Summary:
Zip code 34731, serving the Fruitland Park, FL area, contains a single public school: Fruitland Park Elementary School, a PK-5 institution with 688 students that is part of the Lake district.
Fruitland Park Elementary School is a high-poverty school (58.87% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch) that has consistently ranked in the bottom 15th percentile of all Florida elementary schools for the past three years, earning a 1-star rating each year. The school's most critical issue is a chronic absenteeism rate of 33.9%, which is significantly higher than the state average of 31.4% and nearly as high as the district's already elevated rate of 37.7%. This absenteeism crisis is likely the primary driver of the school's academic struggles, as test scores in English Language Arts, Math, and Science all fall well below both district and state averages across every grade level. For example, 5th-grade science proficiency is just 48%, compared to 59% for the district and 60% for the state.
Despite spending $12,588 per student—a reasonable funding level—the school's academic outcomes remain poor, suggesting systemic challenges beyond simple resource allocation. There is a slight upward trend in state ranking (from 1943 to 1914 over three years), but the pace is far too slow to close the gap with peers. Math is a relative strength, with 3rd graders achieving 55% proficiency, though this is still 11 points below the state average. For parents, the data clearly indicates that Fruitland Park Elementary School is an underperforming school where improving student attendance must be the top priority before academic growth can occur.
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