-8 spends $11,020 per student yet ranks lowest, while Gulf Coast Academy spends less ($10,076) and achieves top performance. Socioeconomic factors align with outcomes, as Explorer K-8 has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (65.09%) and the lowest performance, while Gulf Coast Academy has the lowest rate (26.27%) and highest performance. Gulf Coast Elementary, with 35.85% free/reduced lunch, demonstrates that a small school can thrive with a 15.4% chronic absenteeism rate and strong academic results, making it a quiet success story in a district ranked 46th out of 70 in Florida.
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