Summary:
Zip code 33782 in Pinellas Park, Florida, is home to five schools within the Pinellas County school district, primarily serving elementary grades (PK-5) with one specialized high school, and features a mix of traditional public and charter options.
The standout academic performer is Pinellas Central Elementary School, the only school in the area to earn a 4-star rating from Schooldigger, ranking in the 74th percentile statewide with strong math proficiency, including 88% in 4th grade. In contrast, Cross Bayou Elementary School ranks lowest at the 17th percentile (1 star) despite having the highest per-student spending at $19,172, illustrating that spending does not guarantee success. Plato Academy Pinellas Park Charter School spends the least ($8,560 per student) but achieves exceptional results in advanced high school courses, with 96% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 100% in Geometry. Skyview Elementary School falls in the middle, with a 2-star rating and chronic absenteeism at 31.4%, slightly above the state average. Pace Center For Girls serves a unique, at-risk population with only 36 students, facing significant challenges like an 84.2% chronic absenteeism rate and a 40% graduation rate, making it a specialized school where traditional test scores are less relevant.
Key takeaways include that resource allocation matters more than total spending, as seen with Cross Bayou and Plato Academy. The charter school shows a clear strength in accelerating students in math, while Pinellas Central is on an upward trajectory, improving its state ranking from the 53rd to 74th percentile in recent years. Overall, families in this zip code have diverse options, from high-performing elementary schools to specialized programs, but should carefully consider each school's unique strengths and challenges.
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