Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools in zip code 34786 (Windermere, FL), serving grades PK through 5, an affluent area where all schools are part of the Orange district, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 57th percentile among Florida districts.
The schools in this area clearly divide into two performance tiers. Windermere Elementary and Keenes Crossing Elementary are elite performers, both earning 5-star ratings and ranking in the top 3% of Florida elementary schools. Their average math and English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rates are exceptionally high, at 88% and 86% respectively. In contrast, Sunset Park Elementary and Bay Lake Elementary, while still performing above district and state averages, show a significant 15-17 percentage point gap in overall proficiency. Chronic absenteeism is a key differentiator, with the top-tier schools having rates around 11.9% to 15.0%, far below the state average of 31.4%, while the second-tier schools have rates nearly double that, at 23.1% and 26.1%.
A notable budget outlier is Bay Lake Elementary, which spends roughly $2,200 less per student ($9,505) than the other three schools, yet still achieves above-average results. This lower spending is paired with a higher student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1, suggesting it may be under-resourced compared to its peers. Windermere Elementary stands out for its sustained excellence, ranking in the top 2% of Florida schools for three consecutive years and achieving near-perfect 98% proficiency in 5th-grade science. Overall, families in this zip code have access to exceptional schools, with the top two offering some of the best academic outcomes in the state.
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