Southside Elementary School

Summary:

Southside Elementary School is a public elementary school in Sarasota, Florida, serving 687 students in grades PK-5. As part of the highly-ranked Sarasota District, Southside Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state in academic assessments, ranking among the top 100 elementary schools in Florida.

Southside Elementary's academic excellence is evident in its significantly higher percentages of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, Math, and Science compared to district and state averages. The school's consistent high ranking, reaching as high as 10th out of 2,256 schools in the 2023-2024 school year, places it in the top 5% of elementary schools in Florida. Additionally, Southside Elementary has a more racially diverse student population than nearby schools, with 75.69% White, 13.97% Hispanic, and 6.11% students of two or more races.

While Southside Elementary outperforms many nearby schools, such as Gulf Gate Elementary and Dreamers Academy, in academic metrics, the school also stands out for its relatively low chronic absenteeism rates and lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (26.2%) compared to the surrounding schools. These factors likely contribute to Southside Elementary's consistent academic success and its ability to provide a high-quality education to a diverse student population.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1901 Webber St
Sarasota, FL 34239

(941) 361-6420

District: Sarasota

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,757

Students who attend Southside Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Booker Middle School
High:	Booker High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.3

Number of students: 687

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.7%

Hispanic:

14.0%

Two or more races:

6.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 26.2%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Southside Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Southside Elementary School ranks better than 99.6% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks first among 30 ranked elementary schools in the Sarasota School District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.73. (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 (75.7%), Hispanic (14%), two or more races (6.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 26.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southside Elementary School is 14.3. 19 elementary schools in the Sarasota School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Southside Elementary School employs 48 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southside Elementary School is $12,757. 15 elementary schools in the Sarasota School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Sarasota:

SchoolDigger ranks Sarasota 8^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Southside Elementary School.

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Rank History for Southside Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	89.14	142^nd	1688	91.6%
2007	85.58	200^th	1786	88.8%
2008	92.68	54^th	1789	97.0%
2009	91.75	65^th	1847	96.5%
2010	89.77	107^th	1919	94.4%
2011	90.37	99^th	1985	95.0%
2012	88.22	168^th	1984	91.5%
2013	88.79	169^th	2029	91.7%
2014	89.68	152^nd	2064	92.6%
2016	90.78	137^th	2087	93.4%
2017	95.48	29^th	2112	98.6%
2018	93.16	74^th	2118	96.5%
2019	93.47	64^th	2182	97.1%
2021	93.50	94^th	2247	95.8%
2022	94.00	68^th	2219	96.9%
2023	96.28	30^th	2240	98.7%
2024	97.73	10^th	2256	99.6%

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: 3.7)

67%

33%

Reviews:

by a citizen
Saturday, May 21, 2016

Southside is excellent. The Teacher are very good, careing, loving, They do their best in teaching our children. I am a Grandparent. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, June 12, 2014

Southside is a school that is filled with opportunities for kids K-5. All students have the opportunity to learn all four art forms in addition to pe, technology and science in the special area classes. Parents are quite involved and make the school even more special. The school year culminates in a production that includes over 100 kids on the Player's Theater Stage. This is a special place filled with great teachers and staff who care deeply about teaching and learning. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, April 4, 2014

Southside rests on its historical reputation. There has been a change in leadership 4 years ago and after having issues with the teacher, nothing has been done to correct it. The school has a very negative vibe, and the women are being allowed to live out their aggressions on moms. Instead of addressing bad grades and finding remedies, they send out emails about less important rules to be followed during teaching time. Shows their goal at heart is NOT advancing kids but just living out their personal issues. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Southside Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	488	125	13	19	0	n/a	n/a	0	645
1989	514	125	11	15	0	n/a	n/a	0	665
1990	598	135	9	35	0	n/a	n/a	0	777
1991	523	60	8	14	0	n/a	n/a	0	605
1992	584	70	6	18	0	n/a	n/a	0	678
1993	616	73	5	18	0	n/a	n/a	0	712
1994	629	58	8	13	2	n/a	n/a	0	710
1995	604	76	7	16	1	n/a	n/a	0	704
1996	604	76	7	16	1	n/a	n/a	0	704
1997	637	83	3	15	2	n/a	n/a	0	740
1998	679	71	8	16	3	n/a	n/a	0	777
1999	660	55	9	16	3	n/a	n/a	0	743
2000	708	44	6	31	2	n/a	n/a	0	791
2001	698	42	8	35	2	n/a	n/a	0	785
2002	683	26	17	36	4	n/a	n/a	0	766
2003	683	26	17	36	4	n/a	n/a	0	766
2004	668	24	13	36	2	n/a	n/a	0	743
2005	648	29	16	39	1	n/a	n/a	0	733
2006	590	26	20	39	1	n/a	n/a	0	676
2007	521	20	20	37	1	n/a	n/a	44	643
2008	531	14	16	42	0	n/a	n/a	43	646
2009	529	12	18	39	0	n/a	n/a	41	639
2010	579	12	23	48	0	n/a	n/a	42	704
2011	587	16	19	72	3	0	39	0	736
2012	584	14	15	72	2	0	37	0	724
2013	619	12	13	83	1	0	43	0	771
2014	623	10	14	83	1	0	47	0	778
2015	587	10	12	74	0	0	42	0	725
2016	594	13	13	94	0	0	49	0	763
2017	622	12	12	93	0	0	48	0	787
2018	601	11	14	96	0	1	44	0	767
2019	569	9	12	94	1	1	43	0	729
2020	541	9	15	90	1	1	35	0	692
2021	510	14	11	97	1	1	39	0	673
2022	525	13	16	84	1	1	41	0	681
2023	520	13	15	96	1	0	42	0	687

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 Southside Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	645	35.0	18.4	39.2
1989	665	36.0	18.4	42.4
1990	777	42.0	18.5	38.7
1991	605	37.0	16.3	31.1
1992	678	38.0	17.8	29.5
1993	712	37.0	19.2	28.1
1994	710	39.0	18.2	22.3
1995	704	38.0	18.5	26.3
1996	704	38.0	18.5	26.3
1997	740	46.0	16.1	24.9
1998	777	45.0	17.3	23.4
1999	743	48.0	15.5	24.4
2000	791	45.0	17.6	23.4
2001	785	41.0	19.1	22.4
2002	766	44.0	17.4	16.1
2003	766	44.0	17.4	16.1
2004	743	47.0	15.8	16.7
2005	733	47.0	15.6	18.7
2006	676	48.0	14.1	16.7
2007	643	44.0	14.6	21.4
2008	646	44.0	14.7	19.4
2009	639	43.1	14.9	18.4
2010	704	45.0	15.6	21.6
2011	736	44.6	16.5	23.6
2012	724	45.6	15.8	25
2013	771	48.0	16.0	24.1
2014	778	52.0	14.9	18.9
2015	725	50.0	14.5	25.2
2016	763	52.0	14.6	28.7
2017	787	53.0	14.8	27.1
2018	767	55.0	13.9	31.2
2019	729	50.0	14.5	25.7
2020	692	49.0	14.1	27.2
2021	673	46.0	14.6	25
2022	681	46.0	14.8	26.3
2023	687	48.0	14.3	26.2

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 Southside Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	645	35.0	18.4	39.2
1989	665	36.0	18.4	42.4
1990	777	42.0	18.5	38.7
1991	605	37.0	16.3	31.1
1992	678	38.0	17.8	29.5
1993	712	37.0	19.2	28.1
1994	710	39.0	18.2	22.3
1995	704	38.0	18.5	26.3
1996	704	38.0	18.5	26.3
1997	740	46.0	16.1	24.9
1998	777	45.0	17.3	23.4
1999	743	48.0	15.5	24.4
2000	791	45.0	17.6	23.4
2001	785	41.0	19.1	22.4
2002	766	44.0	17.4	16.1
2003	766	44.0	17.4	16.1
2004	743	47.0	15.8	16.7
2005	733	47.0	15.6	18.7
2006	676	48.0	14.1	16.7
2007	643	44.0	14.6	21.4
2008	646	44.0	14.7	19.4
2009	639	43.1	14.9	18.4
2010	704	45.0	15.6	21.6
2011	736	44.6	16.5	23.6
2012	724	45.6	15.8	25
2013	771	48.0	16.0	24.1
2014	778	52.0	14.9	18.9
2015	725	50.0	14.5	25.2
2016	763	52.0	14.6	28.7
2017	787	53.0	14.8	27.1
2018	767	55.0	13.9	31.2
2019	729	50.0	14.5	25.7
2020	692	49.0	14.1	27.2
2021	673	46.0	14.6	25
2022	681	46.0	14.8	26.3
2023	687	48.0	14.3	26.2

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 Southside Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$118 (1.2%)	$9,673 (98.8%)	$9,791
2019	$106 (1.1%)	$9,735 (98.9%)	$9,840
2020	$140 (1.3%)	$10,262 (98.7%)	$10,402
2021	$430 (3.9%)	$10,468 (96.1%)	$10,898
2022	$500 (4.5%)	$10,668 (95.5%)	$11,170
2023	$871 (6.8%)	$11,887 (93.2%)	$12,757

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southside 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 64^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 30^th of 2240 Elementary schools	1.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southside Elementary School)	82	88	6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota)	70	63	7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Southside Elementary School)	88	89	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sarasota)	73	68	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Southside Elementary School)	92	87	5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota)	67	69	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Southside Elementary School)	89	85	4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota)	72	72
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Southside Elementary School)	79	79
5th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota)	68	64	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Southside Elementary School)	88	80	8%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota)	70	60	10%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Southside Elementary School)	78	82	4%
5th Grade Science (Sarasota)	65	67	2%
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	729	687	5.8%
African American	9	13	44.4%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	12	15	25%
Hispanic	94	96	2.1%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	569	520	8.6%
Two or More Races	43	42	2.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	25.7%	26.2%	0.5%

Schools Near Southside 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)	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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1901 Webber St	Sarasota	34239	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6420	687	48	14.3	26.2%	520 (75.7%)	13 (1.9%)	96 (14.0%)	15 (2.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (6.1%)	97.7	10^th of 2256 public elementary schools	99.6%		96.3	30^th of 2240 public elementary schools	98.7%	20	94.0	86.0	87.0	97.0	89.0	92.0	89.0	$12,757	$871	$11,887
Alta Vista Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1050 S Euclid Ave	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6400	476	39	12.2	87.4%	132 (27.7%)	82 (17.2%)	217 (45.6%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	39 (8.2%)	55.3	964^th of 2256 public elementary schools	57.3%		56.8	923^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	58.8%	41	49.0	45.0	64.0	61.0	51.0	63.0	66.0	$18,013	$2,676	$15,337
Suncoast School For Innovative Studies	Public, Charter	K-5	845 S School Ave	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	Yes	(941) 952-5277	142	13	11.2	85.9%	21 (14.8%)	57 (40.1%)	48 (33.8%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (9.9%)	23.3	1815^th of 2256 public elementary schools	19.5%		14.7	2035^th of 2240 public elementary schools	9.2%	220	18.0		71.0	14.0		21.0	50.0	$12,216	$2,234	$9,982
Phillippi Shores Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4747 S Tamiami Trl	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	Yes	No	No	(941) 361-6424	731	53	13.8	38.3%	485 (66.3%)	62 (8.5%)	136 (18.6%)	8 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.3%)	86.9	258^th of 2256 public elementary schools	88.6%		87.3	240^th of 2240 public elementary schools	89.3%	18	77.0	71.0	69.0	81.0	72.0	79.0	74.0	$12,571	$1,013	$11,558
Wilkinson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3400 Wilkinson Rd	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6477	460	40	11.5	76.7%	195 (42.4%)	65 (14.1%)	162 (35.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.4%)	35.4	1477^th of 2256 public elementary schools	34.5%		39.8	1341^st of 2240 public elementary schools	40.1%	136	42.0	49.0	43.0	45.0	49.0	45.0	52.0	$18,315	$3,704	$14,613
Dreamers Academy	Public, Charter	K-4	1050 S Tuttle Ave	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 444-8000	291	23	12.6	69.8%	86 (29.6%)	8 (2.7%)	179 (61.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (5.8%)	26.7	1718^th of 2256 public elementary schools	23.8%					(n/a)	42.0	34.0		49.0	48.0			$11,233	$974	$10,259
Tuttle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2863 8th St	Sarasota	34237	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6433	665	48	13.8	83.8%	145 (21.8%)	85 (12.8%)	397 (59.7%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.1%)	26.3	1732^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	23.2%		32.3	1548^th of 2240 public elementary schools	30.9%	184	45.0	39.0	33.0	49.0	48.0	30.0	47.0	$15,529	$2,488	$13,041
Emma E. Booker Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2350 Dr Martin Luther King Way	Sarasota	34234	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6480	468	42	11.1	92.7%	54 (11.5%)	247 (52.8%)	107 (22.9%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (12.2%)	37.7	1411^th of 2256 public elementary schools	37.5%		26.1	1713^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.5%	302	51.0	33.0	51.0	59.0	43.0	38.0	56.0	$20,515	$4,143	$16,373
Brentwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Vinson Ave	Sarasota	34232	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 361-6230	573	51	11.2	70.5%	310 (54.1%)	67 (11.7%)	154 (26.9%)	12 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.2%)	58	897^th of 2256 public elementary schools	60.2%		62.3	789^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.8%	108	57.0	46.0	51.0	64.0	58.0	69.0	64.0	$19,251	$3,564	$15,688
Gulf Gate Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6500 S Lockwood Ridge Rd	Sarasota	34231	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6499	655	48	13.6	54.5%	414 (63.2%)	28 (4.3%)	156 (23.8%)	12 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (6.9%)	77.4	467^th of 2256 public elementary schools	79.3%		82.1	362^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	83.8%	105	67.0	68.0	74.0	63.0	64.0	70.0	71.0	$14,633	$1,410	$13,222

Frequently Asked Questions about Southside Elementary School

What district is Southside Elementary School in?

Sarasota

How many students attend Southside Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 687 students attended Southside Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Southside Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Southside Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Booker Middle School
High : Booker High School

Is Southside Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Southside Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 10^th of 2256 Florida elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Southside Elementary School?

Students at Southside Elementary School are 76% White, 14% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% African American.

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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.