Summary:
Zip code 34986 in Port St. Lucie, Florida, is home to three high schools within the St. Lucie County school district, serving a mix of traditional public and charter school students from grades 6 through 12.
The standout school in this area is Somerset College Preparatory Academy, which dramatically outperforms its peers. It ranks in the 88th percentile statewide (4-star school) and boasts exceptional academic results, including a 98% proficiency rate in Biology 1 and a 99.3% graduation rate. In stark contrast, St. Lucie West Centennial High, the only traditional public high school in the zip code, faces significant challenges. It ranks in the 39th percentile (2-star school) and has alarmingly low math scores, with only 15% of students proficient in Algebra 1 compared to the state average of 63%. Chronic absenteeism is also a major issue at Centennial, affecting 40.4% of students—nearly double the rate at Somerset Prep (23.6%). The third school, Somerset Career Academy, is a very small charter school with only 40 students and a low student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1, but its limited academic data makes it difficult to compare directly.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results. Somerset Career Academy spends the most per student ($21,637) but has little performance data, while Somerset Prep spends the least ($6,744) yet achieves the highest scores. For parents, Somerset College Preparatory Academy clearly offers the strongest academic environment, while St. Lucie West Centennial High requires careful consideration due to its low math proficiency and high absenteeism rates.
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