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Garden Elementary School

Q: Is Garden Elementary School a good school?

Garden Elementary School ranks 556 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

556^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 75% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Garden Elementary School is a K-5 public school in Venice, FL, serving 529 students within the highly-ranked Sarasota County School District, and it stands out for its exceptional 4th-grade performance, though it faces challenges with a notable drop in 5th-grade English Language Arts (ELA) scores and volatile chronic absenteeism rates.

Garden Elementary’s 4th-grade students are a clear strength, with 77% proficient in ELA and 75% in Math in the 2025-2026 school year—the ELA score is 17 points higher than the state average. However, a sharp decline occurs between 4th and 5th grade, where ELA proficiency drops 15 points to 62%, the only grade where the school falls below the district average. This "5th-grade slump" is a key concern not seen as dramatically at nearby high-performing schools like Venice Elementary School or Taylor Ranch Elementary School. Additionally, chronic absenteeism has been highly erratic, jumping from an excellent 3.5% in 2022-2023 to 22.4% in 2023-2024, the highest among its closest competitors and a potential driver of the school’s recent ranking decline.

Despite having a higher percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (51.6%) than top-performing peers like Taylor Ranch (32.6%), Garden Elementary achieves competitive test scores, suggesting effective support for its student population. For instance, its 4th-grade ELA score (77%) is only 2 points lower than Taylor Ranch’s (79%), despite a 19-point difference in economic disadvantage. The school’s spending per student ($14,944) is mid-range and not correlated with success—lower than Cranberry Elementary School ($17,607) but higher than Island Village Montessori School ($13,000). While Garden’s state ranking has slipped from the 85th to the 75th percentile, raw test scores have improved in some areas, indicating that other schools are improving faster. To regain momentum, the school must address the 5th-grade slump and stabilize attendance.

529

Students ?

14.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,944

Per pupil spending ?

51.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

700 Center Rd
Venice, FL 34285

(941) 486-2110

District: Sarasota

Students who attend Garden Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Venice Middle School
High:	Venice Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.9%

Hispanic:

22.1%

Two or more races:

6.0%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 85th percentile in 2023 → 75th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (71% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 25% of Florida elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 85th-percentile peak (2023) to 75th (2026)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg73%

Florida avg62%

556^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 25%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 34% (2016) to top 25% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

13^th of 31Elementary Schools in the Sarasota

9^th of 70Sarasota 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	72.8	556 of 2240	75.2%	★★★★☆
2025	64.5	765 of 2258	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.6	535 of 2256	76.3%	★★★★☆
2023	83.6	326 of 2240	85.4%	★★★★☆
2022	81.5	379 of 2219	82.9%	★★★★☆
2021	83.4	343 of 2247	84.7%	★★★★☆
2019	50.7	1061 of 2182	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.1	724 of 2118	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.1	677 of 2112	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.5	705 of 2087	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	74.0	483 of 2064	76.6%	★★★★☆
2013	69.2	594 of 2029	70.7%	★★★★☆
2012	78.5	381 of 1984	80.8%	★★★★☆
2011	85.6	209 of 1985	89.5%	★★★★☆
2010	75.9	412 of 1919	78.5%	★★★★☆
2009	75.5	406 of 1847	78.0%	★★★★☆
2008	85.1	203 of 1789	88.7%	★★★★☆
2007	83.3	254 of 1786	85.8%	★★★★☆
2006	76.5	368 of 1688	78.2%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math73%+8 vs state

Science71%+11 vs state

English Language Arts70%+10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Garden 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 Geometry (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 Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Garden Elementary School	Public	K-5	700 Center Rd	Venice	34285	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 486-2110	529	37	14.2	51.6%	359 (67.9%)	11 (2.1%)	117 (22.1%)	7 (1.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.0%)	72.8	556^th of 2240 public elementary schools	75.2%		64.5	765^th of 2258 public elementary schools	66.1%	209	73.0	77.0	62.0				71.0	75.0	72.0				71.0					$14,944	$253	$14,691
Venice Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	150 Miami Ave E	Venice	34285	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 486-2111	616	47	13.1	37.5%	476 (77.3%)	9 (1.5%)	67 (10.9%)	16 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.6%)	84.9	264^th of 2240 public elementary schools	88.2%		88.4	215^th of 2258 public elementary schools	90.5%	49	78.0	72.0	86.0				78.0	86.0	76.0				76.0					$18,034	$478	$17,557
Taylor Ranch Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Taylor Ranch Trl	Venice	34293	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 486-2000	844	57	14.8	32.6%	668 (79.1%)	4 (0.5%)	89 (10.5%)	24 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (7.0%)	88.9	156^th of 2240 public elementary schools	93.0%		90.1	164^th of 2258 public elementary schools	92.7%	8	75.0	79.0	78.0				84.0	86.0	87.0				84.0					$15,247	$240	$15,006
Island Village Montessori School	Public, Charter	K-8	2001 Pinebrook Rd	Venice	34275	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 484-4999	527	39	13.5	40.2%	364 (69.1%)	16 (3.0%)	82 (15.6%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (11.4%)	60.9	849^th of 2240 public elementary schools	62.1%		47.8	1163^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	48.5%	314	64.0	65.0	70.0	75.0	75.0	72.0	65.0	62.0	57.0	67.0	73.0	69.0	70.0	67.0	100.0		92.0	$11,923	$554	$11,369
Laurel Nokomis School	Public	PK, KG-8	1900 Laurel Rd E	Nokomis	34275	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 486-2171	1,384	96	14.4	36.1%	969 (70.0%)	25 (1.8%)	221 (16.0%)	71 (5.1%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	94 (6.8%)	74.6	512^th of 2240 public elementary schools	77.1%		79	424^th of 2258 public elementary schools	81.2%	88	74.0	67.0	76.0	82.0	76.0	75.0	68.0	70.0	76.0	75.0	85.0	67.0	71.0	78.0	91.0	100.0	90.0	$14,918	$250	$14,669
Englewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	150 N McCall Rd	Englewood	34223	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 474-3247	564	38	14.8	45.9%	425 (75.4%)	9 (1.6%)	85 (15.1%)	8 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.6%)	81.8	342^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	84.7%		82.7	347^th of 2258 public elementary schools	84.6%	5	83.0	72.0	74.0				90.0	74.0	71.0				74.0					$15,236	$248	$14,987
Glenallen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7050 Glenallen Blvd	North Port	34287	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 426-9517	749	49	15.2	74.8%	439 (58.6%)	49 (6.5%)	197 (26.3%)	8 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	52 (6.9%)	63.8	789^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.8%		47.5	1173^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	48.1%	384	67.0	58.0	65.0				72.0	73.0	63.0				68.0					$16,945	$2,424	$14,520
Sarasota Suncoast Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	8084 Hawkins Rd	Sarasota	34241	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 924-4242	823	48	17.1	21.3%	667 (81.0%)	7 (0.9%)	103 (12.5%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (5.0%)	70.5	620^th of 2240 public elementary schools	72.3%		79.4	420^th of 2258 public elementary schools	81.4%	200	79.0	68.0	69.0	80.0	83.0	72.0	70.0	68.0	52.0	86.0	93.0	82.0	70.0	69.0	99.0		87.0	$9,638	$760	$8,878
Cranberry Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2775 Shalimar Ter	North Port	34286	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 480-3400	813	55	14.7	66.2%	501 (61.6%)	62 (7.6%)	180 (22.1%)	10 (1.2%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	54 (6.6%)	68.1	674^th of 2240 public elementary schools	69.9%		70.5	629^th of 2258 public elementary schools	72.1%	45	60.0	69.0	63.0				70.0	78.0	71.0				72.0					$17,607	$2,017	$15,589
Lamarque Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3415 Lamarque Ave	North Port	34286	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 426-6371	1,025	72	14.2	64.0%	672 (65.6%)	73 (7.1%)	201 (19.6%)	11 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (6.5%)	49.9	1143^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	49.0%		54	1016^th of 2258 public elementary schools	55.0%	127	61.0	50.0	57.0				60.0	54.0	76.0				68.0					$17,128	$2,294	$14,834

Frequently Asked Questions about Garden Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Garden Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Venice Middle School
High : Venice Senior High School

What district is Garden Elementary School in?

Sarasota

Is Garden Elementary School a good school?

Garden Elementary School ranks 556^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Garden Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 529 students attended Garden Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Garden Elementary School?

Students at Garden Elementary School are 68% White, 22% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% African American, 1% Asian.

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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.