Summary:
Zip code 34285 in Venice, FL, is home to a single large public high school, Venice Senior High School, serving grades 9-12 with an enrollment of 2,579 students as part of the Sarasota school district.
Venice Senior High School stands out as a high-performing institution with a state ranking in the top 20% of Florida high schools (80th percentile, 4 stars). The school boasts an exceptional graduation rate of 97.3%, significantly exceeding both the district (94.3%) and state (92.2%) averages. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 15.5% is notably low—less than half the state average of 31.4%—indicating strong student engagement. Academically, the school consistently outperforms state averages across most subjects, with particular strengths in Biology 1 (82% proficiency vs. 74% state) and US History (84% proficiency vs. 74% state). However, there is notable year-over-year volatility in some test scores, such as Algebra 1 proficiency dropping from 78% to 66% between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, while 10th Grade ELA proficiency rose from 67% to 75% in the same period.
One of the most interesting findings is that Venice Senior High School achieves these strong results despite per-student spending of $12,477, which is below the national average for high schools. This suggests efficient resource use or strong community support. The school serves a relatively more affluent population, with only 26.95% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. The low chronic absenteeism and high graduation rate are closely correlated, reinforcing that keeping students in class directly contributes to their likelihood of graduating. Overall, this is a well-regarded school with clear academic strengths, particularly in science and history, though families should be aware of the volatility in some math scores.
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