High Schools in Gulf

The Gulf County School District in Florida is home to two high schools serving grades 6 through 12: Port St. Joe High School and Wewahitchka High School, with a combined enrollment of just over 1,000 students.

Port St. Joe High School is the district's academic standout, ranking in the 71st percentile statewide (4-star school) and showing consistent improvement over the past three years. It outperforms Wewahitchka High School in 24 out of 28 individual test score comparisons, with proficiency rates often 10-20 percentage points higher. However, Wewahitchka High School boasts a remarkable 97.4% graduation rate, far exceeding both the district and state averages, while Port St. Joe High School has a lower 85.5% graduation rate despite its higher test scores. This suggests Wewahitchka may prioritize diploma completion, while Port St. Joe may have a more rigorous academic environment.

A critical concern for both schools is chronic absenteeism, which hovers around 58%—nearly double the state average of 31.4%. This issue affects academic performance and graduation outcomes across the district. Port St. Joe spends $1,166 more per student ($14,176 vs. $13,010) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (14.4:1 vs. 15.7:1), which correlates with its stronger test scores. Both schools share a weakness in 8th Grade Science, falling below the state average, and Wewahitchka struggles significantly in Math, with proficiency rates often less than half the state average.