Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

Q: Is Sawgrass Lake Elementary School a good school?

Sawgrass Lake Elementary School ranks 917 th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Sawgrass Lake Elementary School is a public elementary school located in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 596. The school is part of the Pinellas District, which is ranked 23 out of 68 districts in Florida and is rated 3 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Sawgrass Lake has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (23.49%) and African American (22.99%) students. The school also faces challenges, including a significantly higher chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 28.6% to 37.7% over the past few years, which is higher than the district and state averages. Sawgrass Lake's test scores in English Language Arts and Math are generally lower than the district and state averages, with proficiency rates ranging from 35% to 58% across different grade levels and subjects. Additionally, the school has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 54.96% to 63.09% over the past few years, indicating a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Shore Acres Elementary, which is located about 3 miles away and has significantly higher test scores and a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, Sawgrass Lake faces several challenges. The school's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years but has generally declined, dropping from a ranking of 981 out of 2,064 Florida elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 1,321 out of 2,240 in 2022-2023, with a consistent 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. The higher per-student spending at Sawgrass Lake, ranging from $11,091 to $13,202 over the past few years, suggests the school is allocating resources to address these challenges, but the results have not yet translated into improved academic outcomes.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1815 77th Ave N
St Petersburg, FL 33702

(727) 570-3121

District: Pinellas

SchoolDigger Rank:
917^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,202

Students who attend Sawgrass Lake Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Meadowlawn Middle School
High:	Northeast High School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.5

Number of students: 596

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.6%

Hispanic:

23.5%

African American:

23.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 63.1%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Sawgrass Lake Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Sawgrass Lake Elementary School ranks better than 59.4% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 53^rd among 90 ranked elementary schools in the Pinellas School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 57.19. (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 Student population at Sawgrass Lake Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (44.6%), Hispanic (23.5%), African American (23%). (See more...)

Compare Details 63.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sawgrass Lake Elementary School is 13.5, which is the 42^nd best among 90 elementary schools in the Pinellas School District. (See more...)

Compare Sawgrass Lake Elementary School employs 44 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sawgrass Lake Elementary School is $13,202, which is the 44^th highest among 90 elementary schools in the Pinellas School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Sawgrass Lake Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Pinellas:

SchoolDigger ranks Pinellas 23^rd of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Sawgrass Lake Elementary School.

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Rank History for Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	34.97	1139^th	1688	32.5%
2007	35.77	1212^th	1786	32.1%
2008	35.06	1244^th	1789	30.5%
2009	51.00	962^nd	1847	47.9%
2010	61.36	783^rd	1919	59.2%
2011	51.66	1006^th	1985	49.3%
2012	49.36	1012^th	1984	49.0%
2013	40.57	1215^th	2029	40.1%
2014	52.33	981^st	2064	52.5%
2016	44.01	1171^st	2087	43.9%
2017	39.89	1287^th	2112	39.1%
2018	51.94	1004^th	2118	52.6%
2019	43.29	1235^th	2182	43.4%
2021	36.35	1409^th	2247	37.3%
2022	47.46	1125^th	2219	49.3%
2023	40.61	1321^st	2240	41.0%
2024	57.19	917^th	2256	59.4%

See the entire list of Florida Elementary 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: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, October 13, 2016

Sawgrass Lake is a great school. All 3 of our older children attended Sawgrass for elementary school. All three are top rank in their high schools now. They got a great foundation at Sawgrass. Our youngest is there now. It's a well run school. The low ratings on this site are not representative of the school. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1992	554	151	24	24	2	n/a	n/a	0	755
1993	600	184	19	22	0	n/a	n/a	0	825
1994	661	200	23	28	0	n/a	n/a	0	912
1995	546	203	31	30	3	n/a	n/a	0	813
1996	546	203	31	30	3	n/a	n/a	0	813
1997	570	224	35	38	7	n/a	n/a	0	874
1998	552	197	16	38	4	n/a	n/a	0	807
1999	531	213	17	38	5	n/a	n/a	0	804
2000	561	226	17	57	6	n/a	n/a	0	867
2001	496	244	23	49	8	n/a	n/a	0	820
2002	621	239	37	54	7	n/a	n/a	0	958
2003	621	239	37	54	7	n/a	n/a	0	958
2004	402	240	25	44	8	n/a	n/a	0	719
2005	381	227	24	37	3	n/a	n/a	0	672
2006	339	261	22	37	4	n/a	n/a	0	663
2007	308	231	19	38	3	n/a	n/a	56	655
2008	314	173	21	35	2	n/a	n/a	60	605
2009	358	135	27	45	4	n/a	n/a	47	616
2010	447	106	43	84	5	n/a	n/a	60	745
2011	474	124	36	131	3	0	38	0	806
2012	495	131	44	121	2	1	41	0	835
2013	426	105	43	99	1	1	30	0	705
2014	428	109	31	106	1	1	29	0	705
2015	379	145	24	101	2	0	40	0	691
2016	390	151	30	108	0	0	29	0	708
2017	365	141	32	105	2	0	32	0	677
2018	360	138	26	134	0	0	37	0	695
2019	322	132	15	113	0	0	25	0	607
2020	307	124	15	121	0	1	36	0	604
2021	290	130	16	105	0	1	33	0	575
2022	263	126	21	117	0	1	31	0	559
2023	266	137	13	140	0	3	37	0	596

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 Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1992	755	35.0	21.5	41.9
1993	825	39.0	21.2	42.8
1994	912	44.0	20.7	43.6
1995	813	43.0	18.9	40.6
1996	813	43.0	18.9	40.6
1997	874	46.0	19.0	44.6
1998	807	42.0	19.2	48.3
1999	804	44.0	18.3	62.4
2000	867	50.0	17.3	59.9
2001	820	48.0	17.1	57.1
2002	958	56.0	17.1	60.9
2003	958	56.0	17.1	60.9
2004	719	44.0	16.3	66.8
2005	672	42.0	16.0	69.6
2006	663	42.0	15.8	65.6
2007	655	40.0	16.4	67.6
2008	605	41.0	14.8	67
2009	616	47.7	14.7	62.7
2010	745	51.0	14.6	63.5
2011	806	54.0	14.9	61.7
2012	835	61.5	13.5	66.7
2013	705	54.0	13.0	62.6
2014	705	55.0	12.8	63.8
2015	691	51.0	13.5	65.7
2016	708	55.0	12.8	68.5
2017	677	53.0	12.7	64.4
2018	695	50.0	13.9	67.5
2019	607	46.5	13.0	61.6
2020	604	47.5	12.7	54.1
2021	575	45.0	12.7	55
2022	559	44.0	12.7	59.4
2023	596	44.0	13.5	63.1

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 Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1992	755	35.0	21.5	41.9
1993	825	39.0	21.2	42.8
1994	912	44.0	20.7	43.6
1995	813	43.0	18.9	40.6
1996	813	43.0	18.9	40.6
1997	874	46.0	19.0	44.6
1998	807	42.0	19.2	48.3
1999	804	44.0	18.3	62.4
2000	867	50.0	17.3	59.9
2001	820	48.0	17.1	57.1
2002	958	56.0	17.1	60.9
2003	958	56.0	17.1	60.9
2004	719	44.0	16.3	66.8
2005	672	42.0	16.0	69.6
2006	663	42.0	15.8	65.6
2007	655	40.0	16.4	67.6
2008	605	41.0	14.8	67
2009	616	47.7	14.7	62.7
2010	745	51.0	14.6	63.5
2011	806	54.0	14.9	61.7
2012	835	61.5	13.5	66.7
2013	705	54.0	13.0	62.6
2014	705	55.0	12.8	63.8
2015	691	51.0	13.5	65.7
2016	708	55.0	12.8	68.5
2017	677	53.0	12.7	64.4
2018	695	50.0	13.9	67.5
2019	607	46.5	13.0	61.6
2020	604	47.5	12.7	54.1
2021	575	45.0	12.7	55
2022	559	44.0	12.7	59.4
2023	596	44.0	13.5	63.1

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 Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$500 (5.4%)	$8,798 (94.6%)	$9,298
2019	$897 (8.2%)	$9,983 (91.8%)	$10,880
2020	$933 (8.4%)	$10,158 (91.6%)	$11,091
2021	$1,682 (13.3%)	$10,980 (86.7%)	$12,662
2022	$2,005 (15.5%)	$10,962 (84.5%)	$12,966
2023	$1,805 (13.7%)	$11,396 (86.3%)	$13,202

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

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 1235^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 1321^st of 2240 Elementary schools	2.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sawgrass Lake Elementary School)	50	54	4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pinellas)	56	52	4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sawgrass Lake Elementary School)	50	58	8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Pinellas)	62	60	2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Sawgrass Lake Elementary School)	58	40	18%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pinellas)	56	57	1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sawgrass Lake Elementary School)	74	59	15%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pinellas)	64	65	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Sawgrass Lake Elementary School)	46	50	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pinellas)	54	58	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sawgrass Lake Elementary School)	63	51	12%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pinellas)	60	58	2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Sawgrass Lake Elementary School)	39	46	7%
5th Grade Science (Pinellas)	54	60	6%
5th Grade Science (Florida)	53	51	2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	607	596	1.8%
African American	132	137	3.8%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	15	13	13.3%
Hispanic	113	140	23.9%
Pacific Islander	0	3
White	322	266	17.4%
Two or More Races	25	37	48%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	61.6%	63.1%	1.5%

Schools Near Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

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 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 3rd Grade	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 Math 3rd 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 Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sawgrass Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1815 77th Ave N	St Petersburg	33702	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	No	(727) 570-3121	596	44	13.5	63.1%	266 (44.6%)	137 (23.0%)	140 (23.5%)	13 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	37 (6.2%)	57.2	917^th of 2256 public elementary schools	59.4%		40.6	1321^st of 2240 public elementary schools	41.0%	404	54.0	58.0	58.0				67.0	57.0	52.0				53.0				$13,202	$1,805	$11,396
Lynch Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1901 71st Ave N	St Petersburg	33702	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 570-3170	486	33	14.7	66.9%	282 (58.0%)	66 (13.6%)	73 (15.0%)	26 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (8.0%)	47.2	1169^th of 2256 public elementary schools	48.2%		51.3	1070^th of 2240 public elementary schools	52.2%	99	42.0	55.0	49.0				43.0	66.0	57.0				59.0				$12,619	$1,923	$10,695
John M. Sexton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1997 54th Ave N	St Petersburg	33714	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 570-3400	449	34	13.2	71.0%	185 (41.2%)	101 (22.5%)	102 (22.7%)	32 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	27 (6.0%)	57.6	905^th of 2256 public elementary schools	59.9%		47.8	1142^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	49.0%	237	70.0	53.0	52.0				64.0	49.0	49.0				64.0				$16,591	$3,814	$12,777
Lealman Avenue Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4001 58th Ave N	St Petersburg	33714	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 570-3020	434	31	14.0	84.6%	119 (27.4%)	168 (38.7%)	102 (23.5%)	19 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	23 (5.3%)	27.9	1688^th of 2256 public elementary schools	25.2%		21.9	1839^th of 2240 public elementary schools	17.9%	151	22.0	38.0	43.0				37.0	39.0	55.0				59.0				$15,086	$3,025	$12,060
Plato Academy Pinellas Park Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	9200 49th St	Pinellas Park	33782	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	No	(727) 521-7260	562	40	14.0	47.7%	315 (56.0%)	44 (7.8%)	107 (19.0%)	61 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (6.0%)	48	1142^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	49.4%		56.9	918^th of 2240 public elementary schools	59.0%	224	44.0	44.0	62.0	62.0	52.0	34.0	53.0	41.0	60.0	39.0	4.0	37.0	65.0	31.0	54.0	63.0	$8,078	$556	$7,522
Pinellas Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7520 52nd St N	Pinellas Park	33781	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 547-7888	452	34	13.2	74.1%	151 (33.4%)	94 (20.8%)	128 (28.3%)	43 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	34 (7.5%)	8.4	2182^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	3.3%		13.5	2071^st of 2240 public elementary schools	7.5%	111	28.0	26.0	28.0				30.0	20.0	35.0				30.0				$13,024	$1,901	$11,122
New Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3901 37th St N	St Petersburg	33714	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 893-2135	615	47	13.0	80.7%	165 (26.8%)	174 (28.3%)	169 (27.5%)	58 (9.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (7.8%)	26.7	1719^th of 2256 public elementary schools	23.8%		30.4	1602^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	28.5%	117	36.0	34.0	41.0				43.0	50.0	45.0				49.0				$14,578	$2,665	$11,914
Shore Acres Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1800 62nd Ave NE	St Petersburg	33702	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	No	(727) 570-3173	709	48	14.9	46.1%	470 (66.3%)	79 (11.1%)	106 (15.0%)	22 (3.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (4.4%)	85.8	290^th of 2256 public elementary schools	87.1%		75	508^th of 2240 public elementary schools	77.3%	218	78.0	65.0	69.0				74.0	78.0	80.0				75.0				$11,678	$1,091	$10,588
Skyview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8601 60th St N	Pinellas Park	33782	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 547-7857	595	42	14.1	74.3%	277 (46.6%)	59 (9.9%)	152 (25.5%)	60 (10.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (7.7%)	41.7	1303^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	42.2%		34.3	1486^th of 2240 public elementary schools	33.7%	183	48.0	38.0	41.0				52.0	62.0	51.0				58.0				$12,739	$2,168	$10,571
North Shore Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 35th Ave NE	St Petersburg	33704	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	No	(727) 893-2181	501	39	12.8	46.5%	285 (56.9%)	118 (23.6%)	59 (11.8%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.4%)	44.1	1239^th of 2256 public elementary schools	45.1%		42.4	1272^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	43.2%	33	54.0	48.0	51.0				49.0	45.0	55.0				58.0				$14,100	$2,116	$11,984

Frequently Asked Questions about Sawgrass Lake Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Sawgrass Lake Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Sawgrass Lake Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Meadowlawn Middle School
High : Northeast High School

What district is Sawgrass Lake Elementary School in?

Pinellas

How many students attend Sawgrass Lake Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 596 students attended Sawgrass Lake Elementary School.

Is Sawgrass Lake Elementary School a good school?

Sawgrass Lake Elementary School ranks 917^th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Sawgrass Lake Elementary School?

Students at Sawgrass Lake Elementary School are 45% White, 23% Hispanic, 23% African American, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

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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.