Summary:
The seven schools in the 33781 zip code of Pinellas Park, FL, are part of the Pinellas district and include two elementary schools, one middle school, and four alternative schools, with no standard high school in the immediate area.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary stands out as the top-performing standard school, consistently earning a 3-star rating and outperforming Pinellas Park Elementary School in core subjects like math and English Language Arts, despite both serving similar high-poverty populations (66.97% and 72.41% free/reduced lunch, respectively). Pinellas Park Middle School presents a unique "math paradox": while it has a low 1-star overall rating and struggles with standard grade-level math (e.g., 9% proficiency in 7th grade math), it achieves 100% proficiency in Geometry and 82% in Algebra 1, suggesting strong acceleration for top students. The alternative schools—Ese Countywide, Nina Harris Ese Center, Richard L. Sanders School, and Hospital/Homebound—serve specialized student populations with intensive needs, reflected in very high per-student spending (up to $198,734 at Hospital/Homebound) and low student-teacher ratios (as low as 5.1 at Richard L. Sanders School).
Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern, especially at alternative schools, with Richard L. Sanders School reporting a 63.1% rate—more than double the district average of 30.6%. The absence of a standard high school means students from Pinellas Park Middle School must leave the zip code for high school, impacting community continuity. Overall, families in 33781 have a strong elementary option in Rawlings, a middle school with exceptional advanced math programs, and specialized schools for students with unique educational needs, but should be aware of the high poverty levels and absenteeism challenges across the area.
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