Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 34202

Zip code 34202 in the Lakewood Ranch/Bradenton area is home to three elementary schools—Robert Willis Elementary School, Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School, and Braden River Elementary School—serving grades PK-5 within the Manatee district. All three schools are strong performers, consistently earning 4 or 5 stars in state rankings, and they share a notable strength in mathematics, where every grade level at every school scores above the state average. Chronic absenteeism is also a major positive, with rates around 13%—far below the district’s 29% and state’s 31% averages—indicating high student engagement across the area.

Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School stands out as the top performer, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 95th percentile statewide. It excels in 5th-grade science with a 90% proficiency rate, 30 points above the state average, and leads in nearly all subjects. Robert Willis Elementary School is a close second, with a 4-star rating and 89th percentile rank, showing particularly strong math scores. Braden River Elementary School, while still earning 4 stars and ranking in the 82nd percentile, lags behind in English Language Arts, with 4th-grade proficiency below the state average. This performance gap exists despite Braden River having the highest per-student spending ($14,305) and the smallest class sizes (14.7:1), while Willis spends the least ($11,519) with larger classes (16.7:1).

A key takeaway is that socioeconomic factors appear to influence outcomes more than funding or class size. Braden River has a free/reduced lunch rate of 40.59%, nearly double that of McNeal (24.11%) and Willis (25.86%), which likely contributes to its lower test scores despite greater resources. For parents, this means McNeal offers the highest academic achievement, especially in science, while Willis provides excellent math performance with efficient spending. Braden River, though lower in ELA, still delivers solid math results and benefits from smaller classes, making it a viable option for families prioritizing individualized attention. Overall, zip code 34202 offers a range of high-quality elementary schools with distinct strengths.