Summary:
Zip code 33756, spanning Clearwater and Largo in Florida, is home to three elementary schools within the Pinellas County school district, which ranks in the top 25% of Florida districts.
The standout performer in this area is Pinellas Academy Of Math And Science, a K-8 charter school that achieves the highest academic results despite having the lowest per-student spending ($9,612) and a higher student-teacher ratio. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 16.3% is less than half that of the other two schools, and its test scores far exceed district and state averages—including an 88% proficiency in Geometry and 81% in 3rd Grade Math. In contrast, Belleair Elementary School is the most challenged, with a 1-star rating and declining state rank to the 20th percentile. It has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (74.51%) and chronic absenteeism (35.3%), and only 41% of its 5th graders are proficient in Science and ELA. Ponce De Leon Elementary School occupies a middle ground, showing improvement and strong 5th Grade Math scores (79% proficiency), despite serving a similarly high-need population (71.43% free/reduced lunch) and having the highest per-student spending ($16,438).
A key takeaway is that spending does not directly correlate with performance—Pinellas Academy proves that efficient resource allocation and a focused instructional model can yield superior results. Chronic absenteeism emerges as a critical predictor of success, with the two lower-performing schools struggling with rates above 34%. Additionally, Ponce De Leon’s ability to outperform Belleair despite similar demographics highlights the impact of school-level factors like leadership and culture. For parents, Pinellas Academy offers a clear academic advantage, while Ponce De Leon represents a solid, improving option with significant district investment.
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