Summary:
Safety Harbor, Florida, is home to two public schools—Safety Harbor Elementary School and Safety Harbor Middle School—both part of the highly-rated Pinellas school district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
Safety Harbor Elementary School is the standout in this area, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 90th percentile statewide. It consistently outperforms district and state averages in English Language Arts (78.7% proficient), Math (81.3% proficient), and 5th-grade Science (85% proficient). The school also boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 13.5%, less than half the district average of 30.6%. In contrast, Safety Harbor Middle School holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 60th percentile. While it excels in advanced courses like Geometry (100% proficient) and Algebra 1 (76% proficient), it struggles significantly with 7th-grade math, where only 19% of students are proficient compared to the state average of 53%. The middle school also has a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 27.8% and a larger student-teacher ratio of 20.3 to 1, compared to the elementary school's 14.3 to 1.
A key takeaway is the spending disparity: the elementary school spends $13,994 per student, while the middle school spends $9,798 per student. This difference correlates with smaller class sizes and higher performance at the elementary level. The elementary school serves as a strong feeder, sending well-prepared students to the middle school, as seen in strong 6th-grade scores. However, the middle school faces a "7th-grade math cliff" that requires attention. Overall, Safety Harbor offers a top-tier elementary experience and a middle school that excels in advanced coursework but has room for improvement in grade-level math and attendance.
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