Best Public Schools in Zip Code 33709

Zip code 33709, covering Kenneth City and part of St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to four schools within the Pinellas County School District, including three elementary schools and one high school, with a notable mix of traditional public and charter options.

The standout school in the area is Plato Academy Of St. Petersburg, a K-8 charter school that earns a 3-star rating and significantly outperforms its peers. It leads in academic proficiency across nearly all subjects, with rates often 10-20 points above state averages, while also having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (17.7%) and the lowest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (31.28%). In stark contrast, Dixie M. Hollins High School struggles with a 1-star rating, proficiency rates well below state averages (e.g., Algebra 1 at 20% vs. 63% state), and a critically high chronic absenteeism rate of 46.5%. The two traditional elementary schools, Seventy-Fourth St. Elementary and Blanton Elementary School, both hold 2-star ratings and perform below district averages, though Blanton shows a bright spot in 5th-grade Science (77% proficient).

A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results: the two lowest-performing elementary schools spend nearly double per student ($15,809 and $17,341) compared to the top-performing charter school ($9,044). This suggests that factors like school culture and student engagement are more critical drivers of success. For parents, Plato Academy offers the strongest academic environment, while Dixie M. Hollins faces significant challenges with attendance and achievement. The elementary schools provide mixed results, with pockets of excellence in early grades but overall performance lagging behind the district.