Manatee

The Manatee school district in Florida encompasses 79 schools, including 46 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, 12 high schools, and 9 alternative schools. The district serves a diverse student population and showcases a range of academic performance across its schools.

Some of the standout schools in the Manatee district include Lakewood Ranch High School, which consistently ranks among the top 200 high schools in Florida, and State College of Florida Collegiate School, a public charter high school that ranks 23rd out of 807 Florida high schools. Additionally, Palmetto Charter School and Ida M. Stewart Elementary School are among the top-performing schools in the district, consistently ranking in the top 100 and 74th out of 2,256 Florida elementary schools, respectively.

The district-wide data reveals a wide range of performance, with some schools excelling and others struggling. The graduation rate for the district's high schools is 89.7%, on par with the state average, but the chronic absenteeism rate is higher at 31.4%. Proficiency rates on state assessments vary significantly, with some schools, like Lakewood Ranch High School and Palmetto Charter School, performing well above the state and district averages, while others, such as Bayshore High School and Manatee Elementary School, have lower proficiency rates. The district's per-student spending ranges from around $8,800 to $17,400, with higher-performing schools generally spending more per student and having lower student-teacher ratios.