Summary:
Gulfport, Florida, is home to three distinct public schools within the Pinellas County School District, serving a diverse range of students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including a traditional high school, a specialized Montessori elementary school, and an alternative academy.
The standout for academic performance is Boca Ciega High School, which boasts a strong 94.5% graduation rate that exceeds both district and state averages, though its proficiency rates on state exams lag behind. In contrast, Disston Academy faces the most significant challenges, with a critically low 40.5% graduation rate and an alarming 88.4% chronic absenteeism rate, despite spending $45,822 per student—nearly four times more than Boca Ciega. Gulfport Montessori Elementary School is a story of resilience, showing consistent improvement in its state ranking and test scores, particularly in 5th Grade Science and 3rd Grade ELA, even while serving a population with the highest poverty rate (79.33% free/reduced lunch) among the three schools.
A critical city-wide issue is chronic absenteeism, which is significantly higher at all three schools compared to district and state averages, undermining academic achievement across the board. While Boca Ciega High effectively graduates students, its low proficiency rates suggest a potential "diploma gap," where graduates may not be fully prepared for college. Gulfport Montessori's upward trajectory, despite high poverty, indicates its specialized approach may be effectively engaging students, making it a positive outlier worth watching. The data clearly shows that the most intensive spending at Disston Academy cannot quickly overcome the profound challenges of extreme absenteeism and high-needs students.
Thank you for your feedback!