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Schools in Lakewood Ranch · Manatee County School District, Sarasota County School District

Lakewood Ranch’s public schools outscore 68% of Florida districts

In Lakewood Ranch, 60% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Florida average (52%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Lakewood Ranch, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Florida, not nationally.

#250of 638 Florida townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
56%
▲ 4 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
60%
▲ 8 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
82%
▼ 6 pts vs FL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.3K
▼ 5% vs FL $13.0K
FY2024 · Manatee County
Students per teacher
16.7
FL 18.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
11
32,024 students on the public path
In brief

Lakewood Ranch’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 212 Florida towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lakewood Ranch’s, its schools beat 51%, lower than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 56% and math 60% across both districts in spring 2022, against 52% and 52% statewide; 82% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Manatee County spends $12,296 per student and Sarasota County $15,458, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Imagine Charter at Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, Pinnacle Academy (private), Beyond the Spectrum Education Center (private), Providence Community School (private) and Sea of Strengths Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Lakewood Ranch’s grade

A− Test scoresC− Graduation

B+: better than 68% of Florida school districts, #250 of 638 Florida towns. Test scores are above the Florida average; graduation is below it.

Florida school districts we grade (76)Better than 68%
Lower resultsHigher results
Florida towns with similar household incomes (212)Better than 51%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 53,234 test results and a graduating class of 3,636 could put Lakewood Ranch anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Lakewood Ranch’s students in the tested grades sat them (50,222 in math, 56,244 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lakewood Ranch, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A
9–1214 high schoolsDepends on your addressD to A+

Lakewood Ranch runs its own schools through grade 12 (Manatee County School District). From grade PK, students attend the Sarasota County School District, shared with Longboat Key, North Port, Sarasota and Venice. Its high school is in Sarasota. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Lakewood Ranch

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Manatee County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 80 schools · 54,215 students, up 11% since 2020–21 · 17.5 per teacher (FL 18.0)
$12,296FL $13,006 · FY2024
C+
Sarasota County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 60 schools · 45,246 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 15.9 per teacher (FL 18.0)
$15,458FL $13,006 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Manatee County School District50%
State average 52.1% · 29477 students tested
Math · PK–12, Manatee County School District57%
State average 52.2% · 26362 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Sarasota County School District62%
State average 52.1% · 26767 students tested
Math · PK–12, Sarasota County School District64%
State average 52.2% · 23860 students tested

Lakewood Ranch vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Florida towns that share Lakewood Ranch’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Lakewood RanchB+Manatee County PK–12 · Sarasota County PK–12

Every school in Lakewood Ranch

25 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Lakewood Ranchby address
B.D. Gullett Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bradenton
A
1,314 students17:1Rate it →
Robert Willis Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A+
785 students17:1Rate it →
Gilbert W McNeal Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A+
672 students15:1Rate it →
Dr. Mona Jain Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bradenton
A−
933 students22:1Rate it →
R. Dan Nolan Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bradenton
A
787 students20:1Rate it →
Also serving Lakewood Ranchin other towns
Pine View School
Grades 2–12 · Osprey
A+
1,752 students17:1Rate it →
Palmetto High School
High · Grades 8–12 · Palmetto
C−
2,185 students23:1Rate it →
Manatee High School
High · Grades 8–12 · Bradenton
C+
1,998 students22:1Rate it →
Southeast High School
High · Grades 8–12 · Bradenton
C−
1,638 students21:1Rate it →
Bayshore High School
High · Grades 8–12 · Bradenton
D
1,400 students19:1Rate it →
Riverview High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Sarasota
A−
2,637 students20:1Rate it →
Venice Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Venice
A−
2,579 students21:1Rate it →
North Port High School
High · Grades 9–12 · North Port
B
2,557 students20:1Rate it →
Lakewood Ranch High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Bradenton
B+
2,422 students25:1Rate it →
Sarasota High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Sarasota
B+
2,359 students19:1Rate it →
Parrish Community High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Parrish
B
2,266 students24:1Rate it →
Braden River High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Bradenton
B−
1,705 students22:1Rate it →
Booker High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Sarasota
C
1,479 students18:1Rate it →
Suncoast Polytechnical High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Sarasota
A
556 students19:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy
Grades K–12 · Fort Lauderdale
Charter
1,369 students18:1Rate it →
Imagine Charter at Lakewood Ranch
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Bradenton
C+
Charter
456 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Pinnacle Academy
Grades PK–12 · Bradenton
Private · Special education
188 students8:1Rate it →
Beyond the Spectrum Education Center
Grades PK–12
Private · Special education
77 students3:1Rate it →
Providence Community School
Grades K–12 · Sarasota
Private · Religious
77 students9:1Rate it →
Sea of Strengths Academy
Grades 3–11 · Sarasota
Private · Special education
29 students3:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Lake Manatee K-8 and Pinnacle Academy Inc.).

Questions about Lakewood Ranch’s schools

Are Lakewood Ranch’s schools good?

By Florida’s own tests, yes: the public schools Lakewood Ranch children attend outscore 68% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #250 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 51%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lakewood Ranch in?

Two districts: Manatee County School District runs grades PK–12, and Sarasota County School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Longboat Key, North Port, Sarasota and Venice.

Where do Lakewood Ranch kids go to high school?

One of 14 high schools, depending on your address: Riverview High School, Venice Senior High School, North Port High School, Lakewood Ranch High School, Sarasota High School, Parrish Community High School, Palmetto High School, Manatee High School, Pine View School, Braden River High School, Southeast High School, Booker High School, Bayshore High School and Suncoast Polytechnical High School.

What is Lakewood Ranch’s graduation rate?

82% of the class of 2023 in Manatee County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.

How much does Lakewood Ranch spend per student?

$12,296 in Manatee County School District and $15,458 in Sarasota County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Lakewood Ranch?

Yes: Pinnacle Academy (special education, grades PK–12, 188 students), Beyond the Spectrum Education Center (special education, grades PK–12, 77 students), Providence Community School (religious, grades K–12, 77 students) and Sea of Strengths Academy (special education, grades 3–11, 29 students). Lakewood Ranch also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Lakewood Ranch families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lakewood Ranch → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Florida. Stars are from neighbors.