Summary:
Zip code 34981 in Fort Pierce, Florida, is home to two high schools within the St. Lucie district: the large, traditional Fort Pierce Central High School (serving grades 9-12) and the much smaller, specialized Pace Center For Girls Treasure Coast (serving grades 6-12). These two schools offer vastly different educational experiences, with Fort Pierce Central enrolling nearly 3,200 students and Pace Center serving just 46.
Fort Pierce Central High School stands out for its exceptionally high graduation rate of 96.9%, which surpasses both the district and state averages. However, this success is paired with a significant challenge: over half of its students (53.8%) are chronically absent, a rate far exceeding the state average of 31.4%. Academically, the school holds a 2-star state ranking and shows inconsistent performance, with students scoring well below state averages in math (28% proficient in Algebra 1) but closer to the state average in subjects like Biology (69%) and U.S. History (73%). In contrast, Pace Center For Girls Treasure Coast offers a highly individualized environment with a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 9.2:1, but it lacks standard test score and ranking data, making direct academic comparisons difficult.
A key takeaway for parents is the stark contrast in school environments and challenges. While Fort Pierce Central effectively graduates nearly all its students, its high chronic absenteeism rate and below-average test scores suggest underlying issues that may affect student learning. The school spends $8,711 per student. Meanwhile, Pace Center For Girls provides a small, supportive setting with a lower per-student cost ($7,711), but it also faces an even higher chronic absenteeism rate of 66.7%. Both schools serve different populations, with Fort Pierce Central having a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (53.18% free/reduced lunch) compared to Pace Center (21.74%).
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