Best High Schools in Zip Code 33765

Zip code 33765 in Clearwater, Florida, is home to two high schools—Pinellas Gulf Coast Academy and Pinellas Teleschool—that serve grades 9-12 and 6-12 respectively, both part of the Pinellas district, which ranks in the 79th percentile statewide.

These two schools present a stark contrast in resources and outcomes. Pinellas Gulf Coast Academy spends $18,021 per student—nearly three times more than Pinellas Teleschool’s $6,194—yet both struggle academically. Gulf Coast Academy has a 70.5% graduation rate and ranks in the bottom 6% of Florida high schools, with proficiency rates as low as 0% in Geometry and 7% in Biology. Pinellas Teleschool is in a more severe crisis: a 5.3% graduation rate and a 71.2% chronic absenteeism rate, the highest in the dataset. Both schools serve high percentages of economically disadvantaged students (55% and 75% respectively), and chronic absenteeism is a critical issue—48.5% at Gulf Coast Academy and 71.2% at Teleschool—far exceeding the district average of 30.6%.

The most striking takeaway is the spending-versus-outcome paradox: Pinellas Gulf Coast Academy invests heavily but sees minimal academic return, while Pinellas Teleschool receives far less funding despite serving the most at-risk students. This suggests that deep-rooted challenges—likely tied to poverty and student disengagement—are not being addressed effectively by either school. For parents, these data indicate that zip code 33765 faces significant educational hurdles, with neither school providing a strong pathway to academic success or graduation.