Pine View School named top school in the state

OSPREY — Pine View School beat out 647 schools for the No. 1 in Florida, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings released Tuesday.

Pine View also ranks as the 18th best high school in the country, No. 1 in North Port Metro Area High Schools; No. 1 in Sarasota County Schools High Schools; seventh in Magnet High Schools; and 23rd in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics High Schools.

Pine View placed first in its college readiness index rank both in the state and the nation, which measures the proportions of 12th graders who took and passed at least one AP or IB exam.

It also ranked first in the state and 28th nationwide for the college curriculum breadth index rank. The category measures the proportions of 12th graders who took and passed AP and IB exams in multiple areas, where more exams are valued up to a maximum of four.

Pine View also placed second in the state for its state proficiency assessment scores in math, reading and science, and fourth in the state for its aggregated state assessment scores given the proportions of students who are Black, Hispanic and from low-income households.

According U.S. News & World Report, while the magnet school has a minority enrollment of 42.1%, 100% of its Black (1.3%), Hispanic (9.3%) and economically disadvantaged (13%) students achieved proficiency or higher on math, reading and science state assessments.

Pine View is a public magnet school that serves nearly 700 gifted students from second-12th grade, who regularly receive national and global recognition for their academic excellence, scientific research and even a Guinness world record.

Principal Stephen Covert said the new rankings reflect both the staff and students’ dedication to continual improvement both academically and in the community.

“When you take incredible students and put them in front of highly trained teachers, absolute magic happens,” Covert said. “We are always looking for what will best prepare students by taking away limitations and setting their brilliance free to go in depth and explore what that means.”

While high rankings are worth celebrating, Covert said they do not define the school’s first priority of student education and community outreach.

“We are focused on our students and teaching them to give back to the community,” Covert said. “When we are focused on those things, the test scores will take care of themselves.”