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Southside Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

15^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 99% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Southside Elementary School is a high-performing K-5 public school in Sarasota, FL, serving 696 students as part of the highly-ranked Sarasota County School District.

Southside Elementary stands out as an elite academic powerhouse, consistently earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past decade and ranking in the top 1% of Florida elementary schools (15th out of 2,240 in 2025-2026). Its test scores are uniformly exceptional, with proficiency rates ranging from 87% to 98% across all subjects and grades—dramatically higher than most nearby schools. For example, while Southside's 3rd-grade math proficiency reached 98%, nearby schools like Tuttle Elementary School and Wilkinson Elementary School typically score in the 40-70% range. The school also boasts exceptionally low chronic absenteeism at 10.5%, which is half the district average and a third of the state average. Only Phillippi Shores Elementary School, located 1.63 miles away, comes close to matching Southside's performance, ranking 228th in the state with solid test scores in the 70-87% range.

Interestingly, Southside's high performance is not driven by higher spending—it spends $14,291 per student, the second-lowest among nearby schools. In contrast, schools with the highest spending, such as Brentwood Elementary School ($23,848) and Emma E. Booker Elementary School ($22,923), rank in the bottom 35-40% of the state. This suggests that Southside's success is driven by factors like strong parental involvement and school culture. Math is a particular strength, with near-perfect proficiency rates that set it apart even from strong nearby schools. For parents seeking a school with consistent, top-tier academic performance and high attendance, Southside Elementary is an outstanding choice within the Sarasota area.

696

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,291

Per pupil spending ?

22.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1901 Webber St
Sarasota, FL 34239

(941) 361-6420

District: Sarasota

Students who attend Southside Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Booker Middle School
High:	Booker High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.6%

Hispanic:

12.6%

Two or more races:

6.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Southside Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 93rd percentile in 2016 → 99th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (92% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Florida elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 6 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school92%

District avg73%

Florida avg62%

15^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 7% (2016) to top 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 31Elementary Schools in the Sarasota

9^th of 70Sarasota 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	96.6	15 of 2240	99.3%	★★★★★
2025	95.9	29 of 2258	98.7%	★★★★★
2024	97.7	10 of 2256	99.6%	★★★★★
2023	96.3	30 of 2240	98.7%	★★★★★
2022	94.0	68 of 2219	96.9%	★★★★★
2021	93.5	94 of 2247	95.8%	★★★★★
2019	93.5	64 of 2182	97.1%	★★★★★
2018	93.2	74 of 2118	96.5%	★★★★★
2017	95.5	29 of 2112	98.6%	★★★★★
2016	90.8	137 of 2087	93.4%	★★★★★
2014	89.7	152 of 2064	92.6%	★★★★★
2013	88.8	169 of 2029	91.7%	★★★★★
2012	88.2	168 of 1984	91.5%	★★★★★
2011	90.4	99 of 1985	95.0%	★★★★★
2010	89.8	107 of 1919	94.4%	★★★★★
2009	91.8	65 of 1847	96.5%	★★★★★
2008	92.7	54 of 1789	97.0%	★★★★★
2007	85.6	200 of 1786	88.8%	★★★★☆
2006	89.1	142 of 1688	91.6%	★★★★★

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math96%+31 vs state

Science91%+31 vs state

English Language Arts89%+28 vs state

3.7

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Saturday, May 21, 2016

Southside is excellent. The Teacher are very good, careing, loving, They do their best in teaching our children. I am a Grandparent. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, June 12, 2014

Southside is a school that is filled with opportunities for kids K-5. All students have the opportunity to learn all four art forms in addition to pe, technology and science in the special area classes. Parents are quite involved and make the school even more special. The school year culminates in a production that includes over 100 kids on the Player's Theater Stage. This is a special place filled with great teachers and staff who care deeply about teaching and learning. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, April 4, 2014

Southside rests on its historical reputation. There has been a change in leadership 4 years ago and after having issues with the teacher, nothing has been done to correct it. The school has a very negative vibe, and the women are being allowed to live out their aggressions on moms. Instead of addressing bad grades and finding remedies, they send out emails about less important rules to be followed during teaching time. Shows their goal at heart is NOT advancing kids but just living out their personal issues. Close Quote

Schools Near Southside Elementary School

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 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 Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southside Elementary School	Public	K-5	1901 Webber St	Sarasota	34239	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6420	696	46	15.1	22.1%	526 (75.6%)	22 (3.2%)	88 (12.6%)	14 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.6%)	96.6	15^th of 2240 public elementary schools	99.3%		95.9	29^th of 2258 public elementary schools	98.7%	14	90.0	87.0	89.0				98.0	95.0	94.0				91.0				$14,291	$220	$14,071
Alta Vista Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1050 S Euclid Ave	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6400	453	33	13.7	84.3%	109 (24.1%)	74 (16.3%)	226 (49.9%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.2%)	65.3	746^th of 2240 public elementary schools	66.7%		57.3	941^st of 2258 public elementary schools	58.3%	195	60.0	64.0	53.0				75.0	78.0	76.0				71.0				$21,464	$2,908	$18,556
Suncoast School For Innovative Studies	Public, Charter	K-5	845 S School Ave	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	Yes	(941) 952-5277	96	7	13.7	85.4%	14 (14.6%)	42 (43.8%)	33 (34.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (7.3%)	2.1	2222^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	0.8%		29.5	1660^th of 2258 public elementary schools	26.5%	562			27.0						27.0				13.0				$11,667	$1,293	$10,375
Phillippi Shores Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4747 S Tamiami Trl	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	Yes	No	No	(941) 361-6424	696	44	15.8	34.8%	466 (67.0%)	44 (6.3%)	139 (20.0%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (5.7%)	86.2	228^th of 2240 public elementary schools	89.8%		88	226^th of 2258 public elementary schools	90.0%	2	78.0	71.0	77.0				81.0	83.0	87.0				81.0				$15,150	$255	$14,896
Wilkinson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3400 Wilkinson Rd	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6477	422	33	12.9	72.5%	159 (37.7%)	52 (12.3%)	176 (41.7%)	8 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.2%)	36.3	1496^th of 2240 public elementary schools	33.2%		27.1	1722^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	23.7%	226	59.0	44.0	48.0				67.0	58.0	52.0				52.0				$23,696	$3,263	$20,434
Tuttle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2863 8th St	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6433	698	51	13.6	79.4%	124 (17.8%)	80 (11.5%)	453 (64.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.4%)	34.1	1557^th of 2240 public elementary schools	30.5%		34.7	1504^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.4%	53	50.0	41.0	48.0				61.0	47.0	61.0				60.0				$18,768	$2,803	$15,966
Emma E. Booker Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2350 Dr Martin Luther King Way	Sarasota	34234	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6480	451	32	14.0	86.3%	56 (12.4%)	224 (49.7%)	109 (24.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (13.5%)	44.8	1277^th of 2240 public elementary schools	43.0%		36.7	1457^th of 2258 public elementary schools	35.5%	180	59.0	58.0	59.0				71.0	63.0	45.0				48.0				$22,923	$3,363	$19,560
Sarasota Academy Of The Arts	Public, Charter	K-8	582 McIntosh Rd	Sarasota	34232	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 377-2278	193	17	11.1	55.4%	94 (48.7%)	5 (2.6%)	72 (37.3%)	3 (1.6%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (9.3%)	64.5	770^th of 2240 public elementary schools	65.6%		31.5	1601^st of 2258 public elementary schools	29.1%	831	69.0	79.0	63.0	52.0	39.0	62.0	88.0	89.0	53.0	63.0	56.0	47.0	79.0	38.0	62.0	86.0	$10,470	$200	$10,270
Brentwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Vinson Ave	Sarasota	34232	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6230	590	47	12.5	61.7%	298 (50.5%)	68 (11.5%)	187 (31.7%)	8 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.7%)	72.7	559^th of 2240 public elementary schools	75.0%		53.7	1025^th of 2258 public elementary schools	54.6%	466	71.0	58.0	72.0				76.0	73.0	75.0				74.0				$23,848	$3,323	$20,525
Gulf Gate Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6500 S Lockwood Ridge Rd	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6499	596	45	13.2	54.9%	371 (62.2%)	17 (2.9%)	163 (27.3%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (6.5%)	65.7	733^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	67.3%		59.2	898^th of 2258 public elementary schools	60.2%	165	66.0	75.0	67.0				65.0	73.0	60.0				67.0				$19,235	$1,528	$17,708

Frequently Asked Questions about Southside Elementary School

How many students attend Southside Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 696 students attended Southside Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Southside Elementary School?

Students at Southside Elementary School are 76% White, 13% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

Is Southside Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Southside Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 15^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools.

What district is Southside Elementary School in?

Sarasota

What schools do graduates of Southside Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Southside Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Booker Middle School
High : Booker 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.