Definition: The difference between the Graduation Rate of White and Black or African American students graduating from the Sarasota County school system.

Source: Florida Department of Education

2025 Target: 17.5%

Below is a comparison of the value for this indicator among seven coastal counties: Charlotte, Sarasota, Collier, Lee, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. These counties have been recommended as comparable counties by Sarasota County Government.

White/Black or African America Graduation Rate Gap (2016)

In the 2015-2016 school year, the graduation gap between White and Black/African American students in Sarasota County was 11%. During this year, 88% of White students and 77% of Black or African American students. graduated with their cohort. This gap has decreased by 50% since 2011, and is currently 1.8% lower than that of the rest of the state (12.8%).

There are many factors that contribute to the large disparity in graduation rates among White and Black/African American students. Black/African American families have higher risk of living in poverty, being food insecure, and having a lack of access to early childhood education, which is a determinant of long-term academic success. Also, Black/African American students are more likely to be dealing with health disparities, and are more likely to be attending schools without as many resources for physical and emotional health. Schools that are predominantly Black/African American are more likely to have fewer resources and larger class sizes than schools that are predominately White. This racial disparity in graduation rate leads to future disparities is educational attainment and income, as well as many other disparities correlated with those factors.