Best Public Schools in Sarasota, FL

The Sarasota School District in Florida is home to 40 schools, including 24 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 7 high schools, and 4 alternative schools. The district is highly ranked, coming in 8th out of 68 districts in the state and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Several standout schools in the district include Suncoast Polytechnical High School, which is ranked 13th out of 807 high schools in Florida, and Southside Elementary School, which is ranked 10th out of 2,256 elementary schools in the state.

The high schools in the Sarasota School District have impressive 4-year graduation rates, ranging from 85.6% to 98.4%, with Suncoast Polytechnical High School leading the way at 98.4%. However, chronic absenteeism rates vary widely, from as low as 2.1% at Southside Elementary to as high as 74.1% at Triad. The district generally outperforms the state averages on standardized tests, with some schools like Southside Elementary and Lakeview Elementary achieving exceptionally high proficiency rates.

The student populations in the Sarasota School District are diverse, with some schools like Booker High School and Emma E. Booker Elementary having majority minority student bodies, while others like Alta Vista Elementary have a majority white student population. Per-student spending also varies significantly, from $10,393 at Sarasota High School to $64,088 at Oak Park School, an alternative school.