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Gulf Highlands Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2076^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 8% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Gulf Highlands Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 742 students in grades PK-5 in Port Richey, Florida, which is part of the Pasco School District. Despite spending significantly more per student than the district and state averages, Gulf Highlands has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-20% of Florida elementary schools over the past several years, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school faces significant challenges, including extremely high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 28-47.9% over the past few years, which is much higher than the district and state averages. Academically, Gulf Highlands students perform well below their peers across the district and state in English Language Arts, Math, and Science, with only 35-44% of students proficient in these subjects compared to 53-63% for the district and 55-63% for the state. Additionally, Gulf Highlands has an exceptionally high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 82.75% to 89.22%, which is much higher than the nearby Richey Elementary School (57.63%) and Hudson Primary Academy (78.77%).

While the additional spending at Gulf Highlands has not translated to improved academic outcomes, the challenges facing the school appear to be systemic issues within the broader Pasco School District, as the other nearby schools also struggle with low academic achievement and high chronic absenteeism rates. This suggests that the school and district may need to re-evaluate how resources are allocated and implement more effective strategies to address the root causes of the school's struggles and support student learning.

689

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,291

Per pupil spending ?

77.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8019 Gulf Highlands Dr
Port Richey, FL 34668

(727) 774-7700

District: Pasco

Students who attend Gulf Highlands Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Fivay High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.4%

Hispanic:

31.2%

Two or more races:

10.3%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Gulf Highlands Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 2nd percentile in 2023 → 8th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 8th (2025) from a 2nd-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (35% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (8th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (48% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school35%

District avg53%

Florida avg58%

2,076^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 8%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

48^th of 56Elementary Schools in the Pasco

40^th of 67Pasco among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2025	13.1	2076 of 2258	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.3	2210 of 2256	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.6	2205 of 2240	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.1	2168 of 2219	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.9	1837 of 2247	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.8	1690 of 2182	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.5	1618 of 2118	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	19.1	1808 of 2112	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	15.3	1861 of 2087	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	18.6	1783 of 2064	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	17.0	1797 of 2029	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	15.5	1761 of 1984	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	6.8	1919 of 1985	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	15.3	1713 of 1919	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	20.6	1549 of 1847	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Science36%-19 vs state

English Language Arts36%-21 vs state

Math33%-27 vs state

1.0

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★3

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

My son went to this school because it was convenient for him mother (thanks family courts). The neighborhood is horrible and there were shootings with murder just a few streets from the school. The first day of school in 2017 most of the staff was resting in the front office because it was too hot out. This made the pickup line take an extra half hour while all the kids were roasting outside. One of the worst schools ever! The entirety of Pasco County is pretty much drug infected and overrun with pedophiles. Do yourself a favor and move if you live in Pasco County, I did. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

My son went to this school because it was convenient for him mother (thanks family courts). The neighborhood is horrible and there were shootings with murder just a few streets from the school. The first day of school in 2017 must of the staff was resting in the front office because it was too hot out. This made the pickup line take an extra half hour while all the kids were roasting outside. One of the worst schools ever! Ever entirety of Pasco County is pretty much drug infected and overrun with pedophiles. Do yourself a favor and move if you live in Pasco County, I did. Close Quote

by a citizen
Wednesday, March 15, 2017

My wife is a teacher at this school and she has 22 students. I have no idea where they are getting this student teacher ratio??? Close Quote

Schools Near Gulf Highlands Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)						FAST Math (2025)					Statewide Science Science (2025)		EOC Civics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gulf Highlands Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8019 Gulf Highlands Dr	Port Richey	34668	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-7700	689	49	13.9	77.2%	347 (50.4%)	48 (7.0%)	215 (31.2%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (10.3%)	13.1	2076^th of 2258 public elementary schools	8.1%		6.3	2210^th of 2256 public elementary schools	2.0%	134	35.0	34.0	38.0				30.0	26.0	44.0			36.0			$13,291	$2,226	$11,065
Schrader Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	11041 Little Rd	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-5900	572	38	14.9	71.0%	335 (58.6%)	42 (7.3%)	150 (26.2%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	39 (6.8%)	21.7	1855^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.8%		18.1	1955^th of 2256 public elementary schools	13.3%	100	39.0	43.0	47.0				46.0	37.0	37.0	100.0		37.0			$12,081	$1,263	$10,818
Learning Lodge Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	10534 Little Rd	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	No	No	Yes	(727) 868-0067	308	20	15.4	51.9%	223 (72.4%)	12 (3.9%)	46 (14.9%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.5%)	53.2	1036^th of 2258 public elementary schools	54.1%		63	798^th of 2256 public elementary schools	64.6%	238	42.0	62.0	58.0	82.0	69.0	40.0	67.0	69.0	58.0	56.0	86.0	48.0	60.0	71.0	$8,923	$711	$8,213
Fox Hollow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8309 Fox Hollow Dr	Port Richey	34668	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-7600	636	40	15.9	77.8%	288 (45.3%)	58 (9.1%)	226 (35.5%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	55 (8.6%)	7.8	2184^th of 2258 public elementary schools	3.3%		8.7	2176^th of 2256 public elementary schools	3.5%	8	30.0	42.0	26.0				21.0	32.0	23.0			22.0			$14,091	$3,003	$11,088
Dayspring Angeline	Public, Charter	K-5	9732 Little Road	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(727) 857-6922	312	27	11.5	24.4%	130 (41.7%)	21 (6.7%)	102 (32.7%)	30 (9.6%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	24 (7.7%)								(n/a)	83.0	71.0	84.0				85.0	43.0	79.0			79.0			$11,290	$1,741	$9,549
Chasco Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7906 Ridge Rd	Port Richey	34668	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-1200	612	47	13.0	70.1%	251 (41.0%)	67 (10.9%)	230 (37.6%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	58 (9.5%)	22.4	1833^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	18.8%		15.4	2025^th of 2256 public elementary schools	10.2%	192	45.0	47.0	38.0				50.0	42.0	40.0			36.0			$14,340	$1,828	$12,511
Hudson Primary Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	14302 Cobra Way	Hudson	34669	Pasco County	Pasco	No	Yes	No	Yes	(727) 774-4700	636	46	13.9	71.5%	435 (68.4%)	35 (5.5%)	120 (18.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	41 (6.4%)								(n/a)	38.0						47.0								$13,611	$2,029	$11,582
Calusa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7520 Orchid Lake Rd	New Port Richey	34653	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-3700	417	24	17.3	65.0%	197 (47.2%)	36 (8.6%)	150 (36.0%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (6.7%)	11.4	2114^th of 2258 public elementary schools	6.4%		11.2	2123^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	5.9%	9	44.0	41.0	27.0				42.0	25.0	28.0			24.0			$11,630	$1,365	$10,265
Moon Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12019 Tree Breeze Dr	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-4600	567	41	13.6	61.2%	365 (64.4%)	39 (6.9%)	113 (19.9%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (6.9%)	20.7	1883^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	16.6%		23.9	1798^th of 2256 public elementary schools	20.3%	85	38.0	35.0	45.0				44.0	26.0	42.0			48.0			$13,524	$2,044	$11,482
Cypress Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10055 Sweet Bay Ct	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-4500	554	34	16.1	53.6%	383 (69.1%)	12 (2.2%)	100 (18.1%)	7 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (9.0%)	20.6	1888^th of 2258 public elementary schools	16.4%		14.1	2059^th of 2256 public elementary schools	8.7%	171	48.0	36.0	44.0				40.0	22.0	36.0	100.0		44.0			$10,753	$898	$9,855

Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Highlands Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Gulf Highlands Elementary School?

Students at Gulf Highlands Elementary School are 50% White, 31% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 7% African American, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Gulf Highlands Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 689 students attended Gulf Highlands Elementary School.

Is Gulf Highlands Elementary School a good school?

Gulf Highlands Elementary School ranks in the bottom 8.1% of Florida elementary schools.

What district is Gulf Highlands Elementary School in?

Pasco

What schools do graduates of Gulf Highlands Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gulf Highlands Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Fivay High School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.