Summary:
There are three elementary schools in zip code 34237 in Sarasota, Florida, serving grades PK-5 within the highly-rated Sarasota school district, an area where a majority of students (79-85%) come from low-income households.
Alta Vista Elementary School is the standout performer, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 67th percentile statewide. It consistently meets or exceeds district averages in Math and Science, despite having the highest poverty rate (84%) among the three schools. In contrast, Suncoast School For Innovative Studies faces significant challenges, with a 0-star rating, the lowest state ranking (1st percentile), and an alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rate of 41.5%. Tuttle Elementary School sits in the middle, with the largest enrollment (698 students) and the lowest chronic absenteeism (26.7%), but its academic performance falls below district averages in nearly every subject.
A key takeaway is that funding and resources vary dramatically. Alta Vista spends $21,464 per student—nearly double Suncoast’s $11,667—and this investment appears to pay off in academic results. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue across all three schools, with rates exceeding the district average of 20.1%. Suncoast’s small enrollment (96 students) also leads to volatile test scores, where a single cohort can dramatically shift results. Overall, while the district is top-ranked, these schools show uneven performance, with Alta Vista defying socioeconomic odds and Suncoast struggling with both funding and attendance challenges.
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