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Southside Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

29^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 99% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Southside Elementary School is a high-performing public elementary school in Sarasota, Florida, serving 681 students in grades PK-5. As part of the Sarasota School District, which is ranked 11th out of 67 districts in the state, Southside Elementary has consistently been one of the top-performing elementary schools in Florida, ranking in the top 30 out of over 2,200 schools and maintaining a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southside Elementary's academic performance is exceptional, with students significantly outperforming the district and state averages on standardized tests across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 87% of Southside's 5th-grade students scored proficient or better in Statewide Science, compared to 67% for Sarasota and 55% for Florida. The school also has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates, at 20.1% compared to the district and state averages of 31.4%. Southside's higher per-student spending and lower student-teacher ratio likely contribute to its strong academic results.

When compared to nearby elementary schools in the Sarasota district, such as Gulf Gate Elementary, Tuttle Elementary, and Emma E. Booker Elementary, Southside Elementary stands out as the highest-performing, with significantly higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism rates. This consistent excellence makes Southside Elementary a valuable asset to the Sarasota community and a model for other schools in the district.

696

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,291

Per pupil spending ?

22.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1901 Webber St
Sarasota, FL 34239

(941) 361-6420

District: Sarasota

Students who attend Southside Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Booker Middle School
High:	Booker High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.6%

Hispanic:

12.6%

Two or more races:

6.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Southside Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 93rd percentile in 2014 → 99th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (88% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Florida elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 6 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school88%

District avg68%

Florida avg58%

29^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From top 7% (2016) to top 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 31Elementary Schools in the Sarasota

11^th of 67Sarasota 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
2025	95.9	29 of 2258	98.7%	★★★★★
2024	97.7	10 of 2256	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	96.3	30 of 2240	98.7%	★★★★★
2022	94.0	68 of 2219	96.9%	★★★★★
2021	93.5	94 of 2247	95.8%	★★★★★
2019	93.5	64 of 2182	97.1%	★★★★★
2018	93.2	74 of 2118	96.5%	★★★★★
2017	95.5	29 of 2112	98.6%	★★★★★
2016	90.8	137 of 2087	93.4%	★★★★★
2014	89.7	152 of 2064	92.6%	★★★★★
2013	88.8	169 of 2029	91.7%	★★★★★
2012	88.2	168 of 1984	91.5%	★★★★★
2011	90.4	99 of 1985	95.0%	★★★★★
2010	89.8	107 of 1919	94.4%	★★★★★
2009	91.8	65 of 1847	96.5%	★★★★★
2008	92.7	54 of 1789	97.0%	★★★★★
2007	85.6	200 of 1786	88.8%	★★★★☆
2006	89.1	142 of 1688	91.6%	★★★★★

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Math91%+31 vs state

Science87%+32 vs state

English Language Arts86%+29 vs state

3.7

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Saturday, May 21, 2016

Southside is excellent. The Teacher are very good, careing, loving, They do their best in teaching our children. I am a Grandparent. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, June 12, 2014

Southside is a school that is filled with opportunities for kids K-5. All students have the opportunity to learn all four art forms in addition to pe, technology and science in the special area classes. Parents are quite involved and make the school even more special. The school year culminates in a production that includes over 100 kids on the Player's Theater Stage. This is a special place filled with great teachers and staff who care deeply about teaching and learning. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, April 4, 2014

Southside rests on its historical reputation. There has been a change in leadership 4 years ago and after having issues with the teacher, nothing has been done to correct it. The school has a very negative vibe, and the women are being allowed to live out their aggressions on moms. Instead of addressing bad grades and finding remedies, they send out emails about less important rules to be followed during teaching time. Shows their goal at heart is NOT advancing kids but just living out their personal issues. Close Quote

Schools Near Southside Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)						FAST Math (2025)						Statewide Science Science (2025)		EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Southside Elementary School	Public	K-5	1901 Webber St	Sarasota	34239	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6420	696	46	15.1	22.1%	526 (75.6%)	22 (3.2%)	88 (12.6%)	14 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.6%)	95.9	29^th of 2258 public elementary schools	98.7%		97.7	10^th of 2256 public elementary schools	99.6%	19	85.0	89.0	82.0				90.0	96.0	87.0				87.0				$14,291	$220	$14,071
Alta Vista Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1050 S Euclid Ave	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6400	453	33	13.7	84.3%	109 (24.1%)	74 (16.3%)	226 (49.9%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.2%)	57.3	941^st of 2258 public elementary schools	58.3%		55.3	964^th of 2256 public elementary schools	57.3%	23	53.0	49.0	56.0				65.0	71.0	59.0				66.0				$21,464	$2,908	$18,556
Suncoast School For Innovative Studies	Public, Charter	K-5	845 S School Ave	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	Yes	(941) 952-5277	96	7	13.7	85.4%	14 (14.6%)	42 (43.8%)	33 (34.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (7.3%)	29.5	1660^th of 2258 public elementary schools	26.5%		23.3	1815^th of 2256 public elementary schools	19.5%	155	24.0	44.0	71.0				29.0	31.0	50.0				57.0				$11,667	$1,293	$10,375
Phillippi Shores Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4747 S Tamiami Trl	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	Yes	No	No	(941) 361-6424	696	44	15.8	34.8%	466 (67.0%)	44 (6.3%)	139 (20.0%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (5.7%)	88	226^th of 2258 public elementary schools	90.0%		86.9	258^th of 2256 public elementary schools	88.6%	32	75.0	73.0	71.0				83.0	83.0	84.0				75.0				$15,150	$255	$14,896
Wilkinson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3400 Wilkinson Rd	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6477	422	33	12.9	72.5%	159 (37.7%)	52 (12.3%)	176 (41.7%)	8 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.2%)	27.1	1722^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	23.7%		35.4	1477^th of 2256 public elementary schools	34.5%	245	38.0	43.0	41.0				49.0	50.0	44.0				49.0				$23,696	$3,263	$20,434
Tuttle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2863 8th St	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6433	698	51	13.6	79.4%	124 (17.8%)	80 (11.5%)	453 (64.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.4%)	34.7	1504^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.4%		26.3	1732^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	23.2%	228	46.0	43.0	45.0				52.0	47.0	46.0				63.0				$18,768	$2,803	$15,966
Emma E. Booker Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2350 Dr Martin Luther King Way	Sarasota	34234	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6480	451	32	14.0	86.3%	56 (12.4%)	224 (49.7%)	109 (24.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (13.5%)	36.7	1457^th of 2258 public elementary schools	35.5%		37.7	1411^th of 2256 public elementary schools	37.5%	46	58.0	46.0	38.0				64.0	54.0	41.0				51.0				$22,923	$3,363	$19,560
Sarasota Academy Of The Arts	Public, Charter	K-8	582 McIntosh Rd	Sarasota	34232	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 377-2278	193	17	11.1	55.4%	94 (48.7%)	5 (2.6%)	72 (37.3%)	3 (1.6%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (9.3%)	31.5	1601^st of 2258 public elementary schools	29.1%		27.9	1684^th of 2256 public elementary schools	25.4%	83	89.0	73.0	20.0	46.0	55.0	65.0	74.0	36.0	15.0	33.0	48.0	69.0	15.0	61.0	100.0	90.0	$10,470	$200	$10,270
Brentwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Vinson Ave	Sarasota	34232	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6230	590	47	12.5	61.7%	298 (50.5%)	68 (11.5%)	187 (31.7%)	8 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.7%)	53.7	1025^th of 2258 public elementary schools	54.6%		58	897^th of 2256 public elementary schools	60.2%	128	54.0	61.0	40.0				74.0	72.0	64.0				46.0				$23,848	$3,323	$20,525
Gulf Gate Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6500 S Lockwood Ridge Rd	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6499	596	45	13.2	54.9%	371 (62.2%)	17 (2.9%)	163 (27.3%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (6.5%)	59.2	898^th of 2258 public elementary schools	60.2%		77.4	467^th of 2256 public elementary schools	79.3%	431	63.0	53.0	58.0				67.0	66.0	60.0				57.0				$19,235	$1,528	$17,708

Frequently Asked Questions about Southside Elementary School

How many students attend Southside Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 696 students attended Southside Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Southside Elementary School?

Students at Southside Elementary School are 76% White, 13% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

What district is Southside Elementary School in?

Sarasota

What schools do graduates of Southside Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Booker Middle School
High : Booker High School

Is Southside Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Southside Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 29^th of 2258 Florida elementary schools.

Rate Southside 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.