Summary:
The nine schools in zip code 34203 (Bradenton, FL) are part of the Manatee district, which is ranked 40th out of 70 in Florida, and include six elementary schools, two high schools, and one alternative school, with no traditional middle schools present.
The standout school in the area is Tara Elementary School, which consistently ranks in the 80th-87th percentile statewide (4 stars) and significantly outperforms other local elementary schools like Blanche H. Daughtrey Elementary and Oneco Elementary School, which rank in the bottom 20th percentile. Braden River High School serves as the benchmark for secondary education with a solid 54th percentile ranking and a strong 94.1% graduation rate, though it struggles with Algebra 1 proficiency (28% vs. 63% statewide). Manatee Charter School presents a paradox: it has a low overall ranking (19th percentile) but excels in high school-level exams, with 83% proficiency in Algebra 1 and Biology 1. Visible Men Academy is a small elementary school (49 students) showing an upward trend, improving from the 39th to the 55th percentile over three years. Three specialized schools at 6423 9th St E—Access To Education, Amikids Manatee, and School Ofacademic & Behavioral Learning Exc (Sable) Grade Cod—serve at-risk populations with very high chronic absenteeism rates (51.6%-62.5%) and per-student spending over $50,000.
Key metrics reveal a high level of economic need, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 66.2% across all schools. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, averaging 28.6% for traditional schools and a staggering 56.7% for the specialized cluster. Per-student spending varies dramatically, from an average of $12,351 for traditional schools to $52,239 for the specialized schools. The absence of a traditional middle school means students must transition outside the area, which can be disruptive. Tara Elementary stands out as a model of high performance despite economic challenges, with low absenteeism (14.8%) and higher spending ($14,251 per student), suggesting that investment can yield positive results.
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