Schools & Services Directory
Schools, Healthcare & Essential Services
Everything you need to know about education, healthcare, and essential services in Charlotte and Sarasota counties — organized by community.
Two Counties, Two School Districts
Southwest Florida's six communities span two counties — Charlotte and Sarasota — each with its own public school district. Sarasota County Schools consistently earns an 'A' grade from the state and is one of the top-rated districts in Florida. Charlotte County Public Schools has improved steadily and offers solid options, particularly at the elementary level.
Sarasota County Schools
Sarasota County Schools is one of the highest-performing public school districts in Florida, consistently earning an 'A' state grade. The district is known for strong academics, arts integration, and specialized programs including Pine View School for the Gifted — one of the top public schools in the country.
Elementary Schools
| School | Community | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Laurel Nokomis School (K–8) | Nokomis | A |
| Taylor Ranch Elementary | Venice | A |
| Garden Elementary | Venice | A |
| Ashton Elementary | Sarasota | A |
| Phillippi Shores Elementary | Sarasota | A |
Middle Schools
| School | Community | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Venice Middle School | Venice | B+ |
| Sarasota Middle School | Sarasota | A |
| Heron Creek Middle School | North Port | B |
High Schools
| School | Community | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Venice High School | Venice / Nokomis | A |
| Sarasota High School | Sarasota | A |
| Riverview High School | Sarasota | A |
| Pine View School for the Gifted | Osprey (near Nokomis) | A+ |
Private School Options
Out-of-Door Academy
Independent K–12
College prep; strong academics and athletics
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Catholic 9–12
Strong college placement; athletics
Sarasota Christian School
Christian K–12
Faith-based; strong community
The Classical Academy of Sarasota
Classical K–12
Classical curriculum; strong humanities
Charlotte County Public Schools
Charlotte County Public Schools serves approximately 18,000 students across Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, and Englewood. The district has improved steadily and earned a 'B' state grade. The district offers strong vocational and career-technical programs, and several schools have earned 'A' grades individually.
Elementary Schools
| School | Community | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Sallie Jones Elementary | Punta Gorda | A |
| Kingsway Elementary | Port Charlotte | B+ |
| Myakka River Elementary | Port Charlotte | B |
| Vineland Elementary | Englewood | B+ |
Middle Schools
| School | Community | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Punta Gorda Middle School | Punta Gorda | B |
| Port Charlotte Middle School | Port Charlotte | B |
| L.A. Ainger Middle School | Englewood | B+ |
High Schools
| School | Community | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte High School | Punta Gorda | B+ |
| Port Charlotte High School | Port Charlotte | B |
| Lemon Bay High School | Englewood | B+ |
Private School Options
Charlotte Catholic High School
Catholic 9–12
Strong academics and athletics; college prep
Charlotte Preparatory School
Independent K–8
College prep curriculum; small class sizes
First Baptist Christian School
Christian K–12
Faith-based; strong community
Colleges & Universities
State College of Florida (SCF)
Two-year and bachelor's degrees; strong transfer programs to USF and FSU
Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW)
Two-year and bachelor's degrees; nursing and health sciences
New College of Florida
Florida's honors college; small, selective, nationally ranked
Ringling College of Art and Design
One of the top art and design schools in the US
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
USF branch campus; bachelor's and master's degrees
Healthcare Facilities
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
4-star CMSTop-rated hospital in the region; Level II Trauma Center; nationally recognized for cardiac and cancer care
Venice Regional Bayfront Health
3-star CMSFull-service community hospital; strong cardiac and orthopedic programs
Fawcett Memorial Hospital
3-star CMSServes Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda; emergency and surgical services
ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda
3-star CMSFormerly Bayfront Health; serves Charlotte County
Englewood Community Hospital
3-star CMSServes Englewood and South Charlotte County
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota
4-star CMSStrong orthopedic and surgical programs
Essential Services by County
DMV & Driver's License
Sarasota County Tax Collector (DMV)
Multiple Sarasota County locations
Charlotte County Tax Collector (DMV)
Multiple Charlotte County locations
Property Appraiser
Charlotte County Property Appraiser
18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte
Electric Utilities
Water & Sewer
Internet & Cable
Voter Registration
Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections
101 S. Washington Blvd, Sarasota
Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections
18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte