Summary:
Zip code 33774 in Largo, Florida, is served by two public elementary schools, Oakhurst Elementary School and Anona Elementary School, both part of the highly-rated Pinellas County School District, which ranks in the 79th percentile statewide.
When comparing the two schools, Oakhurst Elementary stands out for its efficiency and strong upper-grade performance. It spends significantly less per student ($12,853 vs. $14,789) and has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (14.5% vs. 20.0%), while still achieving competitive test scores. Oakhurst excels in 5th-grade science (83% vs. 79%) and shows remarkable student growth from 3rd to 5th grade, suggesting effective interventions for older students. However, its state ranking has been declining, dropping from the 87th to the 80th percentile over three years. In contrast, Anona Elementary shines in early education, with 3rd-grade scores (82% in both ELA and Math) that are the highest in the zip code and significantly outperform Oakhurst's 3rd-grade results. Anona also boasts a stable state ranking at the 84th percentile for three consecutive years and a lower student-teacher ratio (13.4:1 vs. 14.7:1), which may appeal to families seeking more individualized attention for younger children.
A key takeaway is the inverse relationship between spending and performance: Anona spends 15% more per student but does not consistently outperform Oakhurst, which achieves strong results with fewer resources. The most dramatic difference is the "3rd-grade gap," where Anona outperforms Oakhurst by 18 points in ELA and 9 points in math, a critical foundational year. Meanwhile, Oakhurst's exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate—less than half of Anona's—likely contributes to its strong upper-grade performance. For parents, the choice may come down to prioritizing early academic strength and stability (Anona) versus efficiency, growth in later grades, and lower absenteeism (Oakhurst).
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