Summary:
Zip code 34947 in Fort Pierce, Florida, is home to five schools within the St. Lucie district, serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade in an area with high economic need, where all schools report over 55% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The standout performer is Fairlawn Elementary School, which consistently ranks in the top 12% of Florida elementary schools and achieves exceptional test scores—such as 85% proficiency in 5th-grade Science—despite 57% of its students being economically disadvantaged. In contrast, Performance Based Preparatory Academy struggles significantly, ranking in the bottom 12% of high schools with critically low proficiency rates (e.g., 6% in Geometry) and an alarming 88.6% chronic absenteeism rate, the highest in the area. Samuel S. Gaines Academy Of Emerging Technologies excels in advanced coursework, with 91% proficiency in Algebra 1, while Fort Pierce Westwood Academy The W.E.S.T. Prep Magnet boasts a strong 97.1% graduation rate but below-average test scores. Chester A. Moore Elementary School also faces challenges with higher absenteeism and lower rankings.
A key finding is that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes: Performance Based Prep spends over $22,000 per student yet has the worst results, while Fairlawn achieves top-tier performance with moderate spending. Chronic absenteeism emerges as the core issue, with the two highest-absenteeism schools also being the lowest-ranked, highlighting that improving attendance is critical. This zip code presents a stark educational divide, where Fairlawn Elementary serves as a model of excellence overcoming socioeconomic barriers, while other schools require targeted interventions to address attendance and academic gaps.
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