The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 32% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Paragon Academy of Technology
Paragon Academy of Technology is a small charter school in Hollywood, Florida, serving grades six through eight in practice, even though it is authorized through grade twelve. The enrollment data shows students only in the middle grades at this time, with no students currently enrolled in the high school grades. A parent considering this school for a high schooler should ask the school directly about when and whether upper grades will open, since the data here does not explain the gap.
The school sits in Hollywood, a coastal South Florida city whose identity is tied to the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, a waterfront pedestrian promenade, and a mix of urban and beach-oriented life. The local economy anchors on Memorial Healthcare System, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, HEICO Corporation in aerospace and defense, and the regional draws of Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Housing near the school runs close to the statewide median, though the area's rent burden is steep relative to income, and home values have dipped modestly year over year.
The school's student body is small, which is typical for a young charter at this stage. Hispanic students make up the largest share of enrollment, followed by Black students, with smaller representations of other groups. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning a substantial portion of the school's families are navigating economic pressures. Data on English learners and students with IEPs was not available in what was provided.
On Florida's state assessments, proficiency rates across math, ELA, and science sit in a range that places the majority of students below the proficiency threshold at every tested grade level. In math, roughly a third of sixth and eighth graders and a little more than a third of seventh graders scored proficient. ELA results follow a similar pattern, with the highest proficiency among sixth graders and lower rates in seventh and eighth grades. The eighth-grade science assessment shows roughly a third of students reaching proficiency. Trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say whether these results are improving, holding steady, or declining. A parent who wants to understand the trajectory should ask the school for multi-year performance data and for how the school is working to lift these numbers.
The comparison data from Broward County did not yield a useful peer comparison, since Paragon is in a cohort of one district for county comparison purposes. Graduation rate data does not apply here given that no students are currently enrolled in the high school grades. Chronic absenteeism data was not reported.
Program details were not available in the data provided. The school's name signals a technology focus, but what that looks like in practice, whether through coursework, certifications, project-based learning, or career pathways, is not described in what was shared. Families considering Paragon should ask about the specific technology curriculum and how it connects to the eventual high school years.
What this school is, based on the available evidence, is a small community-oriented charter in an economically mixed part of Hollywood, with proficiency rates that are below the state midpoint and a school structure that is still building toward its full grade span. Families drawn to small school settings, a technology orientation, and proximity to this part of Broward County may find it worth a direct visit; those who want to know more about the upper-grade pathway, instructional model, or how the school supports students who are behind grade level will need to bring those questions to the school directly.
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