Best Public Schools in Stuart, FL

The city of Stuart, Florida, is home to 16 public schools serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade within the Martin County School District, a district ranked in the 50th percentile statewide, and the data reveals a stark divide between a handful of exceptional schools and many that struggle to meet state averages.

For parents, the standout schools are clear. Clark Advanced Learning Center is the city's top performer, boasting a 100% graduation rate and near-perfect test scores, all while spending the least per student. Treasure Coast Classical Academy is another powerhouse, especially in math and science, with the lowest poverty rate in the city. Among traditional elementary schools, Felix A. Williams Elementary School and Crystal Lake Elementary School are the top choices, consistently scoring 15-20 points above the district average. In contrast, Spectrum Academy and Willoughby Learning Center face severe challenges, with extremely low test scores and graduation rates, alongside chronic absenteeism rates above 67%. The traditional middle schools—Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School, Murray Middle School, and Stuart Middle School—all share a critical weakness in 8th-grade math, with proficiency rates far below the state average.

A key takeaway is that chronic absenteeism is the strongest predictor of a school's struggles; the three schools with the highest absenteeism rates are also the most academically challenged. Additionally, the data shows a clear link between poverty levels and performance, with high-poverty schools like Port Salerno Elementary School and J. D. Parker School Of Technology consistently ranking in the bottom 20% of the state. This creates a situation where a student's zip code heavily influences their educational opportunities, highlighting the challenge of achieving equity across the city's schools.