Best Public Schools in Zip Code 34741

Zip code 34741 in Kissimmee, Florida, is home to 13 schools within the Osceola County School District, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a predominantly low-income area where chronic absenteeism is a significant challenge.

The standout performer in this zip code is Osceola Science Charter School, an alternative K-12 school that consistently outperforms the district and often the state in math, science, and high school end-of-course exams, despite having a high student-teacher ratio of 28.9:1 and relatively low per-student spending. In stark contrast, New Beginnings Education Center, another alternative school, has the highest per-student spending ($26,966) but the worst outcomes, including a 0% graduation rate and 81.5% chronic absenteeism. Among traditional schools, Kissimmee Middle School presents a paradox: it ranks very low overall but achieves 91% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 100% in Geometry for advanced students, while its general education scores are poor. Osceola High School boasts a 97.2% graduation rate, yet its low proficiency on end-of-course exams (e.g., Algebra 1 at 29%) suggests many graduates may not be college-ready in STEM fields.

The most pressing issue across the zip code is chronic absenteeism, averaging about 45.5%—well above the state average of 31.4%. Only Kissimmee Elementary School (34.1%) and Renaissance Charter School at Tapestry (34.3%) approach the state norm. The eight elementary schools are almost universally struggling, with Highlands Elementary and Central Avenue Elementary ranking in the bottom 2% of Florida elementary schools. This weak foundation feeds into the middle and high schools, creating a cycle of low performance that is only broken by a few specialized programs.