TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL vs IDA M. STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and IDA M. STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.5 out of 10. In math proficiency, IDA M. STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL leads at 68.0%.
TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Bradenton, FL
568 students
IDA M. STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Bradenton, FL
391 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | IDA M. STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.5 / 10 | 9.7 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.5 | 9.7 |
| Growth Score | 9.5 | 9.7 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 51.4% | 32% |
| Environment Score | 9.4 | 9.5 |
| State Rank | #38 of 3,778 | #9 of 3,778 |
| State Percentile | 99th | 100th |
Test Scores
| Subject | TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | IDA M. STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 68.0% | 68.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 72.0% | 78.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
Neighborhood
| Metric | Bradenton (34203) | Bradenton (34209) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,030 | $80,829 |
| Median Home Value | $302,500 | $357,300 |
| Median Rent | $1,437 | $1,847 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 26.0% | 35.7% |
| Poverty Rate | 11.2% | 8.1% |
| Avg Commute | 27 min | 26 min |
The data story: TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL vs IDA M. STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Tara Elementary School and Ida M. Stewart Elementary School sit 11.8 miles apart in Bradenton, Florida, and both rank among the very best elementary schools in the state. Tara Elementary School holds the edge in overall rating — 9.5/10 versus 9.3/10 for Ida M. Stewart Elementary School — a 0.2-point gap that translates into a meaningful difference in state rank: Tara Elementary School is #3 of 3,777 schools in Florida, while Ida M. Stewart Elementary School is #17 of 3,777. Both positions are exceptional, but Tara's ranking places it in a class of two other schools statewide.
Academically, Tara Elementary School scores 9.5/10 versus Ida M. Stewart Elementary School's 9.3/10 — a 0.2-point delta that mirrors the overall gap. Growth tells a different story: both schools post identical growth scores of 9.7/10, meaning students at each school are making comparable year-over-year gains regardless of where they start. The academic edge at Tara likely reflects its higher baseline proficiency levels rather than faster in-school progress.
The two schools differ more sharply in enrollment and demographics. Tara Elementary School enrolls 568 students compared to 391 at Ida M. Stewart Elementary School — 45% more students. Student-teacher ratios are close but not identical: 13.9:1 at Tara versus 14.5:1 at Ida M. Stewart, giving Tara a slight per-classroom advantage. The free and reduced-price lunch rate diverges significantly — 51% at Tara Elementary School versus 32% at Ida M. Stewart Elementary School — indicating Tara serves a considerably higher share of economically disadvantaged families while still outperforming nearly every school in the state.
Both schools serve grades PK through 5, so families with children across the early elementary span will find the same grade coverage at either campus. The structural difference between them is size and socioeconomic composition: Tara is the larger school with more economic diversity, while Ida M. Stewart is the smaller campus with a higher-income enrollment profile and a fractionally lower student-teacher ratio.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
TARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Tara Elementary School suits families who want the highest possible state ranking — #3 in Florida — and are comfortable with a larger school of 568 students and a more economically mixed community. Its 9.7/10 growth score means strong academic momentum is happening across the full income spectrum, making it particularly compelling for families prioritizing both excellence and diversity.
IDA M. STEWART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Ida M. Stewart Elementary School fits families who prefer a smaller campus — 391 students — with a tighter community feel and a lower free and reduced-price lunch rate of 32%. At #17 in Florida, it delivers near-identical growth scores to Tara and only a narrow academic gap, making it the right call for parents who value a more intimate school environment without meaningfully sacrificing outcome quality.