Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Palmetto High School

Q: Is Palmetto High School a good school?

Palmetto High School ranks 522 nd of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 8-12

522^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 838 Florida High Schools

Better than 38% of Florida high schools

Summary

Palmetto High School in Palmetto, FL, is a large traditional public school in the Manatee district serving 2,185 students in grades 8 through 12, where over 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

This school presents a mixed picture for families. On the positive side, the graduation rate has climbed to an impressive 91.2%, which is higher than the district average and nearly matches the state average. However, this success is undermined by a critical weakness: chronic absenteeism. In the 2023-2024 school year, 36.7% of students were chronically absent—a rate nearly three times higher than at the nearby State College Of Florida Collegiate School (11.4%) and significantly worse than at Braden River High School (26.9%). Academically, the school shows a dramatic split: students perform well in Biology (69% proficiency) and US History (71%), but struggle severely in math, with only 21% proficient in Algebra 1 and 28% in Geometry. This math performance is notably lower than at Manatee High School, a demographically similar peer school where Algebra 1 proficiency is 37%.

An interesting comparison exists with Manatee School For The Arts, located less than two miles away. Despite serving a similar number of students, that school has a much lower free/reduced lunch rate (40%) and nearly triple the Algebra 1 proficiency (56%), highlighting the impact of school choice in the community. While Palmetto has shown a slight upward trend in its state ranking in recent years, moving from a 1-star to a 2-star rating, its progress is fragile. The school also spends less per student ($9,644) than other local high schools like Bayshore High School ($11,872), which may limit its ability to address challenges like chronic absenteeism and low math scores.

2,185

Students ?

22.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,644

Per pupil spending ?

60.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1200 17th St W
Palmetto, FL 34221

(941) 723-4848

District: Manatee

Feeder schools for Palmetto High School:

Elementary:	Blackburn Elementary School
	James Tillman Elementary Magnet School
	Palm View K-8 School
	Palmetto Elementary School
	More...
	Virgil Mills Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

39.8%

White:

36.4%

African American:

17.6%

See top rated Florida high schools

Compare Palmetto High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 38th percentile in 2016 → 38th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (52% vs 64% meeting standards)

!Algebra 1 scores 42 pts below the Florida average

!Large classes — about 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg60%

Florida avg64%

522^nd of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 10High Schools in the Manatee

40^th of 70Manatee among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	522 of 838	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.6	555 of 844	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.6	458 of 807	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.6	466 of 792	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.1	400 of 774	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.1	549 of 746	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.1	446 of 734	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.9	452 of 716	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	36.2	415 of 714	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	34.2	428 of 693	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	35.6	441 of 687	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.4	335 of 648	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	28.4	416 of 606	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	30.9	466 of 622	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	33.9	439 of 620	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	33.7	417 of 587	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	40.2	368 of 577	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	42.8	342 of 563	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	38.8	325 of 477	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2005	45.8	296 of 487	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2004	37.7	333 of 484	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

US History71%-3 vs state

Biology 169%-5 vs state

English Language Arts54%-6 vs state

Geometry28%-28 vs state

Algebra 121%-42 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Palmetto High School and help other families decide.

Rate Palmetto High School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Palmetto High School

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)					FAST Math (2026)			Statewide Science Science (2026)	EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Palmetto High School	Public	8-12	1200 17th St W	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 723-4848	2,185	97	22.5	60.1%	796 (36.4%)	385 (17.6%)	869 (39.8%)	28 (1.3%)	1 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	105 (4.8%)	35.9	522^nd of 838 public high schools	37.7%		32.6	555^th of 844 public high schools	34.2%	33				54.0	54.0					21.0	28.0	69.0	71.0		$9,644	$502	$9,141
Manatee School For The Arts	Public, Charter	6-12	700 Haben Blvd	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 721-6800	2,051	108	18.9	40.4%	809 (39.4%)	212 (10.3%)	874 (42.6%)	30 (1.5%)	1 (0.0%)	3 (0.1%)	122 (5.9%)	54.6	280^th of 838 public high schools	66.6%		55	266^th of 844 public high schools	68.5%	14	59.0	54.0	55.0	58.0	65.0	55.0	37.0	58.0	36.0	56.0	52.0	78.0	84.0	79.0	$9,177	$435	$8,742
Bradenton Bay High School	Public, Charter	7-12	817 Manatee Ave W	Bradenton	34205	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(941) 708-8770	114	4	28.5	52.6%	18 (15.8%)	40 (35.1%)	49 (43.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.3%)	4.9	740^th of 838 public high schools	11.7%					(n/a)			10.0	36.0	16.0			14.0	18.0	0.0	9.0	15.0	31.0	50.0	$12,416	$02	$12,415
Manatee High School	Public	8-12	902 33rd Street Ct W	Bradenton	34205	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 714-7300	1,998	90	22.2	60.5%	822 (41.1%)	306 (15.3%)	742 (37.1%)	28 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.2%)	97 (4.9%)	41.2	456^th of 838 public high schools	45.6%		40	465^th of 844 public high schools	44.9%	9				50.0	51.0					37.0	42.0	73.0	75.0		$9,581	$577	$9,003
Pace Center For Girls	Public	6-12	3508 26th St W	Bradenton	34205	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 751-4566	56	2	28.0	76.8%	18 (32.1%)	9 (16.1%)	23 (41.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (10.7%)								(n/a)															$6,831	$21	$6,811
Southeast High School	Public	8-12	1200 37th Ave E	Bradenton	34208	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 741-3366	1,638	79	20.7	65.6%	207 (12.6%)	313 (19.1%)	1,048 (64.0%)	21 (1.3%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (2.8%)	22	655^th of 838 public high schools	21.8%		22.9	649^th of 844 public high schools	23.1%	6				38.0	38.0					18.0	43.0	55.0	64.0		$10,593	$973	$9,621
Bayshore High School	Public	8-12	5401 34th St W	Bradenton	34210	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 751-7004	1,400	75	18.6	61.9%	227 (16.2%)	203 (14.5%)	879 (62.8%)	20 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	68 (4.9%)	13.7	692^nd of 838 public high schools	17.4%		21.7	656^th of 844 public high schools	22.3%	36				34.0	34.0					29.0	21.0	45.0	51.0		$11,872	$1,494	$10,378
State College Of Florida Collegiate School	Public, Charter	6-12	5840 26th St W	Bradenton	34207	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 752-5491	485	21	23.0	46.2%	220 (45.4%)	37 (7.6%)	183 (37.7%)	26 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.9%)	84.7	44^th of 838 public high schools	94.7%		87.1	36^th of 844 public high schools	95.7%	8	87.0	77.0	77.0	85.0	86.0	71.0	84.0	98.0	84.0	91.0	95.0	92.0		94.0	$10,185	$73	$10,112
Amikids Manatee	Public	6-12	6423 9th St E	Bradenton	34203	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 723-4702	38	1	38.0	89.5%	7 (18.4%)	15 (39.5%)	13 (34.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.9%)								(n/a)															$6,328	$155	$6,173
The Port Academy	Public	9-12	14470 Harlee Rd	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 747-3011	21	1	21.0		0 (0.0%)	12 (57.1%)	8 (38.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.8%)								(n/a)															$7,268	$622	$6,645

Frequently Asked Questions about Palmetto High School

What district is Palmetto High School in?

Manatee

Is Palmetto High School a good school?

Palmetto High School ranks 522^nd of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Palmetto High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,185 students attended Palmetto High School.

What schools feed into Palmetto High School?

Palmetto High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Blackburn Elementary School
Elementary : James Tillman Elementary Magnet School
Elementary : Palm View K-8 School
Elementary : Palmetto Elementary School
Elementary : Virgil Mills Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Palmetto High School?

Students at Palmetto High School are 40% Hispanic, 36% White, 18% African American, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Rate Palmetto High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

FLFlorida High School Rankings

FLFlorida District Rankings

Schools in Palmetto, FL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Palmetto High School!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.