Charlotte

The Charlotte school district in Florida serves 23 public schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools, and is ranked 29th out of 70 districts statewide, earning a solid 3-star rating.

The standout school in the district is Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School, a 5-star high school ranking in the 95th percentile with exceptional test scores (90% proficient in 10th-grade ELA), a 97.3% graduation rate, and the lowest chronic absenteeism at 9.3%. In contrast, The Academy faces severe challenges with a 1-star rating, a 65.8% graduation rate, and an alarming 87.5% chronic absenteeism rate. Among elementary schools, Sallie Jones Elementary School leads with a 4-star rating and strong proficiency rates (82% in 5th-grade math), while Peace River Elementary School is the lowest-ranked with a 0-star rating and critically low scores. Middle schools like L. A. Ainger Middle School excel in advanced math, with 92% proficiency in Geometry EOC, far above district averages.

A key finding is that higher per-student spending does not guarantee better outcomes. Peace River Elementary and The Academy have among the highest spending ($15,643 and $23,932 per student, respectively) but are the lowest-performing, while Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School spends just $9,087 per student and achieves top results. Chronic absenteeism is a powerful predictor of performance, with top schools like Charlotte Virtual Franchise (0.9% absenteeism) thriving, while high-absenteeism schools struggle. The district also shows a strong pipeline for advanced math in middle schools, with several exceeding 80% proficiency in Algebra 1 and Geometry EOC exams.