JOHN M. SEXTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL vs MIDTOWN ACADEMY

Midtown Academy outranks John M. Sexton Elementary School by a significant margin in Florida's statewide standings: Midtown Academy sits at #35 of 3,777 Florida schools while John M. Sexton Elementary School lands at #209 — a gap of 174 spots that reflects a meaningful quality differential. On the 10-point overall scale, Midtown Academy scores 9.3 versus John M. Sexton Elementary School's 8.7, a 0.6-point difference that, in a compressed rating band, carries real weight.

Academically, Midtown Academy holds a one-point edge — 8.0 versus John M. Sexton Elementary School's 7.0 — indicating stronger measured proficiency on state assessments. Both schools, however, show nearly identical and exceptional growth trajectories: John M. Sexton Elementary School scores 9.7/10 on growth while Midtown Academy scores 9.9/10. That near-parity on growth means both schools are moving students forward at an above-average rate relative to peers; the separating factor is where students are performing, not how quickly they are progressing.

The demographic profiles of the two schools differ substantially. John M. Sexton Elementary School enrolls 401 students — 35 more than Midtown Academy's 366 — and serves a significantly higher proportion of economically disadvantaged families: 71% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch at John M. Sexton Elementary School compared to 37% at Midtown Academy. Both schools maintain low student-teacher ratios, with Midtown Academy's 12.2:1 edging out John M. Sexton Elementary School's 12.9:1, though neither figure suggests overcrowded classrooms.

One structural difference worth noting for families with younger children: John M. Sexton Elementary School accepts students beginning in pre-kindergarten, while Midtown Academy's enrollment begins at kindergarten. Families seeking a public pre-K placement in St. Petersburg will find only John M. Sexton Elementary School among these two options. The two schools sit 4.8 miles apart, close enough that geography alone need not be the deciding factor for most families in the area.