Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

Summary:

Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology is a public charter middle school located in Spring Hill, Florida that serves grades 6-8 with an enrollment of 212 students. This high-performing school has consistently been ranked among the top middle schools in Hernando county and the state of Florida, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past several years.

Gulf Coast Academy stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with students consistently outperforming the Hernando district and the state of Florida in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school had a remarkable 95% proficiency rate in Algebra 1 EOC, compared to just 45% for the Hernando district and 55% for the state. Additionally, the school has a higher percentage of Hispanic and multi-racial students compared to the surrounding Chasco Middle School, River Ridge Middle School, and other schools in the Hernando district, indicating a commitment to serving a diverse student population.

Another standout feature of Gulf Coast Academy is its significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates compared to the Hernando district and the state. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school had a 3.7% chronic absenteeism rate, compared to 50.8% at D.S. Parrott Middle School and 38.5% at Fox Chapel Middle School. This suggests that the school has effective strategies in place to engage students and promote regular attendance, which is crucial for academic success. Additionally, Gulf Coast Academy has a higher per-student spending of $9,547 compared to the Hernando district, which may contribute to the school's exceptional performance.

Detail:

Public, Charter 6-8

10444 Tillery Rd
Spring Hill, FL 34608

(352) 688-5092

District: Hernando

SchoolDigger Rank:
87^th of 1,196 Florida Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,547

Student/teacher ratio: 16.3

Number of students: 212

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.0%

Hispanic:

23.1%

Two or more races:

4.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 35.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology ranks better than 92.7% of middle schools in Florida. It also ranks first among 6 ranked middle schools in the Hernando School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.65. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (67%), Hispanic (23.1%), two or more races (4.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 35.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Hernando School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology is 16.3, which is the 3^rd best among 6 middle schools in the Hernando School District. (See more...)

Compare Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology employs 13 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology is $9,547. 3 middle schools in the Hernando School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology 87^th of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology in the ranking list.)

Hernando:

SchoolDigger ranks Hernando 44^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology.

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Rank History for Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	FL State Percentile
2004	51.75	307^th	593	48.2%
2005	81.14	94^th	602	84.4%
2006	92.78	29^th	675	95.7%
2007	92.73	32^nd	736	95.7%
2008	89.96	50^th	740	93.2%
2009	88.57	60^th	780	92.3%
2010	90.60	43^rd	839	94.9%
2011	87.58	79^th	891	91.1%
2012	93.45	33^rd	897	96.3%
2013	86.98	87^th	956	90.9%
2014	88.40	81^st	999	91.9%
2016	91.68	56^th	997	94.4%
2017	91.34	78^th	1031	92.4%
2018	92.85	55^th	1035	94.7%
2019	91.59	60^th	1099	94.5%
2021	93.15	55^th	1136	95.2%
2022	93.48	46^th	1148	96.0%
2023	90.85	72^nd	1177	93.9%
2024	89.65	87^th	1196	92.7%

See the entire list of Florida Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3)

50%

Reviews:

by a parent
Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Ever since my son attended Gulf Coast Academy 10 years ago, I have closely observed the quality, style and effectiveness of education at GCA. I have watched students who hated school get turned around because "somebody cared"; I have seen students get inspired by hands-on learning and explore subjects on their own initiative; I have seen parents gladly inconvenience themselves and rearrange their schedules because they were excited about the changes they saw in their children. AWESOME WORK! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2004	100	1	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	107
2005	99	1	1	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	109
2006	105	3	1	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	117
2007	107	2	1	3	1	n/a	n/a	5	119
2008	99	6	2	4	1	n/a	n/a	8	120
2009	93	3	3	4	1	n/a	n/a	9	113
2010	96	7	11	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	119
2011	99	5	7	9	0	0	0	0	120
2012	101	2	5	10	0	0	2	0	120
2013	101	3	4	9	0	0	3	0	120
2014	97	3	3	10	0	0	3	0	116
2015	111	1	3	16	0	0	3	0	134
2016	93	3	1	24	0	0	5	0	126
2017	92	3	3	22	0	0	6	0	126
2018	89	2	4	24	0	0	5	0	124
2019	176	7	6	36	0	1	10	0	236
2020	173	7	2	39	0	1	14	0	236
2021	164	9	1	44	1	0	13	0	232
2022	151	8	0	48	1	0	6	0	214
2023	142	7	2	49	3	0	9	0	212

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	107	6.0	17.8	33.6
2005	109	0.0	n/a	27.5
2006	117	n/a	n/a	28.2
2007	119	5.0	23.8	33.3
2008	120	n/a	n/a	38.4
2009	113	4.5	28.3	41.3
2010	119	n/a	n/a	47.9
2011	120	6.0	20.0	47.5
2012	120	5.0	24.0	40.8
2013	120	6.0	20.0	35.8
2014	116	8.0	14.5	37.1
2015	134	7.0	19.1	32.8
2016	126	7.0	18.0	42.1
2017	126	8.0	15.7	41.3
2018	124	11.0	11.2	35.5
2019	236	17.0	13.8	25
2020	236	16.0	14.7	30.9
2021	232	16.0	14.5	31
2022	214	13.0	16.4	37.4
2023	212	13.0	16.3	35.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	107	6.0	17.8	33.6
2005	109	0.0	n/a	27.5
2006	117	n/a	n/a	28.2
2007	119	5.0	23.8	33.3
2008	120	n/a	n/a	38.4
2009	113	4.5	28.3	41.3
2010	119	n/a	n/a	47.9
2011	120	6.0	20.0	47.5
2012	120	5.0	24.0	40.8
2013	120	6.0	20.0	35.8
2014	116	8.0	14.5	37.1
2015	134	7.0	19.1	32.8
2016	126	7.0	18.0	42.1
2017	126	8.0	15.7	41.3
2018	124	11.0	11.2	35.5
2019	236	17.0	13.8	25
2020	236	16.0	14.7	30.9
2021	232	16.0	14.5	31
2022	214	13.0	16.4	37.4
2023	212	13.0	16.3	35.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$00 (0.0%)	$7,597 (100.0%)	$7,597
2019	$00 (0.0%)	$7,648 (100.0%)	$7,648
2020	$00 (0.0%)	$7,815 (100.0%)	$7,815
2021	$230 (2.7%)	$8,422 (97.3%)	$8,652
2022	$797 (5.1%)	$14,773 (94.9%)	$15,570
2023	$1,028 (10.8%)	$8,518 (89.2%)	$9,547

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 60^th of 1099 Middle schools	Ranks 72^nd of 1177 Middle schools	0.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	73	75	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Hernando)	52	46	6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	54	52	2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	83	89	6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Hernando)	53	43	10%
6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	55	49	6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	86	76	10%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Hernando)	53	47	6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	52	48	4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	92	84	8%
7th Grade Mathematics (Hernando)	62	56	6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	54	46	8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	91	83	8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Hernando)	53	38	15%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	49	7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	83	89	6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Hernando)	50	34	16%
8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	46	42	4%
8th Grade Science (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	72	68	4%
8th Grade Science (Hernando)	54	43	11%
8th Grade Science (Florida)	48	44	4%
End of Course Civics (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	92	92
End of Course Civics (Hernando)	75	61	14%
End of Course Civics (Florida)	71	66	5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology)	100	100
End of Course Algebra 1 (Hernando)	59	53	6%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)	62	54	8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	236	212	10.2%
African American	7	7
American Indian	0	3
Asian	6	2	66.7%
Hispanic	36	49	36.1%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	176	142	19.3%
Two or More Races	10	9	10%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	25%	35.4%	10.4%

Schools Near Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)						FAST Math (2024)					Statewide Science Science (2024)		EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Civics (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology	Public, Charter	6-8	10444 Tillery Rd	Spring Hill	34608	Hernando County	Hernando	Yes	No	No	No	(352) 688-5092	212	13	16.3	35.4%	142 (67.0%)	7 (3.3%)	49 (23.1%)	2 (0.9%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.2%)	89.6	87^th of 1196 public middle schools	92.7%		90.8	72^nd of 1177 public middle schools	93.9%	15			79.0	82.0		78.0			83.0	84.0	80.0		63.0	95.0		89.0	$9,547	$1,028	$8,518
Fox Chapel Middle School	Public	6-8	9412 Fox Chapel Ln	Spring Hill	34606	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 797-7025	862	46	18.7	68.9%	473 (54.9%)	76 (8.8%)	241 (28.0%)	11 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (6.8%)	18.2	1024^th of 1196 public middle schools	14.4%		15.7	1035^th of 1177 public middle schools	12.1%	11			43.0	25.0	32.0	90.0			35.0	18.0	25.0		28.0	51.0	79.0	45.0	$9,088	$1,606	$7,482
Powell Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	4100 Barclay Ave	Brooksville	34609	Hernando County	Hernando	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 797-7095	1,004	51	19.6	50.0%	533 (53.1%)	72 (7.2%)	314 (31.3%)	17 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	66 (6.6%)	34.1	805^th of 1196 public middle schools	32.7%		42.5	667^th of 1177 public middle schools	43.3%	138			53.0	44.0	26.0	80.0			47.0	37.0	38.0		36.0	80.0		63.0	$8,662	$1,118	$7,544
West Hernando Middle School	Public	6-8	14325 Ken Austin Pkwy	Brooksville	34613	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 797-7035	695	46	15.1	57.6%	344 (49.5%)	86 (12.4%)	212 (30.5%)	14 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (5.6%)	44.2	672^nd of 1196 public middle schools	43.8%		36.8	746^th of 1177 public middle schools	36.6%	74			54.0	42.0	33.0	90.0			47.0	39.0	68.0		42.0	73.0		64.0	$10,989	$1,768	$9,221
Hudson Academy	Public, Magnet	4-8	14540 Cobra Way	Hudson	34669	Pasco County	Pasco	No	Yes	No	Yes	(727) 774-8200	964	56	17.2	79.6%	665 (69.0%)	49 (5.1%)	170 (17.6%)	14 (1.5%)	12 (1.2%)	4 (0.4%)	50 (5.2%)	30.8	855^th of 1196 public middle schools	28.5%		37.3	737^th of 1177 public middle schools	37.4%	118	21.0	26.0	38.0	35.0	40.0		16.0	15.0	37.0	32.0	56.0	24.0	32.0	97.0		58.0	$9,759	$2,067	$7,693
Crews Lake Middle School.	Public	6-8	15144 Shady Hills Rd	Spring Hill	34610	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 346-1600	834	43	19.2	67.4%	595 (71.3%)	35 (4.2%)	162 (19.4%)	9 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	31 (3.7%)	28.6	881^st of 1196 public middle schools	26.3%		31.6	822^nd of 1177 public middle schools	30.2%	59			40.0	34.0	32.0				30.0	41.0	54.0		28.0	84.0		51.0	$8,360	$1,376	$6,984
D. S. Parrott Middle School	Public	6-8	19220 Youth Dr	Brooksville	34601	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 797-7075	835	44	18.9	66.9%	495 (59.3%)	111 (13.3%)	157 (18.8%)	11 (1.3%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (6.7%)	25.9	917^th of 1196 public middle schools	23.3%		21.9	951^st of 1177 public middle schools	19.2%	34			39.0	34.0	25.0	70.0			45.0	41.0	36.0		31.0	59.0		48.0	$9,554	$1,608	$7,946
Brooksville Engineering Science And Technology (B.E.S.T.)	Public, Charter	6-8	835 School St	Brooksville	34601	Hernando County	Hernando	Yes	No	No	No	(352) 544-2373	78	6	13.0	52.6%	40 (51.3%)	21 (26.9%)	11 (14.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.4%)	53.1	547^th of 1196 public middle schools	54.3%		58.5	449^th of 1177 public middle schools	61.9%	98			58.0	59.0	64.0				45.0	50.0			64.0	54.0		68.0	$9,950	$1,092	$8,857
Bayonet Point Middle School	Public	6-8	11125 Little Rd	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 774-7400	737	34	21.6	84.4%	382 (51.8%)	64 (8.7%)	227 (30.8%)	5 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	55 (7.5%)	17.5	1030^th of 1196 public middle schools	13.9%		17.3	1012^th of 1177 public middle schools	14.0%	18			38.0	29.0	30.0				21.0	23.0	34.0		25.0	83.0		50.0	$8,689	$1,565	$7,124
River Ridge Middle School	Public	6-8	11646 Town Center Rd	New Port Richey	34654	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	No	(727) 774-7200	1,107	61	18.2	48.1%	833 (75.2%)	38 (3.4%)	158 (14.3%)	19 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (5.2%)	47.9	619^th of 1196 public middle schools	48.2%		52.1	536^th of 1177 public middle schools	54.5%	83			50.0	50.0	48.0				45.0	41.0	56.0		48.0	81.0	97.0	70.0	$7,614	$831	$6,783

Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology

What district is Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology in?

Hernando

How many students attend Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology?

In the 2022-23 school year, 212 students attended Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology.

What is the racial makeup of Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology?

Students at Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology are 67% White, 23% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% African American, 1% American Indian.

Is Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology a good school?

Yes. Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology ranks in the top 7.3% of Florida middle schools.

Rate Gulf Coast Academy Of Science And Technology!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.