Sarasota Schools
Official state grades, how the system works, and every option - public, private, and Catholic.
Florida does something most states don't: the Department of Education grades every public school A through F, every year, using test performance, student growth, and graduation data. That means you don't have to rely on a private website's opinion - the state publishes the grade. Here's what those grades look like in Sarasota, and how to use them.
A-rated district
23 consecutive years - one of the strongest districts in Florida.Every school A or B
In 2025-26, 100% of district-managed schools earned an A or B.How Florida grades schools
School grades come from state law, not a company. Each year the Florida Department of Education scores every public school on student achievement in English and math, learning gains (especially for the students furthest behind), science and social studies, middle school acceleration, and - for high schools - graduation rate and college and career readiness. The points convert to a letter: A, B, C, D, or F. It's the same yardstick for every public school in the state, which is exactly what makes it useful when you're comparing areas from far away.
Sarasota public schools - state grades
| School | Level | FLDOE grade 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Alta Vista Elementary | Elementary | A ✓ |
| Ashton Elementary | Elementary | A ✓ |
| Bay Haven School of Basics Plus | Elementary | A ✓ |
| Brentwood Elementary | Elementary | A or B |
| Emma E. Booker Elementary | Elementary | A - first A ever |
| Fruitville Elementary | Elementary | A or B |
| Gocio Elementary | Elementary | A or B |
| Gulf Gate Elementary | Elementary | A or B |
| Lakeview Elementary | Elementary | A ✓ |
| Phillippi Shores Elementary | Elementary | A ✓ |
| Southside Elementary | Elementary | A ✓ |
| Tatum Ridge Elementary | Elementary | A ✓ |
| Tuttle Elementary | Elementary | A or B |
| Wilkinson Elementary | Elementary | A or B |
| Booker Middle | Middle | A - first A ever |
| Brookside Middle | Middle | A |
| McIntosh Middle | Middle | A |
| Sarasota Middle | Middle | A |
| Booker High | High | A or B |
| Riverview High | High | A ✓ |
| Sarasota High | High | A ✓ |
| Suncoast Polytechnical High | High | A ✓ |
2025-26 grades as reported by FLDOE and Sarasota County Schools (July 2026). The check mark means the school held its A; the district reported no school dropped a grade this year. “A or B” means the exact letter is pending in the state table; the district confirmed every district-managed school earned an A or B. Always verify the current grade at FLDOE before deciding.
Pine View School - the crown jewel
Pine View (grades 2-12, in nearby Osprey) is Sarasota County's full-time public school for gifted students, and it is routinely ranked among the very best public schools in Florida and the entire country. Admission is by gifted eligibility, not by address - so it's an option for gifted students anywhere in the county, at public school cost.
Private and Catholic schools
Florida does not assign letter grades to private schools, so compare them directly: visit, ask for outcomes, and verify accreditation. Well-established options in the Sarasota area include Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, St. Martha Catholic School, Incarnation Catholic School (Diocese of Venice), The Out-of-Door Academy, Sarasota Christian School, and NewGate Montessori. Florida's school-choice scholarships can apply toward private tuition for eligible families - verify eligibility directly with the school.
One thing that surprises people
Your address determines your zoned school - two houses a street apart can be zoned differently. Before falling in love with a home, confirm the zoned schools with the district's official school locator, and check the school's current grade at FLDOE. When we prepare a comparison report for you, the school data comes from the same public sources, already matched to the areas you're considering.
