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Disston Academy

Q: Is Disston Academy a good school?

Disston Academy ranks in the bottom 5.6% of Florida high schools.

Q: How many students attend Disston Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 63 students attended Disston Academy.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Disston Academy?

Students at Disston Academy are 60% African American, 22% White, 13% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

Public Grades 5-12

791^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 838 Florida High Schools

Better than 6% of Florida high schools

Summary

Disston Academy in Gulfport, FL, is a small alternative school serving 63 students in grades 5 through 12 within the high-performing Pinellas County district, but it stands out for its significant challenges. Over 71% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and the school functions as a last-resort option for those who have struggled in traditional settings. Despite spending an extraordinary $45,822 per student—nearly five times more than nearby Northeast High School ($9,527)—and maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio of 7.8:1, the school ranks in the bottom 6th percentile of Florida high schools, with proficiency rates in core subjects like 10th-grade ELA and US History at just 9%.

The most critical issue is an astronomical chronic absenteeism rate of 88.4%, meaning nearly 9 out of 10 students miss so much school they are considered chronically absent. This rate is almost double that of Boca Ciega High School (48.6%), located just 0.42 miles away, and far exceeds the district average of 30.6%. The graduation rate is a stark 40.5%, less than half that of St. Petersburg High School (99.7%) and well below the district average of 93.4%. Disston Academy is part of a cluster of struggling alternative schools in the area, including Lealman Innovation Academy (76% chronic absenteeism) and Pinellas Mycroschool of Integrated Academics and Technologi (95.1% chronic absenteeism), which together highlight a significant equity gap within the district.

One interesting exception is US History, where 27% of students were proficient in 2024-2025—still low compared to the district's 72%, but notably higher than their performance in Algebra 1 (15%) or Biology (19%). This suggests a potential area of strength, possibly due to a specific teacher or curriculum that engages students more effectively. For parents, Disston Academy represents a high-cost, low-yield environment where profound socio-economic and personal challenges overshadow academic progress, making it a school to approach with caution and a clear understanding of its unique struggles.

Students ?

7.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$45,822

Per pupil spending ?

71.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5125 11th Ave S
Gulfport, FL 33707

(727) 893-1115

District: Pinellas

Racial breakdown:

African American:

60.3%

White:

22.2%

Hispanic:

12.7%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — <1st percentile in 2008 → 6th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 6 percentile points since 2008

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (11% vs 63% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Florida average (40% vs 92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school11%

District avg65%

Florida avg63%

791^st of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Bottom 6%▲ up 2 pts since 2017

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

23^rd of 26High 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2024	1.5	1195 of 1196	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	1.0	955 of 956	0.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	1.4	885 of 897	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	1.6	875 of 891	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	6.0	770 of 839	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	0.3	740 of 740	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	1.8	723 of 736	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	4.2	641 of 675	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	1.9	596 of 602	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	2.5	581 of 593	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	2.3	791 of 838	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.6	748 of 844	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	4.1	735 of 807	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.7	735 of 792	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	1.7	766 of 774	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	2.5	718 of 746	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.3	698 of 734	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.8	673 of 716	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	2.5	688 of 714	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	1.7	576 of 577	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	5.1	527 of 563	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry13%-43 vs state

US History9%-65 vs state

English Language Arts9%-52 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, August 11, 2021

The school's data doesn't reflect the level of support that is provided to students. This is a great school, my son would not have graduated without it. Close Quote

Schools Near Disston Academy

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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 Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (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 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Disston Academy	Public	5-12	5125 11th Ave S	Gulfport	33707	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 893-1115	63	8	7.8	71.4%	14 (22.2%)	38 (60.3%)	8 (12.7%)	2 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	2.3	791^st of 838 public high schools	5.6%		4.6	748^th of 844 public high schools	11.4%	43					9.0						13.0		9.0		$45,822	$4,226	$41,597
Boca Ciega High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	924 58th St S	Gulfport	33707	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 893-2780	1,039	57	18.2	56.5%	255 (24.5%)	576 (55.4%)	126 (12.1%)	33 (3.2%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	45 (4.3%)	26	622^nd of 838 public high schools	25.8%		32.4	561^st of 844 public high schools	33.5%	61				38.0	50.0					37.0	38.0	54.0	66.0		$12,062	$571	$11,491
Gibbs High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	850 34th St S	St Petersburg	33711	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 893-5452	1,125	70	16.0	59.6%	277 (24.6%)	672 (59.7%)	109 (9.7%)	9 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	54 (4.8%)	33.7	547^th of 838 public high schools	34.7%		34.8	531^st of 844 public high schools	37.1%	16				50.0	53.0					20.0	42.0	53.0	72.0		$13,757	$821	$12,935
St. Petersburg Collegiate High School	Public, Charter	10-12	6605 5th Ave N	St Petersburg	33710	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	No	(727) 341-4610	260	5	52.0	10.0%	149 (57.3%)	23 (8.8%)	35 (13.5%)	36 (13.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.5%)	94.6	1^st of 838 public high schools	99.9%		92.9	6^th of 844 public high schools	99.3%	5					98.0								100.0		$8,851	$111	$8,740
St. Petersburg High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	2501 5th Ave N	St Petersburg	33713	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 893-1842	1,736	82	21.1	35.3%	891 (51.3%)	290 (16.7%)	311 (17.9%)	158 (9.1%)	2 (0.1%)	6 (0.3%)	78 (4.5%)	62.2	201^st of 838 public high schools	76.0%		52.1	305^th of 844 public high schools	63.9%	104				70.0	68.0					46.0	71.0	77.0	79.0		$9,135	$321	$8,814
Dixie M. Hollins High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	4940 62nd St N	Kenneth City	33709	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 547-7876	1,934	98	19.7	47.8%	913 (47.2%)	252 (13.0%)	487 (25.2%)	178 (9.2%)	3 (0.2%)	8 (0.4%)	93 (4.8%)	28.9	599^th of 838 public high schools	28.5%		37.6	492^nd of 844 public high schools	41.7%	107				50.0	48.0					20.0	38.0	62.0	59.0		$9,283	$549	$8,734
St. Petersburg Collegiate Stem High School	Public, Charter	9-12	244 2nd Ave N	Saint Petersburg	33701	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(727) 302-6883	220	8	27.5	29.5%	109 (49.5%)	41 (18.6%)	30 (13.6%)	25 (11.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	14 (6.4%)	87.2	31^st of 838 public high schools	96.3%		87.5	33^rd of 844 public high schools	96.1%	2				90.0	92.0					85.0	91.0	95.0	100.0		$7,874	$00	$7,874
Pinellas Mycroschool Of Integrated Academics And Technologi	Public, Charter	8-12	2220 62nd Ave S	St Petersburg	33712	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	Yes	(727) 825-3710	149	0		70.5%	22 (14.8%)	109 (73.2%)	10 (6.7%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.0%)	1.3	819^th of 838 public high schools	2.3%		2.2	802^nd of 844 public high schools	5.0%	17					0.0					0.0	11.0	0.0	13.0		$10,872	$1,264	$9,608
Lakewood High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	1400 54th Ave S	St Petersburg	33705	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 893-2916	880	49	17.9	55.1%	163 (18.5%)	585 (66.5%)	80 (9.1%)	18 (2.0%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	29 (3.3%)	53.9	286^th of 838 public high schools	65.9%		42	435^th of 844 public high schools	48.5%	149				61.0	64.0					56.0	62.0	77.0	72.0		$12,363	$809	$11,553
Lealman Innovation Academy	Public	5-12	4900 28th St N	St Petersburg	33714	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 528-5802	307	32	9.5	80.1%	54 (17.6%)	205 (66.8%)	32 (10.4%)	3 (1.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.6%)	0.8	836^th of 838 public high schools	0.2%		2.6	785^th of 844 public high schools	7.0%	51	7.0	11.0	5.0	5.0	0.0	0.0	6.0	9.0	3.0	5.0	4.0	12.0	9.0	11.0	$22,666	$1,725	$20,940

Frequently Asked Questions about Disston Academy

What district is Disston Academy in?

Pinellas

How many students attend Disston Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 63 students attended Disston Academy.

Is Disston Academy a good school?

Disston Academy ranks in the bottom 5.6% of Florida high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Disston Academy?

Students at Disston Academy are 60% African American, 22% White, 13% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

Rate Disston Academy!

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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.