High Schools in Suwannee

The Suwannee County School District in Florida contains two high schools—Suwannee High School (grades 9-12) and Branford High School (grades 6-12)—that together serve a rural area where the district ranks in the 30th percentile statewide, earning a 2-star rating.

Both schools face a severe chronic absenteeism crisis, with rates near or above 50%—far exceeding the state average of 31.4%—which likely drives their low rankings. Suwannee High School is the larger, more consistent performer, holding a 2-3 star ranking (47th percentile) with a 90.5% graduation rate, though it has a high student-teacher ratio of 24.4:1 and spends $9,055 per student. Branford High School is a standout for its volatility: it dropped from a 4-star school (70th percentile) in 2023-2024 to a 2-star school (39th percentile) in 2025-2026, despite spending $10,371 per student and having a better student-teacher ratio of 19.7:1. Branford’s middle school grades (6-8) outperform state averages in math and science, but its high school scores lag behind, suggesting a loss of momentum after 8th grade.

A bright spot for both schools is Biology 1 EOC performance: Suwannee High School (80%) and Branford High School (70%) both exceed the state average of 74%, indicating instructional strength in science. However, the overarching takeaway is that increased spending and smaller class sizes at Branford have not solved its attendance and ranking issues, while Suwannee’s stability offers a more predictable, though still challenged, environment. Parents should weigh the trade-offs: Suwannee’s consistency versus Branford’s unique 6-12 structure and middle school strengths, all while recognizing that chronic absenteeism is the dominant factor affecting both schools’ outcomes.