Summary:
Port Charlotte, Florida, is home to 13 public schools within the Charlotte County school district, serving students from elementary through high school, including alternative and virtual options, in a community where the district holds a mid-tier 3-star rating.
For parents, the standout performer is Port Charlotte Middle School, the only school in the city with a consistent 3-star rating, boasting exceptional test scores like 88% proficiency in Algebra 1. At the elementary level, Meadow Park Elementary School leads with strong math scores, while Peace River Elementary School is the most challenged, earning a 0-star rating with critically low proficiency. The Charlotte Virtual Franchise is a unique success story, achieving a 100% graduation rate and 0.9% chronic absenteeism, though it serves a small, self-motivated population. In contrast, The Academy and Charlotte Harbor School face significant challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates of 87.5% and 56.1%, respectively, despite high per-student spending.
Key metrics reveal a city average chronic absenteeism rate of about 33.5%, above the state average, and a free/reduced lunch rate of 53.6%, indicating many students come from low-income households. A critical takeaway is that spending does not guarantee success: Peace River Elementary spends the most among traditional schools ($15,643 per student) but has the lowest scores, while Port Charlotte Middle School spends less ($11,327) and achieves top results. Additionally, elementary math is a relative strength, with schools like Liberty Elementary School and Myakka River Elementary School outperforming state averages, while ELA proficiency is more inconsistent, highlighting areas for targeted support.
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