Fort Pierce, St. Lucie Income, Joblessness, Schools

Fort Pierce Median Household Income $45,337

On Thursday, February 3, 2012, the Wall Street Journal reported that Fort Pierce median household income had decreased by 12.7 percent, from 2007 to 2010, the second largest decrease in the nation. Fort Pierce was tied for second with Flint, Michigan. Detroit Michigan decreased 11.6 percent. Albany, GA fell 11.5. Elkhart-Goshen Indiana decreased more than Fort Pierce at 13.6 percent.

St. Lucie Jobless Rate

In January of 2012, St. Lucie County's jobless rate fell to 11.9, down from 14 percent a year ago. Florida's jobless rate was 9.9 in January, down from its peak of 12 percent in December of 2010.

Unemployment Rate

Unemployment	Dec. 2011	Nov. 2011	Dec. 2010
Indian River	11.4	12.0	13.7
Martin	9.8	10.3	11.6
St. Lucie	11.9	12.3	14.0
Treasure Coast*	11.2	11.7	13.3
Florida**	9.9	10.0	12.0

*Combined rate for three-county area
** Seasonally adjusted rate

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/jan/20/treasure-coast-state-see-lowest-jobless-rates/

St. Lucie School Performance

In a February 6 article in TC Palm about poverty as an indicator of academic performance, St. Lucie County had a poverty rate of 60.5, and ranked # 42 for FCAT achievement and poverty rate. Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers analyzed FCAT scores and poverty rates and found unsurprisingly that poverty is a strong predictor of student achievement.

HOW ST. LUCIE RIVER COUNTY SCHOOLS RANK

Elementary schools (1,795 in the state)

Rank.. School Name..... School Grade Points... Grade 2011.....% Free/reduced lunch rate

207... Morningside..................627........................A............................. 56

229... Frances K. Sweet..........624........................A..............................59

409... Floresta........................598....................... A..............................68

427... Fairlawn.......................596........................A..............................52

433... Rivers Edge..................595....................... B..............................64

610.... Savanna Ridge.............573........................A..............................72

666.... Mariposa......................567........................A..............................78

715.... Parkway.......................563........................A..............................79

849... Bayshore.....................550........................ A..............................68

872... White City....................548........................ A..............................92

899.... Village Green...............545.........................A..............................64

995.... Lawnwood...................536.........................A..............................84

1089.. St. Lucie.....................526......................... A..............................94

1200.. Windmill Point.............515.........................B...............................63

1314.. Weatherbee................503........................B................................94

1517.. Chester A. Moore........471........................C................................97

1568.. Lakewood Park...........461........................C................................82

Combination Elementary/Middle Schools (194 in the state)

Rank.. School Name...........School Grade Points..... Grade 2011........% Free/reduced lunch rate

36..... Palm Pointe (FAU charter)...608.................A................................51

57...... St. Lucie West K-8............. 580.................A................................62

63..... West Gate K-8................... 576.................A................................53

81...... Manatee Academy K-8....... 561.................A................................63

97...... Oak Hammock K-8.............540.................A................................59

100.... Allapattah Flats K-8............537.................A................................68

108.... Renaissance Charter..........530.................A................................ 42

125.... Northport K-8....................521.................B.................................75

151.... Nau Charter......................490.................C.................................48

161.... Fort Pierce Magnet K-8....... 469................C.................................78

170.... Samuel Gaines Academy.....444................C.................................92

174.... Dan McCarty..................... 438................C .................................94

Middle Schools (583 in the state)

Rank...School Name..........School Grade Points...Grade 2011......% Free/reduced lunch rate

207.... Southern Oaks..................563.................A..................................65

324.... Southport.........................530.................A..................................69

410.... Forest Grove.....................505.................B..................................82

Combination Schools (65 in state which includes high school elements)

Rank.. School Name..........School Grade Points....Grade 2011......% Free/reduced lunch rate

8....... Lincoln Park Academy .....1298....................A...............................39

High Schools (404 in state)

Rank...School Name...........School Grade Points......Grade 2011........% Free/reduced lunch rate

246.... Fort Pierce Central...........1089.......................B.............................72

276.... Treasure Coast.................1061.......................B.............................55

301.... St. Lucie West Centennial..1033......................B..............................51

351.... Port St. Lucie.....................975......................D..............................59

353.... Fort Pierce Westwood. ........974......................D..............................70

Florida Department of Education

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/feb/05/poverty-strong-predictor-of-student-achievement/