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Gulf Highlands Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1832^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 18% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Gulf Highlands Elementary School in Port Richey, FL, is a public school serving 689 students in grades PK-5 within the Pasco district, where 77.2% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a high-poverty community.

Gulf Highlands has recently shown a dramatic academic turnaround that sets it apart from nearby schools. In the 2025-2026 school year, 5th-grade science proficiency jumped from 25% to 58%, math from 19% to 46%, and ELA from 26% to 56%—gains of 27 to 33 percentage points. This improvement moved the school from well below district and state averages to nearly matching them, while nearby schools like Schrader Elementary saw only modest changes. However, this progress is undermined by a severe chronic absenteeism rate of 47.9% in 2023-2024, the highest among local peers such as Hudson Primary Academy (50.1%) and far above the district average of 29.2%. This suggests that while instructional strategies are working for students who attend regularly, many are missing too much school to benefit.

Gulf Highlands is part of a cluster of low-performing schools in southern Pasco, including Fox Hollow Elementary and Richey Elementary, but its recent climb from the 2nd to the 18th percentile makes it a potential bright spot. Spending per student ($13,291) is in line with other high-poverty schools like Chasco Elementary ($14,340), yet the school’s future hinges on tackling absenteeism. If attendance improves, Gulf Highlands could build on its recent gains and serve as a model for its neighbors.

689

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,291

Per pupil spending ?

77.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8019 Gulf Highlands Dr
Port Richey, FL 34668

(727) 774-7700

District: Pasco

Students who attend Gulf Highlands Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Fivay High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.4%

Hispanic:

31.2%

Two or more races:

10.3%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Gulf Highlands Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 11th percentile in 2016 → 18th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (45% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (18th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (48% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg59%

Florida avg62%

1,832^nd of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 18%▲ up 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 11% (2016) to bottom 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

43^rd 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	23.4	1832 of 2240	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	13.1	2076 of 2258	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.3	2210 of 2256	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.6	2205 of 2240	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.1	2168 of 2219	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.9	1837 of 2247	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.8	1690 of 2182	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.5	1618 of 2118	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	19.1	1808 of 2112	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	15.3	1861 of 2087	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	18.6	1783 of 2064	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	17.0	1797 of 2029	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	15.5	1761 of 1984	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	6.8	1919 of 1985	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	15.3	1713 of 1919	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	20.6	1549 of 1847	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science58%~ state avg

English Language Arts47%-13 vs state

Math39%-26 vs state

1.0

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★0

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3★0

2★0

1★3

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

My son went to this school because it was convenient for him mother (thanks family courts). The neighborhood is horrible and there were shootings with murder just a few streets from the school. The first day of school in 2017 most of the staff was resting in the front office because it was too hot out. This made the pickup line take an extra half hour while all the kids were roasting outside. One of the worst schools ever! The entirety of Pasco County is pretty much drug infected and overrun with pedophiles. Do yourself a favor and move if you live in Pasco County, I did. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

My son went to this school because it was convenient for him mother (thanks family courts). The neighborhood is horrible and there were shootings with murder just a few streets from the school. The first day of school in 2017 must of the staff was resting in the front office because it was too hot out. This made the pickup line take an extra half hour while all the kids were roasting outside. One of the worst schools ever! Ever entirety of Pasco County is pretty much drug infected and overrun with pedophiles. Do yourself a favor and move if you live in Pasco County, I did. Close Quote

by a citizen
Wednesday, March 15, 2017

My wife is a teacher at this school and she has 22 students. I have no idea where they are getting this student teacher ratio??? Close Quote

Schools Near Gulf Highlands 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 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	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gulf Highlands Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8019 Gulf Highlands Dr	Port Richey	34668	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-7700	689	49	13.9	77.2%	347 (50.4%)	48 (7.0%)	215 (31.2%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (10.3%)	23.4	1832^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	18.2%		13.1	2076^th of 2258 public elementary schools	8.1%	244	43.0	43.0	56.0				41.0	28.0	46.0			58.0			$13,291	$2,226	$11,065
Schrader Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	11041 Little Rd	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-5900	572	38	14.9	71.0%	335 (58.6%)	42 (7.3%)	150 (26.2%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	39 (6.8%)	17.5	1988^th of 2240 public elementary schools	11.3%		21.7	1855^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.8%	133	40.0	42.0	46.0				49.0	41.0	48.0			41.0			$12,081	$1,263	$10,818
Learning Lodge Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	10534 Little Rd	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	No	No	Yes	(727) 868-0067	308	20	15.4	51.9%	223 (72.4%)	12 (3.9%)	46 (14.9%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.5%)	47.2	1220^th of 2240 public elementary schools	45.5%		53.2	1036^th of 2258 public elementary schools	54.1%	184	64.0	53.0	62.0	69.0	67.0	70.0	55.0	64.0	55.0	94.0	91.0	43.0	60.0	75.0	$8,923	$711	$8,213
Fox Hollow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8309 Fox Hollow Dr	Port Richey	34668	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-7600	636	40	15.9	77.8%	288 (45.3%)	58 (9.1%)	226 (35.5%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	55 (8.6%)	10.4	2137^th of 2240 public elementary schools	4.6%		7.8	2184^th of 2258 public elementary schools	3.3%	47	32.0	41.0	49.0				39.0	35.0	27.0			37.0			$14,091	$3,003	$11,088
Dayspring Angeline	Public, Charter	K-5	9732 Little Road	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(727) 857-6922	312	27	11.5	24.4%	130 (41.7%)	21 (6.7%)	102 (32.7%)	30 (9.6%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	24 (7.7%)	65.6	738^th of 2240 public elementary schools	67.1%					(n/a)	69.0	66.0	54.0				72.0	70.0	75.0			63.0			$11,290	$1,741	$9,549
Chasco Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7906 Ridge Rd	Port Richey	34668	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-1200	612	47	13.0	70.1%	251 (41.0%)	67 (10.9%)	230 (37.6%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	58 (9.5%)								(n/a)															$14,340	$1,828	$12,511
Hudson Primary Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	14302 Cobra Way	Hudson	34669	Pasco County	Pasco	No	Yes	No	Yes	(727) 774-4700	636	46	13.9	71.5%	435 (68.4%)	35 (5.5%)	120 (18.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	41 (6.4%)								(n/a)	48.0						46.0								$13,611	$2,029	$11,582
Calusa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7520 Orchid Lake Rd	New Port Richey	34653	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-3700	417	24	17.3	65.0%	197 (47.2%)	36 (8.6%)	150 (36.0%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.7%)								(n/a)															$11,630	$1,365	$10,265
Moon Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12019 Tree Breeze Dr	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-4600	567	41	13.6	61.2%	365 (64.4%)	39 (6.9%)	113 (19.9%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (6.9%)	19.2	1948^th of 2240 public elementary schools	13.0%		20.7	1883^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	16.6%	65	49.0	47.0	39.0				58.0	40.0	34.0			45.0			$13,524	$2,044	$11,482
Cypress Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10055 Sweet Bay Ct	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-4500	554	34	16.1	53.6%	383 (69.1%)	12 (2.2%)	100 (18.1%)	7 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (9.0%)	14.9	2042^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	8.8%		20.6	1888^th of 2258 public elementary schools	16.4%	154	54.0	46.0	38.0				36.0	40.0	36.0			41.0			$10,753	$898	$9,855

Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Highlands Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Gulf Highlands Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gulf Highlands Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Fivay High School

How many students attend Gulf Highlands Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 689 students attended Gulf Highlands Elementary School.

Is Gulf Highlands Elementary School a good school?

Gulf Highlands Elementary School ranks in the bottom 18.2% of Florida elementary schools.

What district is Gulf Highlands Elementary School in?

Pasco

What is the racial makeup of Gulf Highlands Elementary School?

Students at Gulf Highlands Elementary School are 50% White, 31% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 7% African American, 1% Asian.

Rate Gulf Highlands Elementary 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.