Summary:
There are five elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in zip code 34744 (Kissimmee, FL), all part of the Osceola district, which ranks in the bottom 20% of Florida districts and serves a high-poverty area where free/reduced lunch rates range from 42.6% to 96.3%.
East Lake Elementary School is the clear standout, earning a 3-star rating (61st percentile) and outperforming all other local schools in 3rd grade ELA (75% proficient) and 4th grade math (78% proficient). It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (29.6%) and the smallest class size (15:1). In contrast, Mill Creek Elementary School is the lowest-performing school, ranking in the bottom 21% of the state despite spending the most per student ($12,549). Kissimmee Charter Academy presents a paradox: it has the highest poverty rate (96.3%) and lowest spending ($8,225 per student), yet achieves exceptional results in advanced math (89% proficient in Algebra 1, 100% in Geometry), though it struggles with basic literacy and math in lower grades. Partin Settlement Elementary School and P. M. Wells Charter Academy show consistent, below-average performance across subjects.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results—Mill Creek spends the most but performs worst, while Kissimmee Charter spends the least but excels in advanced courses. Chronic absenteeism is a strong predictor of performance, with the two lowest-ranked schools (Mill Creek and Kissimmee Charter) having the highest rates (37.3% and 35.7%). Additionally, a troubling grade-level drop-off is evident at Partin Settlement and Mill Creek, where 5th grade math proficiency falls significantly behind 3rd grade levels, suggesting foundational skills are not being built upon effectively in upper elementary grades.
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