Summary:
The five schools in Sarasota, FL (zip code 34232) serve a diverse range of students from elementary through high school, all within the highly-rated Sarasota School District, which ranks in the top 13% of Florida districts.
For families seeking top-tier elementary education, Fruitville Elementary School stands out for its consistent high performance, earning a 4-star rating and leading in core subjects like 5th Grade Math (84% proficient) and Science (71% proficient). However, the most dramatic story is Brentwood Elementary School, which executed a remarkable turnaround, jumping from a 3-star to a 4-star rating in one year with massive gains in 5th Grade Science (from 46% to 74% proficient). Sarasota Academy of the Arts is a volatile K-8 charter school with pockets of excellence (89% in 4th Grade Math) but significant inconsistency across grade levels. At the middle school level, McIntosh Middle School excels in advanced coursework, with 95% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 100% in Geometry. The only high school in the zip code, Sarasota County Acceleration Academies, is an alternative school for at-risk students with a 31.1% graduation rate and a 53:1 student-teacher ratio, making it incomparable to traditional high schools.
A key concern across the area is chronic absenteeism, with all four traditional schools exceeding the district average of 20.1%, and Sarasota Academy of the Arts reaching a critical 36.2%. Spending does not directly correlate with performance; Brentwood spends the most per student ($23,848) but ranks slightly below Fruitville ($17,247 per student). This suggests that how money is allocated matters more than the total amount. Overall, families in 34232 have access to excellent elementary options with strong math and science programs, but should be aware of attendance challenges and the lack of a traditional high school in the immediate area.
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