Summary:
Zip code 34286 in North Port, Florida, is served by two public elementary schools, Lamarque Elementary School and Cranberry Elementary School, both part of the highly-rated Sarasota County School District.
Cranberry Elementary School stands out as the higher-performing school in the area. It consistently earns a higher state ranking, currently in the 70th percentile compared to Lamarque’s 49th percentile, and has achieved a 4-star rating in two of the last three years. Cranberry outperforms Lamarque in most core subjects, with a particularly strong lead in 4th grade math (78% proficiency vs. 54%) and 3rd grade math (70% vs. 60%). Notably, Cranberry achieves these results despite having a slightly higher percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch (66.17% vs. 64%) and a lower chronic absenteeism rate (20.2% vs. 27.5%), suggesting a more engaged school culture. While Cranberry spends slightly more per student ($17,607 vs. $17,128), the difference is modest and does not fully explain its academic edge.
Lamarque Elementary School shows positive momentum, with its state ranking improving from the 49th to the 62nd percentile over the past three years. It also excels in 5th grade math, where 76% of students are proficient, outperforming Cranberry’s 71% and exceeding both district and state averages. However, Lamarque faces a significant challenge with chronic absenteeism at 27.5%, which is well above the district average of 20.1% and likely contributes to its lower overall test scores. For parents, Cranberry offers the strongest academic track record, while Lamarque is a school on the rise with notable strengths in upper-grade math.
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