Summary:
Zip code 34684 in Palm Harbor, Florida, is home to four schools within the highly-rated Pinellas school district, serving students from elementary through middle school with a total enrollment of 2,417 students.
The standout school in the area is Lake St. George Elementary School, which has earned a 5-star rating and ranks in the 92nd percentile among Florida elementary schools. It consistently outperforms district and state averages, with 88% of 5th graders proficient in Science and 85% in Math. In contrast, Highland Lakes Elementary School faces significant challenges, holding a 3-star rating and ranking in the 61st percentile, with 5th-grade scores in ELA, Math, and Science all falling below state averages. Curlew Creek Elementary School and Joseph L. Carwise Middle School round out the options, with the middle school excelling in advanced coursework—100% of its students are proficient in Geometry and 79% in Algebra 1, far exceeding state averages. However, Carwise Middle shows a notable dip in 7th-grade math proficiency, with only 50% of students proficient compared to higher rates in 6th and 8th grades.
Chronic absenteeism across all schools is well below the district average of 30.6%, ranging from 15.8% at the elementary level to 24.9% at the middle school. Free/reduced lunch eligibility is relatively low (31% to 40%), indicating a generally higher socio-economic status. Per-student spending is consistent among elementary schools (~$14,400) but lower at the middle school ($11,539). The performance gap between Lake St. George and Highland Lakes is stark, with Lake St. George showing an upward trajectory in state rankings over three years, while Highland Lakes has declined, suggesting that factors like school culture and teaching quality are driving the divergence.
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