Summary:
The city of Pierson, Florida, is home to two schools: T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School, serving grades 6-12, and Pierson Elementary School, serving grades PK-5. While both schools face challenges, the data reveals that T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School has consistently underperformed, ranking in the bottom half of Florida high schools with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Chronic absenteeism is a significant issue for both schools, with T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School reporting a 41.4% rate and Pierson Elementary School at 23.5%, both well above the state and district averages. This high absenteeism rate likely contributes to the academic challenges faced by the schools, with T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School performing below state and district averages in most subject areas and grade levels. In contrast, Pierson Elementary School has a more mixed academic performance, with some grade levels exceeding and others falling short of state and district benchmarks.
The data also suggests that the schools in Pierson, Florida, face socioeconomic challenges, with a significant population of economically disadvantaged students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This may contribute to the academic struggles and could require targeted interventions and additional resources to support student success. Additionally, the per-student spending at Pierson Elementary School ($12,571) is higher than at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School ($10,858), which may indicate a need for a more equitable distribution of resources across the Volusia district.
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