2026 data 50 schools FL

Best Schools in BRADENTON, FL

50 public K-12 schools in BRADENTON from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

50 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in BRADENTON, FL using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

50
Schools
32,300
Students
Avg Quality
16:1
Avg Class Size

How the BRADENTON Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

BRADENTON, FL enrolls 32,300 students across 50 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 9 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 16:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in BRADENTON is Lakewood Ranch High School, scoring 29/100 (F) with 2,422 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

BRADENTON schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect BRADENTON housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

BRADENTON school enrollment varies 2422× across entities

BRADENTON school enrollment ranges from 1 students (lowest) to 2,422 students (highest), a spread of 2,421 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city — small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

BRADENTON has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 56.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

BRADENTON operates only 1 school district — among the most consolidated governance structures in the country

Most BRADENTON school districts are a single unified district covering the whole city — a structural feature that simplifies inter-school comparison but concentrates policy authority. Consolidation produces narrower variance because resources pool across larger populations, but it can also mask intra-school district inequities — sub-school district differences within a single school district are not visible at this aggregation level. Consolidated systems typically rely more heavily on top-down funding formulas than on local revenue variability.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

BRADENTON student-teacher ratio is 16.0:1 — near the typical range (US average ~16) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 16:1

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within BRADENTON is typically wider than the BRADENTON-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

BRADENTON has higher-than-average charter school authorisation eligibility — 18.0% of the population qualifies for charter-school enrollment options

charter-school enrollment options eligibility is the federal threshold for charter school authorisation funding allocations, established under the state-specific charter law. Areas above 30% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic charter school authorisation formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

# School Score
1. Lakewood Ranch High School 29 F
2. Manatee High School 29 F
3. Braden River High School 30 F
4. Southeast High School 26 F
5. Team Success a School of Excellence 34 F
6. Bayshore High School 33 F
7. B.D. Gullett Elementary School 39 F
8. W. D. Sugg Middle School 31 F
9. William Monroe Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication 39 F
10. Martha B. King Middle School 27 F
11. Louise R Johnson K-8 School of International Studies 44 D
12. Braden River Middle School 29 F
13. R. Dan Nolan Middle School 28 F
14. Gene Witt Elementary School 47 D
15. Freedom Elementary School 45 D
16. Robert H. Prine Elementary School 36 F
17. William H. Bashaw Elementary 25 F
18. Blanche H. Daughtrey Elementary 32 F
19. Carlos E. Haile Middle School 31 F
20. Bayshore Elementary School 27 F
21. Rowlett Middle Academy 42 D
22. Electa Lee Magnet Middle School 33 F
23. Manatee Charter School 39 F
24. H. S. Moody Elementary School 28 F
25. Jessie P. Miller Elementary School 27 F
26. Tara Elementary School 39 F
27. Oneco Elementary School 39 F
28. Braden River Elementary School 41 D
29. Samoset Elementary School 37 F
30. Sea Breeze Elementary School 40 D
31. Manatee Elementary School 27 F
32. State College of Florida Collegiate School 39 F
33. G D Rogers Garden- Bullock Elementary 42 D
34. Imagine Charter at Lakewood Ranch 32 F
35. Horizons Academy 35 F
36. Ballard Elementary School 32 F
37. Palma Sola Elementary School 37 F
38. Ida M. Stewart Elementary School 45 D
39. Manatee School of Arts/Sciences 32 F
40. Palmshores Behavior Health Center 59 C
41. Juvenile Detention Center 28 F
42. Pace Center for Girls 38 F
43. Oasis Middle School 37 F
44. Visible Men Academy 47 D
45. Access to Education 37 F
46. Just for Girls Elementary School 45 D
47. Amikids Manatee 45 D
48. Manatee Community Action Agency-Head Start 30 F
49. Sch Ofacademic & Behavioral Learning Exc (Sable) Grade Code 39 F
50. Pinnacle Academy Inc. 64 C+

Showing top 50 of 50 schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in BRADENTON, FL?

The top-rated school in BRADENTON is Lakewood Ranch High School with a quality score of 29/100. There are 50 public schools in BRADENTON with 32,300 total students.

How many schools are in BRADENTON, FL?

BRADENTON has 50 public schools with a total enrollment of 32,300 students. 9 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 16:1.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.