Port St. Joe High School

Port St. Joe High School in Port Saint Joe, FL, is a public school serving 575 students in grades 6-12 within the Gulf district, and it has recently earned a 4-star rating, ranking in the 71st percentile statewide—a strong improvement from the previous year.

This school stands out for its exceptional performance in math and civics, far exceeding state averages. For example, 78% of students are proficient in Algebra 1, compared to 63% statewide, and 87% are proficient in Civics, versus 77% statewide. However, a major concern is chronic absenteeism, which affects 59.3% of students—nearly double the state rate of 31.4%. This creates a paradox: the school achieves high academic results with students who attend regularly, but a large portion of the student body is disengaged. The school has also shown a remarkable rebound in math, with Algebra 1 proficiency jumping from 48% to 78% in just two years. There are no other schools within 20 miles for direct comparison, but the school consistently outperforms district averages in key subjects.

Despite the high absenteeism, the graduation rate is 85.5%, close to the district average of 89.3%, though below the state average of 92.2%. This suggests that many chronically absent students still graduate, or that absenteeism is more common in lower grades. The school faces specific challenges in 7th grade, where ELA and math scores lag behind state averages, and in 8th-grade science, which has been below state levels for three years. On a positive note, the free/reduced lunch rate has declined to 37.57%, indicating improving economic conditions in the community. Overall, Port St. Joe High School shows strong potential for academic excellence, but addressing the absenteeism crisis is key to unlocking its full success.