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Braden River Elementary School

Q: Is Braden River Elementary School a good school?

Braden River Elementary School ranks 412 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

412^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 82% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Braden River Elementary School in Bradenton, FL, is a public school serving 547 students in grades PK-5 within the Manatee County School District, and it stands out as a consistently strong, reliable choice for families in a moderately affluent community where about 40.6% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

What truly sets Braden River apart from many nearby schools is its exceptional consistency and a few standout metrics. Academically, it is a solid 4-star school that significantly outperforms both district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade level. For example, 75% of 3rd graders were proficient in ELA and 88% in math, compared to district averages of 56% and 64%. This places it in a strong middle tier, above schools like Freedom Elementary, B.D. Gullett Elementary, and Tara Elementary. Its most striking differentiator, however, is its exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 13.0%—less than half the district rate of 29.4% and the state rate of 31.4%. This suggests a highly engaged student body and strong family-school connections, which are foundational for academic success. The school also spends a higher amount per student ($14,305) compared to many high-performing peers, such as Robert Willis Elementary ($11,519) and Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary ($12,580), which may help support its slightly higher-needs population.

Braden River sits in a "sweet spot" within the neighborhood, offering a predictable and reliable performance history that has only fluctuated between the 70th and 90th percentiles over the past decade. While it is outperformed by top-tier schools like McNeal and Gene Witt Elementary, it far exceeds schools like William H. Bashaw Elementary and Manatee Charter School. For parents, this makes Braden River a very dependable choice—a school that consistently delivers above-average results without dramatic swings in performance.

547

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,305

Per pupil spending ?

40.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6125 River Club Blvd
Bradenton, FL 34202

(941) 751-7012

District: Manatee

Students who attend Braden River Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Braden River Middle School
High:	Lakewood Ranch High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.5%

Hispanic:

29.1%

Two or more races:

5.5%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 73rd percentile in 2016 → 82nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (76% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of Florida elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 9 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school76%

District avg60%

Florida avg62%

412^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 18%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to top 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 41Elementary 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	78.7	412 of 2240	81.6%	★★★★☆
2025	70.1	639 of 2258	71.7%	★★★★☆
2024	81.1	374 of 2256	83.4%	★★★★☆
2023	80.4	397 of 2240	82.3%	★★★★☆
2022	88.3	227 of 2219	89.8%	★★★★☆
2021	82.7	363 of 2247	83.8%	★★★★☆
2019	76.0	489 of 2182	77.6%	★★★★☆
2018	69.0	628 of 2118	70.3%	★★★★☆
2017	72.3	571 of 2112	73.0%	★★★★☆
2016	71.5	573 of 2087	72.5%	★★★★☆
2014	78.9	384 of 2064	81.4%	★★★★☆
2013	65.3	676 of 2029	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	70.4	570 of 1984	71.3%	★★★★☆
2011	53.0	980 of 1985	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	67.0	657 of 1919	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	73.3	456 of 1847	75.3%	★★★★☆
2008	81.7	281 of 1789	84.3%	★★★★☆
2007	83.9	239 of 1786	86.6%	★★★★☆
2006	87.2	171 of 1688	89.9%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math84%+21 vs state

Science70%+10 vs state

English Language Arts70%+10 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, April 19, 2019

It’s an A rated school walking distance from our home...kids love it, tons of community events, we couldn’t be happier. Close Quote

Schools Near Braden River Elementary School

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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 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 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Braden River Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6125 River Club Blvd	Bradenton	34202	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 751-7012	547	37	14.7	40.6%	320 (58.5%)	22 (4.0%)	159 (29.1%)	16 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.5%)	78.7	412^th of 2240 public elementary schools	81.6%		70.1	639^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.7%	227	75.0	58.0	75.0				88.0	80.0	74.0	100.0			70.0				$14,305	$981	$13,326
B.D. Gullett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12125 44th Ave E	Bradenton	34211	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 727-2607	1,314	79	16.6	21.3%	898 (68.3%)	34 (2.6%)	236 (18.0%)	41 (3.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	104 (7.9%)	74.1	525^th of 2240 public elementary schools	76.6%		83.6	322^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	85.7%	203	73.0	73.0	72.0				78.0	67.0	73.0	100.0			62.0				$9,992	$595	$9,398
Tara Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6950 Linger Lodge Rd E	Bradenton	34203	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 751-7660	582	41	14.1	51.7%	310 (53.3%)	30 (5.2%)	164 (28.2%)	41 (7.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	35 (6.0%)	77.4	445^th of 2240 public elementary schools	80.1%		84.8	295^th of 2258 public elementary schools	86.9%	150	67.0	75.0	73.0				69.0	89.0	70.0	98.0			69.0				$14,251	$1,099	$13,153
Gilbert W McNeal Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6325 Lorraine Rd	Lakewood Ranch	34202	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 751-8165	672	44	15.2	24.1%	476 (70.8%)	36 (5.4%)	109 (16.2%)	12 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	37 (5.5%)	91.3	107^th of 2240 public elementary schools	95.2%		88.9	202^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	91.1%	95	83.0	73.0	86.0				92.0	84.0	90.0	100.0			90.0				$12,580	$933	$11,647
Robert Willis Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	14705 The Masters Ave	Lakewood Ranch	34202	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 316-8245	785	47	16.7	25.9%	514 (65.5%)	17 (2.2%)	136 (17.3%)	42 (5.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	74 (9.4%)	85.6	246^th of 2240 public elementary schools	89.0%		86.6	251^st of 2258 public elementary schools	88.9%	5	75.0	80.0	76.0				86.0	88.0	71.0	100.0			73.0				$11,519	$779	$10,741
Imagine Charter At Lakewood Ranch	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	10535 Portal Crossing	Bradenton	34211	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 750-0900	456	27	16.8	54.2%	248 (54.4%)	43 (9.4%)	133 (29.2%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.9%)	34	1563^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	30.2%		32.6	1569^th of 2258 public elementary schools	30.5%	6	64.0	31.0	63.0	62.0	50.0	58.0	66.0	56.0	38.0	38.0	47.0	61.0	40.0	58.0	92.0	74.0	$11,871	$113	$11,758
William H. Bashaw Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3515 57th St E	Bradenton	34208	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 741-3307	720	48	15.0	67.9%	222 (30.8%)	148 (20.6%)	276 (38.3%)	12 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	59 (8.2%)	29.4	1680^th of 2240 public elementary schools	25.0%		21.1	1872^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	17.1%	192	45.0	46.0	53.0				59.0	56.0	46.0	100.0			44.0				$11,728	$1,094	$10,635
Freedom Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	9515 E State Road 64	Bradenton	34212	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 708-4990	736	46	16.0	43.9%	445 (60.5%)	52 (7.1%)	164 (22.3%)	18 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (7.7%)	71.6	588^th of 2240 public elementary schools	73.8%		70.9	612^th of 2258 public elementary schools	72.9%	24	75.0	73.0	69.0				72.0	79.0	59.0	100.0			62.0				$11,911	$966	$10,946
Gene Witt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Rye Rd E	Bradenton	34212	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 741-3628	742	47	15.7	27.9%	532 (71.7%)	23 (3.1%)	111 (15.0%)	27 (3.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (6.5%)	86.1	230^th of 2240 public elementary schools	89.7%		87.5	234^th of 2258 public elementary schools	89.6%	4	79.0	77.0	76.0				86.0	89.0	67.0	100.0			77.0				$12,514	$840	$11,674
Marjorie G. Kinnan Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3415 Tallevast Rd	Sarasota	34243	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 358-2888	522	35	14.9	68.0%	132 (25.3%)	58 (11.1%)	281 (53.8%)	20 (3.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.7%)	57.9	935^th of 2240 public elementary schools	58.3%		50.9	1093^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	51.6%	158	58.0	47.0	72.0				69.0	66.0	64.0	100.0			69.0				$14,629	$1,535	$13,095

Frequently Asked Questions about Braden River Elementary School

What district is Braden River Elementary School in?

Manatee

How many students attend Braden River Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 547 students attended Braden River Elementary School.

Is Braden River Elementary School a good school?

Braden River Elementary School ranks 412^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Braden River Elementary School?

Students at Braden River Elementary School are 59% White, 29% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% African American, 3% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Braden River Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Braden River Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Braden River Middle School
High : Lakewood Ranch High School

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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.