Summary:
Zip code 34292 is home to a single school, Venice Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and is part of the highly-ranked Sarasota County school district (ranked 9th out of 70 districts in Florida).
Venice Middle School presents a fascinating paradox for parents. On one hand, it is a powerhouse in advanced math, with 89% of students proficient in Algebra 1 and an exceptional 95% proficient in Geometry—far exceeding state averages. The school also excels in Civics (87% proficiency) and has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 20.1%, which is significantly better than the state average of 31.4% and a strong sign of positive school culture. However, the school struggles dramatically with standard grade-level math. Proficiency drops from 49% in 6th grade to just 28% in 8th grade, a steep decline that is far below the state average of 61%. This suggests the school is highly effective at accelerating its top math students into advanced courses, but may be leaving average and struggling students behind. Furthermore, despite strong test scores, the school's state ranking has slipped from the 73rd percentile (4 stars) to the 62nd percentile (3 stars), indicating that other schools across Florida are improving at a faster pace.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Venice Middle School offers a high-quality education with notable strengths in advanced academics and student engagement, but it has a clear and significant weakness in 8th-grade math instruction. The school spends $13,744 per student and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 16.2:1, with 39.48% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. While the school is a standout in its district for advanced math and civics, families should be aware of the "math cliff" and inquire about support for students who are not on the advanced math track.
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