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Sandy Lane Elementary School

Q: Is Sandy Lane Elementary School a good school?

Sandy Lane Elementary School ranks 675 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

675^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 70% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Sandy Lane Elementary School is a small, Title I-eligible school in Clearwater, FL, serving 288 students in grades PK-5 within the Pinellas County School District, and it has undergone a remarkable academic turnaround in recent years.

The most defining feature of Sandy Lane is its dramatic improvement trajectory. After ranking in the bottom 15% of Florida elementary schools just a few years ago, the school has climbed from the 3rd percentile in 2016-2017 to the 70th percentile in the 2025-2026 school year. This is a standout achievement compared to nearby schools like Curtis Fundamental Elementary (99th percentile) or Belleair Elementary School (20th percentile), which have more stable performance. The school's 5th-grade math proficiency rate of 87% is exceptional, surpassing the district (69%) and state (62%) averages, and even tying with high-performing schools like Plato Academy Clearwater (89%) and Kings Highway Elementary Magnet School (88%). This success is supported by high per-pupil spending of $21,043—nearly double that of Curtis Fundamental ($10,847)—and a low student-teacher ratio of 11:1, the lowest among its peers.

Despite these academic gains, Sandy Lane faces a significant challenge with chronic absenteeism, which was 39.2% in 2023-2024. This rate is far higher than nearby schools like Curtis Fundamental (6.1%) and Plato Academy (15.5%), and even exceeds other high-poverty schools like Belleair (35.3%). The school's improvement is also uneven: while 5th-grade math and science (81%) are strong, English Language Arts scores are more mixed, with 3rd-grade proficiency (69%) on par with the district but 4th and 5th-grade scores (70% and 66%) only slightly above state averages. The "5th-grade effect"—where older students significantly outperform younger ones—suggests that the school's turnaround strategies are taking root over time, but addressing attendance will be key to sustaining this momentum.

288

Students ?

11.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,043

Per pupil spending ?

77.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1360 Sandy Ln
Clearwater, FL 33755

(727) 469-5974

District: Pinellas

Students who attend Sandy Lane Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Dunedin Highland Middle School
High:	Clearwater High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

52.8%

Hispanic:

21.5%

White:

14.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Sandy Lane Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 14th percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (70% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 56 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Florida median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (39% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school70%

District avg69%

Florida avg62%

675^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 56 pts since 2016

From bottom 14% (2016) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

41^st of 88Elementary Schools in the Pinellas

15^th of 70Pinellas 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
2026	68.1	675 of 2240	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.4	872 of 2258	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.3	1166 of 2256	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.1	1518 of 2240	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.5	1679 of 2219	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.3	1946 of 2247	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.5	1925 of 2182	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.5	1935 of 2118	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	7.1	2042 of 2112	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	17.8	1789 of 2087	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	11.2	1948 of 2064	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	6.4	1985 of 2029	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	4.7	1951 of 1984	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	5.8	1935 of 1985	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	7.1	1849 of 1919	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	11.6	1711 of 1847	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	18.1	1551 of 1789	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	22.4	1464 of 1786	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	22.2	1370 of 1688	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science81%+21 vs state

Math68%+4 vs state

English Language Arts68%+8 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, June 16, 2014

Sandy Lane Elementary is the epitome of all things wrong with public education. If you have ZERO regard for your child's education or well being, by all means send them to this dump so they can be properly indoctrinated to the world of entitlement, blame shifting and thugary. Close Quote

Schools Near Sandy Lane Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sandy Lane Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1360 Sandy Ln	Clearwater	33755	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 469-5974	288	26	11.0	77.8%	42 (14.6%)	152 (52.8%)	62 (21.5%)	7 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	24 (8.3%)	68.1	675^th of 2240 public elementary schools	69.9%		60.4	872^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	61.4%	197	69.0	70.0	66.0				61.0	58.0	87.0				81.0					$21,043	$2,601	$18,442
Kings Highway Elementary Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1715 Kings Highway	Clearwater	33755	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	Yes	(727) 223-8949	277	25	11.0	72.9%	32 (11.6%)	155 (56.0%)	62 (22.4%)	5 (1.8%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.2%)	56.3	976^th of 2240 public elementary schools	56.4%		77.1	471^st of 2258 public elementary schools	79.1%	505	48.0	47.0	76.0				57.0	73.0	88.0				71.0					$20,246	$2,084	$18,162
Dunedin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	900 Union St	Dunedin	34698	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 738-2990	474	40	11.8	68.1%	113 (23.8%)	106 (22.4%)	209 (44.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	35 (7.4%)	55.4	1008^th of 2240 public elementary schools	55.0%		25.6	1769^th of 2258 public elementary schools	21.7%	761	72.0	44.0	69.0				85.0	45.0	53.0				64.0					$17,560	$1,735	$15,824
Curtis Fundamental Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-5	531 Beltrees St	Dunedin	34698	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 738-6438	538	35	15.3	19.9%	396 (73.6%)	19 (3.5%)	76 (14.1%)	13 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (6.1%)	95.4	25^th of 2240 public elementary schools	98.9%		96.2	26^th of 2258 public elementary schools	98.8%	1	92.0	92.0	84.0				89.0	90.0	91.0				94.0					$10,847	$220	$10,626
Skycrest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10 N Corona Ave	Clearwater	33765	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 469-5987	521	36	14.4	66.8%	102 (19.6%)	54 (10.4%)	330 (63.3%)	8 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	24 (4.6%)	50.4	1131^st of 2240 public elementary schools	49.5%		67.7	700^th of 2258 public elementary schools	69.0%	431	47.0	64.0	62.0				53.0	70.0	65.0				58.0					$15,399	$1,394	$14,004
Plato Academy Clearwater	Public, Charter	K-8	2045 Palmetto St	Clearwater	33765	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	No	(727) 228-9517	616	46	13.3	4.9%	354 (57.5%)	51 (8.3%)	130 (21.1%)	47 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	31 (5.0%)	81	364^th of 2240 public elementary schools	83.8%		83.1	331^st of 2258 public elementary schools	85.3%	33	80.0	75.0	77.0	78.0	78.0	59.0	73.0	58.0	89.0	80.0	57.0	83.0	80.0	48.0	89.0	100.0	91.0	$9,329	$62	$9,266
Athenian Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	2289 N Hercules Ave	Clearwater	33763	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	No	(727) 298-2718	377	29	13.0	40.6%	186 (49.3%)	26 (6.9%)	130 (34.5%)	10 (2.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (6.1%)	30	1664^th of 2240 public elementary schools	25.7%		33.3	1549^th of 2258 public elementary schools	31.4%	115	43.0	42.0	45.0	65.0	64.0	86.0	60.0	50.0	48.0	50.0	50.0	68.0	53.0	63.0	90.0		83.0	$11,281	$419	$10,862
Academie Da Vinci Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	1060 Keene Rd	Dunedin	34698	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	No	(727) 298-2778	336	29	11.5	29.5%	273 (81.3%)	14 (4.2%)	36 (10.7%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	8 (2.4%)	74.5	514^th of 2240 public elementary schools	77.1%		87.9	231^st of 2258 public elementary schools	89.8%	283	59.0	69.0	88.0	88.0	74.0	73.0	54.0	68.0	86.0	88.0		76.0	81.0	58.0	85.0		88.0	$9,084	$93	$8,992
Belleair Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1156 Lakeview Rd	Clearwater	33756	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 469-5983	455	35	13.0	74.5%	74 (16.3%)	131 (28.8%)	222 (48.8%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.3%)	25	1791^st of 2240 public elementary schools	20.0%		39.7	1371^st of 2258 public elementary schools	39.3%	420	48.0	50.0	41.0				44.0	56.0	55.0				41.0					$15,450	$1,143	$14,307
Plumb Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1920 Lakeview Rd	Clearwater	33764	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	No	(727) 469-5976	704	50	14.0	49.3%	360 (51.1%)	51 (7.2%)	203 (28.8%)	29 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	59 (8.4%)	70.8	615^th of 2240 public elementary schools	72.5%		75.5	505^th of 2258 public elementary schools	77.6%	110	66.0	62.0	60.0				78.0	82.0	79.0				68.0					$13,891	$1,226	$12,664

Frequently Asked Questions about Sandy Lane Elementary School

What district is Sandy Lane Elementary School in?

Pinellas

What schools do graduates of Sandy Lane Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Sandy Lane Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Dunedin Highland Middle School
High : Clearwater High School

Is Sandy Lane Elementary School a good school?

Sandy Lane Elementary School ranks 675^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Sandy Lane Elementary School?

Students at Sandy Lane Elementary School are 53% African American, 22% Hispanic, 15% White, 8% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Sandy Lane Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 288 students attended Sandy Lane Elementary School.

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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.