Summary:
Zip code 33704 in St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to two elementary schools serving grades PK through 5: North Shore Elementary School and Woodlawn Elementary School, both part of the Pinellas school district. These two schools present a compelling contrast in performance, demographics, and resource allocation, offering parents a clear choice based on their priorities.
North Shore Elementary School stands out as the top-performing school in the area, earning a 4-star rating for the 2025-2026 school year and ranking in the 75th percentile statewide. It consistently outperforms district averages in math and English language arts across all grade levels, with proficiency rates ranging from 63% to 77%. The school serves a larger student body of 433 students, with a lower rate of economic disadvantage (35.57% free/reduced lunch) and a chronic absenteeism rate of 24.4%. In contrast, Woodlawn Elementary School has shown a dramatic turnaround, climbing from a 1-star rating (16th percentile) in 2023-2024 to a 3-star rating (63rd percentile) in 2025-2026. Despite serving a higher-poverty population (75.93% free/reduced lunch) and facing a chronic absenteeism rate of 34.6%, Woodlawn receives significantly more resources, spending $21,787 per student compared to North Shore's $16,684, and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio of 10.5:1.
A key finding is the "3rd Grade Peak" at Woodlawn, where 3rd graders perform exceptionally well (76% ELA, 82% Math) but scores drop in 4th and 5th grades, suggesting strong early interventions that may need reinforcement in later years. Meanwhile, North Shore demonstrates steady, consistent performance across all grades. The data reveals that while North Shore functions as a stable, high-achieving neighborhood school, Woodlawn represents a school making significant strides through targeted investment, making it a compelling option for families seeking a school committed to improvement and student support.
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