Summary:
Zip code 34211 in Bradenton, Florida, is home to four schools within the Manatee County school district, serving a total of 5,125 students across one high school, one middle school, and two elementary schools, with the district itself ranked 40th out of 70 in Florida.
The standout academic performer is Dr Mona Jain Middle School, which achieves near-perfect proficiency rates in Algebra 1 (97%) and Geometry (100%) EOC exams, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 73rd-75th percentile statewide. B.D. Gullett Elementary School is another consistent high-performer, scoring 10-20 percentage points above district and state averages in English Language Arts and Math, with a low chronic absenteeism rate of 15.3% and a 4-star rating. In contrast, Imagine Charter At Lakewood Ranch is the only school in the zip code with a 2-star rating, ranking in the bottom 30th percentile, with test scores like 4th-grade ELA at 31% and 5th-grade Math at 38% critically below averages. Lakewood Ranch High School boasts an excellent graduation rate of 96.7% and strong Biology (84%) and US History (78%) scores, but its Algebra 1 proficiency of 48% is a notable weakness, falling 15 points below the state average.
A key takeaway is that spending does not equal success: Imagine Charter spends $11,871 per student—$1,879 more than B.D. Gullett—yet achieves dramatically worse outcomes, highlighting the challenges of serving a higher-needs population. Additionally, Dr. Mona Jain Middle School shows a "middle school dip" in 7th-grade Math proficiency at 49%, below the state average, suggesting a key intervention point despite its overall strength. The three district-run schools all hold 4-star ratings, while the charter school lags significantly, creating a clear performance divide within this small geographic area.
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