Summary:
Zip code 34212 in Bradenton, FL, is home to two high-performing elementary schools, Gene Witt Elementary School and Freedom Elementary School, both serving grades PK-5 within the Manatee school district.
Gene Witt Elementary School stands out as the top performer in the area, ranking in the 90th percentile of Florida elementary schools and earning a 5-star rating. It boasts significantly higher academic proficiency rates than its counterpart, such as 86% in 3rd-grade math and 77% in 5th-grade science, compared to 72% and 62% at Freedom Elementary School. Gene Witt also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (10.3% vs. 16.5%) and a lower percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (27.9% vs. 43.89%). Both schools, however, far exceed district and state averages in nearly every subject, making this zip code a strong choice for elementary education within Manatee County.
Key metrics show both schools have similar enrollments (around 740 students) and student-teacher ratios (about 16:1), though Gene Witt spends slightly more per student ($12,514 vs. $11,911). An interesting anomaly is that both schools report 100% proficiency in 6th-grade math, likely reflecting a small group of advanced students rather than the general population. Overall, while Gene Witt Elementary School leads in consistent excellence, Freedom Elementary School remains a solid, above-average option for families in the area.
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