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Gulfside Elementary School

Q: Is Gulfside Elementary School a good school?

Gulfside Elementary School ranks 1323 rd of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1323^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 41% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Gulfside Elementary School in Holiday, FL, is a small elementary school (PK-5) within the Pasco County School District, serving 393 students in a high-poverty community where 75.6% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most defining feature of Gulfside is its dramatic, recent academic turnaround. After a decade of ranking in the bottom 20th percentile of Florida elementary schools, the school surged to the 41st percentile in the 2025-2026 school year—its highest ranking in over ten years. This improvement was broad-based, with proficiency rates increasing in every subject and grade level. For example, 4th grade Math soared from 28% to 70% proficiency, outperforming the district and state averages. This stands in stark contrast to nearby Anclote Elementary and Sunray Elementary, which remain in the bottom 5th percentile. However, the school faces a persistent challenge: a chronic absenteeism rate of 39.8% in 2023-2024, nearly double that of James M. Marlowe Elementary (22.9%) and more than double the rate of high-performing Sutherland Elementary (16.4%) in Pinellas County.

Gulfside’s performance is also notable for its inconsistency across grade levels. While 4th graders excelled in Math (70% proficient), 5th graders struggled (38% proficient), creating a "roller coaster" pattern unique among its peers. The school’s spending of $13,414 per student is higher than some high-performing schools like Athenian Academy Of Technology And The Arts ($10,685), suggesting that how money is spent matters more than the total amount. The biggest question for parents is whether this recent success is the start of a new trend or a temporary peak, especially given the school’s history of volatility and the ongoing challenge of high absenteeism.

393

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,414

Per pupil spending ?

75.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2329 Anclote Blvd
Holiday, FL 34691

(727) 774-6000

District: Pasco

Students who attend Gulfside Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Paul R. Smith Middle School
High:	Anclote High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.2%

Hispanic:

31.3%

African American:

15.0%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Gulfside Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 22nd percentile in 2016 → 41st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 19 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (56% vs 62% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 31% Florida)

!Math scores 12 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg59%

Florida avg62%

1,323^rd of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 41%▲ up 19 pts since 2016

From bottom 22% (2016) to bottom 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

30^th of 56Elementary Schools in the Pasco

37^th of 70Pasco 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	42.9	1323 of 2240	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	11.7	2111 of 2258	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.3	1923 of 2256	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.5	1813 of 2240	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.0	1948 of 2219	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.8	1754 of 2247	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.3	1904 of 2182	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.1	1658 of 2118	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.5	1827 of 2112	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	24.6	1624 of 2087	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	15.5	1859 of 2064	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	22.5	1666 of 2029	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	23.7	1585 of 1984	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	22.3	1650 of 1985	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	20.5	1619 of 1919	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	19.7	1570 of 1847	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	16.3	1578 of 1789	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	14.2	1609 of 1786	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	25.6	1301 of 1688	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science60%~ state avg

English Language Arts59%~ state avg

Math53%-12 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, January 28, 2020

nicd

Schools Near Gulfside Elementary School

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
Gulfside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2329 Anclote Blvd	Holiday	34691	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-6000	393	25	15.5	75.6%	158 (40.2%)	59 (15.0%)	123 (31.3%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (12.7%)	42.9	1323^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	40.9%		11.7	2111^th of 2258 public elementary schools	6.5%	788	58.0	62.0	57.0				48.0	70.0	38.0				60.0				$13,414	$1,301	$12,112
Gulf Trace Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3303 Gulf Trace Blvd	Holiday	34691	Pasco County	Pasco	No	Yes	No	Yes	(727) 246-3600	625	43	14.6	69.0%	301 (48.2%)	68 (10.9%)	191 (30.6%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	54 (8.6%)	20.1	1920^th of 2240 public elementary schools	14.3%		25.9	1758^th of 2258 public elementary schools	22.1%	162	48.0	52.0	51.0				40.0	39.0	40.0				43.0				$11,714	$1,421	$10,292
Sunset Hills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1347 Gulf Rd	Tarpon Springs	34689	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	No	(727) 943-5523	428	29	14.7	39.7%	305 (71.3%)	15 (3.5%)	70 (16.4%)	11 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (6.1%)	82.1	333^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	85.1%		80	408^th of 2258 public elementary schools	81.9%	75	75.0	69.0	75.0				82.0	69.0	81.0				85.0				$13,608	$728	$12,879
Tarpon Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	555 Pine St	Tarpon Springs	34689	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 943-5500	417	30	13.9	74.8%	115 (27.6%)	127 (30.5%)	139 (33.3%)	7 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.7%)	50.7	1126^th of 2240 public elementary schools	49.7%		39	1387^th of 2258 public elementary schools	38.6%	261	60.0	53.0	73.0				59.0	50.0	54.0				70.0				$16,192	$2,163	$14,028
Tarpon Springs Fundamental Ele	Public, Magnet	K-5	400 E Harrison St	Tarpon Springs	34689	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 943-5508	267	18	14.8	29.6%	181 (67.8%)	24 (9.0%)	40 (15.0%)	8 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	13 (4.9%)	95.5	23^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	99.0%		95.5	37^th of 2258 public elementary schools	98.4%	14	94.0	92.0	95.0				100.0	87.0	82.0				91.0				$13,470	$269	$13,202
Sunray Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4815 Sunray Dr	Holiday	34690	Pasco County	Pasco	No	Yes	No	Yes	(727) 774-9100	420	28	15.2	72.9%	186 (44.3%)	30 (7.1%)	155 (36.9%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (10.7%)	10.9	2124^th of 2240 public elementary schools	5.2%		10.9	2127^th of 2258 public elementary schools	5.8%	3	44.0	38.0	30.0				41.0	47.0	34.0				31.0				$12,735	$1,181	$11,554
Plato Academy Charter School Tarpon Springs	Public, Charter	K-8	2795 Keystone Rd	Tarpon Springs	34688	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	No	(727) 939-6413	349	30	11.6	33.0%	255 (73.1%)	20 (5.7%)	60 (17.2%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	80.9	367^th of 2240 public elementary schools	83.6%		70.6	622^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	72.5%	255	97.0	89.0	67.0	70.0	54.0	66.0	82.0	88.0	79.0	78.0		57.0	72.0	68.0	90.0	74.0	$9,511	$59	$9,452
Anclote Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3610 Madison St	New Port Richey	34652	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-3200	543	38	14.3	71.8%	223 (41.1%)	58 (10.7%)	194 (35.7%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	61 (11.2%)	10.9	2123^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	5.2%		7.4	2192^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	2.9%	69	42.0	38.0	40.0				43.0	37.0	33.0				38.0				$12,098	$1,807	$10,291
James M. Marlowe Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5642 Cecelia Dr	New Port Richey	34652	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-8600	513	38	13.5	69.8%	252 (49.1%)	36 (7.0%)	191 (37.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.0%)	41	1377^th of 2240 public elementary schools	38.5%		43.7	1253^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	44.5%	124	62.0	54.0	54.0				51.0	54.0	64.0				56.0				$14,594	$2,474	$12,120
Athenian Academy Of Technology And The Arts	Public, Charter	K-8	3118 Seven Springs Blvd	New Port Richey	34655	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	No	No	Yes	(727) 372-0200	404	28	14.4	46.0%	236 (58.4%)	18 (4.5%)	113 (28.0%)	7 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.4%)	90.9	117^th of 2240 public elementary schools	94.8%		92.2	98^th of 2258 public elementary schools	95.7%	19	89.0	82.0	87.0	87.0	92.0	86.0	93.0	77.0	84.0	90.0	96.0		92.0	93.0	96.0	96.0	$10,685	$1,353	$9,333

Frequently Asked Questions about Gulfside Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Gulfside Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gulfside Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Paul R. Smith Middle School
High : Anclote High School

What is the racial makeup of Gulfside Elementary School?

Students at Gulfside Elementary School are 40% White, 31% Hispanic, 15% African American, 13% Two or more races.

How many students attend Gulfside Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 393 students attended Gulfside Elementary School.

Is Gulfside Elementary School a good school?

Gulfside Elementary School ranks 1323^rd of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Gulfside Elementary School in?

Pasco

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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.