Summary:
The nine public schools in zip code 34997 (Stuart, Florida) serve students from Pre-K through 12th grade within the Martin County School District, a district ranked in the 50th percentile statewide, and present a starkly divided educational landscape where a family's school choice can mean the difference between a top-5% institution and one in the bottom 20%.
The standout performers are Clark Advanced Learning Center and Treasure Coast Classical Academy. Clark, a magnet high school, achieves a 100% graduation rate and near-perfect test scores (100% proficient in Biology 1) with the lowest chronic absenteeism (10.5%) and lowest spending per student ($8,112) in the area. Treasure Coast Classical Academy, a K-12 charter, posts exceptional End-of-Course exam scores (97% proficient in Algebra 1) and has the lowest poverty rate (7.95%). Among traditional elementary schools, Crystal Lake Elementary School leads with 86% of 3rd graders proficient in math, outperforming Port Salerno Elementary School and Pinewood Elementary School, which rank in the 19th percentile. In contrast, Willoughby Learning Center, an alternative school for high-needs students, has the highest chronic absenteeism (67.6%) and lowest test scores (0% proficient in 8th-grade ELA), despite spending $59,228 per student.
Chronic absenteeism emerges as the strongest predictor of performance, with the top three schools having rates below 21% and the bottom schools exceeding 40%. The "middle school slump" is severe: Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School and Murray Middle School show dramatic drops in proficiency compared to area elementary schools. South Fork High School, the largest school with 1,775 students, maintains a decent 94.7% graduation rate but struggles with a 42.6% chronic absenteeism rate, the second-highest in the zip code, which drags down its test scores below district averages.
Thank you for your feedback!