Making the Grade

From student achievement to expansion in programs and capacity, the Sarasota and Sarasota" target="_blank">Manatee County public school districts can be proud of their accomplishments.

The state of Florida has classified Sarasota as an "A" school district, with 83 percent of its public schools recognized as A or B schools. Sarasota students consistently outperform their peers on formal assessments, including the rigorous college placement tests. SAT scores are an average of 63 points higher than the state average, and 35 points higher than the national average.

Academic achievements reach beyond the traditional high school subject areas as well. Sarasota County Technical Institute students last year earned first place in the National Skills USA Competition for the state and took top honors nationally as well. The Sarasota County School Board was one of only two in the country to receive a prestigious award from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National School Board Association for its outstanding support of arts education.

Specialized training and services are extensive and growing. The school district has added literacy coaches at every middle and high school, hired additional teachers and guidance counselors, and expanded driver's education, summer school and dropout prevention programs.

Sarasota County schools spokeswoman Sheila Weiss points out that fiscal efficiency enables the school district to achieve more by stretching taxpayer dollars. Two independent rating firms (Fitch and Moody) have rated Sarasota County public schools at the top of the state and nation for sound financial management. The school district also was one of just two districts in the state to receive an exemplary financial audit by the Florida Auditor Generals office for the 2001-02 school year.

Charter, private and faith-based schools provide a varied educational climate. Special needs students have two well-regarded public school options: Pine View School for academically gifted students in grades two through 12, and Oak Park School for students with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

Major institutions of higher education thrive. Money and Time magazines both listed the public honors college, New College of Florida, as the second best college bargain in the country. The University of South Florida serves 2,500 students at the Sarasota branch of the Tampa-based university. Manatee Community College has campuses in Bradenton and Venice. The private Ringling School of Art and Design attracts talented art students from all over the nation.

In 2004 two new medical schools opened here. Tallahassee-based Florida State University opened its Regional Medical School Campus in downtown Sarasota for third and fourth year medical students. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine opened a state-of-the-art Florida campus in Lakewood Ranch.

Adults can access continuing education at the public Sarasota County Technical Institute; the business-based Keiser College; the Eckerd Program for Experienced Learners, which is affiliated with St. Petersburg's Eckerd College; and the Ringling School of Art and Design Continuing Education division.

Just to the north, Sarasota" target="_blank">Manatee County is working hard to keep up with its huge growth in student population. Two new schools have opened: R. Dan Nolan Middle School and Virgil Mills Elementary School. In addition, the district has $300 million in construction projects that include the new Braden River High and an elementary school scheduled to open in 2005.

Thirteen Manatee county schools achieved the elite Five-Star status awarded by the Florida Department of Education for extraordinary performance. Bayshore High School became the first high school to participate in the county's Education through Dynamic Global Experiences program that provided students and teachers with laptop computers connected to a wireless network in order to expand their educational resources.

Students of all ages benefit from the dedication to quality education combined with a diverse array of services that not only make the grade, but continue to make the grade higher year after year.