Sarasota Suncoast Academy

Q: Is Sarasota Suncoast Academy a good school?

Sarasota Suncoast Academy ranks 623 rd of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Sarasota Suncoast Academy is a public charter elementary and middle school serving 836 students in grades K-8 in Sarasota, Florida, which is part of the Sarasota School District, ranked 8th out of 68 districts in the state with a 4-star rating.

Sarasota Suncoast Academy consistently outperforms the district and state averages in academic assessments, with 98% of students proficient or better in Algebra 1, 90% in Civics, 57% in 5th grade Science, and 72% in 8th grade Science - all higher than the district and state. However, the school has experienced a higher rate of chronic absenteeism at 15% compared to the state average. Interestingly, some nearby schools like Ashton Elementary and Lakeview Elementary also have exceptional academic performance, with 90% or higher proficiency in several subjects, despite having a lower percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients.

While Sarasota Suncoast Academy's academic performance is impressive, the school's higher chronic absenteeism rate and lack of racial diversity compared to nearby schools are areas that warrant further investigation. The factors contributing to the school's success, such as its curriculum, teaching methods, or school culture, could potentially be replicated in more diverse school settings to help improve student outcomes across the region.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

8084 Hawkins Rd
Sarasota, FL 34241

(941) 924-4242

District: Sarasota

SchoolDigger Rank:
623^rd of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,747

Student/teacher ratio: 16.3

Number of students: 836

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.8%

Hispanic:

13.8%

Two or more races:

4.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 28.9%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Sarasota Suncoast Academy ranks better than 72.4% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 16^th among 30 ranked elementary schools in the Sarasota School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 70.67. (See more...)

Compare Details Sarasota Suncoast Academy ranks better than 86.8% of middle schools in Florida. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 83.41. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 (79.8%), Hispanic (13.8%), two or more races (4.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 28.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sarasota Suncoast Academy is 16.3. 29 elementary schools in the Sarasota School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Sarasota Suncoast Academy employs 51 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sarasota Suncoast Academy is $10,747. 26 elementary schools in the Sarasota School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Sarasota Suncoast Academy was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Sarasota Suncoast Academy 158^th of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Sarasota Suncoast Academy in the ranking list.)

Sarasota:

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

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Sarasota Suncoast Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2007	86.51	180^th	1786	89.9%
2008	83.95	226^th	1789	87.4%
2009	85.43	210^th	1847	88.6%
2010	88.71	128^th	1919	93.3%
2011	86.06	196^th	1985	90.1%
2012	91.26	112^th	1984	94.4%
2013	89.42	156^th	2029	92.3%
2014	91.46	122^nd	2064	94.1%
2016	82.80	325^th	2087	84.4%
2017	86.84	226^th	2112	89.3%
2018	83.71	326^th	2118	84.6%
2019	80.65	387^th	2182	82.3%
2021	84.48	313^th	2247	86.1%
2022	84.72	305^th	2219	86.3%
2023	79.41	421^st	2240	81.2%
2024	70.67	623^rd	2256	72.4%

See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

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

Rank History for Sarasota Suncoast Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	FL State Percentile
2019	74.77	256^th	1099	76.7%
2021	85.50	125^th	1136	89.0%
2022	85.29	139^th	1148	87.9%
2023	86.04	130^th	1177	89.0%
2024	83.41	158^th	1196	86.8%

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:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Sarasota Suncoast Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2005	78	9	1	11	0	n/a	n/a	0	99
2006	142	3	5	15	0	n/a	n/a	0	165
2007	184	3	5	10	0	n/a	n/a	7	209
2008	225	4	6	15	0	n/a	n/a	16	266
2009	287	1	7	17	0	n/a	n/a	14	326
2010	304	0	5	26	1	n/a	n/a	18	354
2011	355	7	6	46	0	0	13	0	427
2012	354	7	9	53	0	0	16	0	439
2013	382	9	11	47	1	0	19	0	469
2014	395	6	13	53	0	0	22	0	489
2015	400	4	14	59	1	0	22	0	500
2016	402	7	16	59	0	1	18	0	503
2017	397	7	13	70	0	0	20	0	507
2018	475	7	12	74	0	0	25	0	593
2019	533	8	11	85	0	0	33	0	670
2020	604	18	16	101	0	0	35	0	774
2021	602	16	10	108	0	0	42	0	778
2022	661	10	7	122	1	0	39	0	840
2023	667	9	5	115	0	0	40	0	836

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 Sarasota Suncoast Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	99	7.0	14.1	44.4
2006	165	10.0	16.5	24.2
2007	209	13.0	16.1	23.8
2008	266	19.0	14.0	19.2
2009	326	18.5	17.6	19.6
2010	354	22.5	15.7	29.2
2011	427	28.0	15.2	32.1
2012	439	27.0	16.2	31.2
2013	469	31.0	15.1	34.1
2014	489	31.0	15.7	26.4
2015	500	32.0	15.6	33.6
2016	503	33.0	15.2	30.8
2017	507	33.0	15.3	30.2
2018	593	39.0	15.2	37.8
2019	670	45.0	14.8	30.6
2020	774	49.0	15.7	27.1
2021	778	49.0	15.8	30.6
2022	840	51.0	16.4	29.4
2023	836	51.0	16.3	28.9

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 Sarasota Suncoast Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	99	7.0	14.1	44.4
2006	165	10.0	16.5	24.2
2007	209	13.0	16.1	23.8
2008	266	19.0	14.0	19.2
2009	326	18.5	17.6	19.6
2010	354	22.5	15.7	29.2
2011	427	28.0	15.2	32.1
2012	439	27.0	16.2	31.2
2013	469	31.0	15.1	34.1
2014	489	31.0	15.7	26.4
2015	500	32.0	15.6	33.6
2016	503	33.0	15.2	30.8
2017	507	33.0	15.3	30.2
2018	593	39.0	15.2	37.8
2019	670	45.0	14.8	30.6
2020	774	49.0	15.7	27.1
2021	778	49.0	15.8	30.6
2022	840	51.0	16.4	29.4
2023	836	51.0	16.3	28.9

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 Sarasota Suncoast Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$38 (0.4%)	$8,977 (99.6%)	$9,015
2019	$66 (0.7%)	$9,418 (99.3%)	$9,484
2020	$54 (0.6%)	$9,272 (99.4%)	$9,326
2021	$199 (1.9%)	$10,090 (98.1%)	$10,288
2022	$670 (6.6%)	$9,509 (93.4%)	$10,179
2023	$348 (3.2%)	$10,399 (96.8%)	$10,747

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sarasota Suncoast Academy

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 387^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 421^st of 2240 Elementary schools	1.1%
Ranks 256^th of 1099 Middle schools	Ranks 130^th of 1177 Middle schools	12.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	82	72	10%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota)	70	63	7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	78	83	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sarasota)	73	68	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	82	81	1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota)	67	69	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	76	77	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota)	72	72
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	77	74	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota)	68	64	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	59	66	7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota)	70	60	10%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	75	72	3%
5th Grade Science (Sarasota)	65	67	2%
5th Grade Science (Florida)	53	51	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	63	67	4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota)	63	60	3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	54	52	2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	71	75	4%
6th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota)	67	59	8%
6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	55	49	6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	59	64	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Sarasota)	64	57	7%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	52	48	4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota Suncoast Academy)	82	83	1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Sarasota)	73	64	9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	54	46	8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	670	836	24.8%
African American	8	9	12.5%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	11	5	54.5%
Hispanic	85	115	35.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	533	667	25.1%
Two or More Races	33	40	21.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	30.6%	28.9%	1.6%

Schools Near Sarasota Suncoast Academy

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
Sarasota Suncoast Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	8084 Hawkins Rd	Sarasota	34241	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 924-4242	836	51	16.3	28.9%	667 (79.8%)	9 (1.1%)	115 (13.8%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (4.8%)	70.7	623^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	72.4%		79.4	421^st of 2240 public elementary schools	81.2%	202	68.0	73.0	58.0	67.0	66.0	72.0	61.0	64.0	57.0	89.0	89.0	79.0	57.0	54.0	98.0	90.0	$10,747	$348	$10,399
Lakeview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7299 Hand Rd	Sarasota	34241	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6571	691	46	15.0	28.9%	509 (73.7%)	10 (1.4%)	111 (16.1%)	19 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (5.9%)	94.8	56^th of 2256 public elementary schools	97.5%		94.4	55^th of 2240 public elementary schools	97.5%	1	81.0	79.0	77.0				86.0	90.0	91.0				83.0				$12,082	$940	$11,143
Ashton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5110 Ashton Rd	Sarasota	34233	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6440	1,046	70	15.0	28.4%	742 (70.9%)	17 (1.6%)	122 (11.7%)	69 (6.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	93 (8.9%)	94.9	53^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	97.7%		96.4	28^th of 2240 public elementary schools	98.8%	25	81.0	71.0	90.0				88.0	86.0	92.0				90.0				$12,700	$888	$11,813
Imagine School At Palmer Ranch	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	6220 McIntosh Rd	Sarasota	34238	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 257-1124	461	30	15.3	8.5%	266 (57.7%)	7 (1.5%)	153 (33.2%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.3%)	31.1	1591^st of 2256 public elementary schools	29.5%		43.4	1246^th of 2240 public elementary schools	44.4%	345	51.0	34.0	33.0	49.0	41.0	50.0	53.0	34.0	39.0	67.0	85.0	83.0	25.0	33.0	94.0	76.0	$10,733	$395	$10,338
Tatum Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4100 Tatum Rd	Sarasota	34240	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 316-8188	834	59	14.2	28.8%	645 (77.3%)	18 (2.2%)	90 (10.8%)	19 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (7.2%)	87.5	237^th of 2256 public elementary schools	89.5%		83.6	325^th of 2240 public elementary schools	85.5%	88	78.0	68.0	76.0				77.0	77.0	78.0				73.0				$14,026	$1,220	$12,806
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
Fruitville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	601 Honore Ave	Sarasota	34232	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	No	No	No	(941) 361-6200	775	63	12.3	57.2%	438 (56.5%)	57 (7.4%)	223 (28.8%)	9 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (6.2%)	65.3	742^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	67.1%		68	662^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	70.4%	80	63.0	65.0	52.0				60.0	69.0	58.0				62.0				$15,610	$1,528	$14,082
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
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
Sarasota Academy Of The Arts	Public, Charter	K-8	4466 Fruitville Rd	Sarasota	34232	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 377-2278	171	15	11.2	55.6%	97 (56.7%)	5 (2.9%)	50 (29.2%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (9.9%)	27.9	1684^th of 2256 public elementary schools	25.4%		53.3	1012^th of 2240 public elementary schools	54.8%	672	67.0	30.0	29.0	42.0	71.0	67.0	83.0	20.0	0.0	46.0	79.0	54.0	18.0	48.0		76.0	$10,603	$531	$10,073

Frequently Asked Questions about Sarasota Suncoast Academy

Is Sarasota Suncoast Academy a good school?

Sarasota Suncoast Academy ranks 623^rd of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Sarasota Suncoast Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 836 students attended Sarasota Suncoast Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Sarasota Suncoast Academy?

Students at Sarasota Suncoast Academy are 80% White, 14% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% African American.

What district is Sarasota Suncoast Academy in?

Sarasota

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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.