Summary:
In zip code 34208, there is one high school, Southeast High School, serving grades 8 through 12 in Bradenton, Florida, a community where 65.63% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Southeast High School presents a striking paradox: it boasts a very high graduation rate of 94.8% for the 2024-2025 school year, significantly exceeding both the Manatee district average of 87.6% and the state average of 92.2%. However, this success in graduating students contrasts sharply with its academic performance, which is consistently well below district and state averages. For example, only 18% of students are proficient in Algebra 1, compared to 63% statewide, and just 38% are proficient in 9th and 10th grade English Language Arts, versus 60% and 61% statewide. The school also has an alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rate of 44.3% for the 2023-2024 school year, far exceeding the district (29.4%) and state (31.4%) averages, which is likely a major factor driving the low test scores.
The school's state ranking has been on a clear downward trend, dropping from a 2-star rating (30th percentile) in 2023-2024 to a 1-star rating (22nd percentile) for the 2025-2026 school year. While all subject scores are below state averages, Southeast High School shows relative strength in US History (64% proficient) and Biology 1 (55% proficient), with its most significant weakness in foundational math. The school serves a high-poverty community, which is a well-known challenge, but the significant gaps compared to the district and state indicate systemic issues that need attention, particularly in addressing chronic absenteeism and improving core academic mastery.
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