The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Science. The lowest is 40% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on The Reading Edge Academy
The Reading Edge Academy is a charter elementary school in DeBary, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits on Enterprise Road in a city that is suburban and car-dependent, organized around the U.S. 17-92 corridor rather than any walkable center. DeBary's everyday texture is residential and nature-oriented, anchored by Gemini Springs Park, the St. Johns River shoreline, and the only SunRail commuter rail station in Volusia County. A transit-oriented development project near that station is actively under construction, bringing townhomes, mixed-use commercial space, and new apartment communities to what was previously a park-and-ride lot. The school sits within the broader Volusia County school system's geography, though as a charter it operates independently of the district.
The school is small for its grade band. Enrollment is spread across kindergarten through fifth grade, with the lower grades running somewhat larger than the upper ones. The student body is majority Hispanic, with white students making up a large secondary share and smaller populations of Black and multiracial students. Free and reduced-price lunch data was not reported, so the economic profile of families cannot be characterized from this data. Special education and English learner rates were also not available.
On Florida's FAST assessments for the most recent school year, results are mixed and lean below where families might hope to see them. In third and fourth grade ELA, fewer than half of students reached proficiency, though fifth-grade ELA was notably stronger, with nearly two-thirds of students meeting the bar. Math scores in third through fifth grade fell below the midpoint, with fourth grade the lowest of the three. Fifth-grade science, assessed through the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, came in above the midpoint and was the clearest relative strength in the data. Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say whether these results reflect improvement, decline, or a steady pattern. A parent would reasonably want to ask the school directly about its instructional approach, how it monitors student progress, and what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.
The comparison data available positions this school relative to districts in Volusia County, but the comparison set consisted of only one district, making a meaningful peer comparison on proficiency unavailable. Chronic absenteeism and graduation rate comparisons were not applicable, the latter because this is an elementary school and the former because attendance data was not reported.
Because this is a charter school, families should understand it operates under a charter with the Volusia County School District but sets its own instructional model. The name suggests a reading or literacy focus, but program details were not available in the data, and we did not find specifics on curriculum, extended learning time, or special offerings. Families should ask about the school's academic model, waitlist status if any, and transportation arrangements, since charter schools in Florida do not always provide busing equivalent to traditional public schools.
The DeBary housing market shows home values roughly in line with both the state and national benchmarks, with values slightly off their recent peak. Rents have edged up modestly year over year. The estimated monthly cost of homeownership places the area within reach for middle-income buyers by national standards, though affordability depends heavily on individual circumstances. The area is actively adding housing density near the SunRail station, which could shift the neighborhood's character over the coming years.
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