Longboat Key FL Schools Guide: Ratings and Zones

By Barrett Henry, Broker Associate, REMAX Collective • Updated September 23, 2026

School assignment on Longboat Key depends on which county your property is in. The island is divided at the Sarasota-Manatee county line, which runs through approximately the mid-island area near the Longboat Key Club. Properties south of the county line are in Sarasota County and assigned to Sarasota County Schools. Properties north of the line are in Manatee County and assigned to Manatee County Schools. Before purchasing if schools matter to your decision, confirm the county assignment for any specific property you are considering. Note: Longboat Key's permanent population skews heavily toward retirees and adults without school-age children. The island has one public elementary school and no public middle or high school.

What Schools Serve Sarasota County Properties on Longboat Key?

Longboat Key Elementary School

Longboat Key Elementary is the only public school physically located on the island. It serves kindergarten through 5th grade students in the Sarasota County portion of Longboat Key. The school is small, with a tight-knit community character reflecting the island's demographics. Confirm current enrollment boundaries and academic ratings through Sarasota County Schools at sarasotacountyschools.net or by calling the district at (941) 927-9000.

Booker Middle School (Sarasota County)

After Longboat Key Elementary, Sarasota County students from the island typically attend Booker Middle School in Sarasota for grades 6 through 8. Booker Middle is a magnet school offering fine and performing arts. Students commute from Longboat Key to the mainland for middle school (25 to 40 minutes each way). Confirm current boundary assignments with Sarasota County Schools, as magnet program participation involves an application process.

Riverview High School / Sarasota High School (Sarasota County)

For grades 9 through 12, Sarasota County students from Longboat Key are typically zoned to Riverview High School or Sarasota High School depending on the specific boundary. Both schools offer IB, AP, and dual enrollment programs. Sarasota High School is the historic downtown Sarasota high school with strong arts and performing arts programs. Riverview High School in southeastern Sarasota offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular programs. Commute from mid-key to these schools is approximately 30 to 45 minutes each way.

What Schools Serve Manatee County Properties on Longboat Key?

Anna Maria Elementary (Manatee County)

Students from the Manatee County (north key) portion of Longboat Key attend Anna Maria Elementary School, located on Anna Maria Island, for K-5. Anna Maria Elementary is a small school reflecting the barrier island community it serves. Confirm current enrollment data and boundary assignments with Manatee County Schools at manateeschools.net or (941) 708-8770.

Martha B. King Middle School (Manatee County)

Manatee County students from the island attend Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton for grades 6 through 8. The school is located at 600 Dr. MLK Jr. Way, Bradenton, approximately 35 to 55 minutes from the north end of Longboat Key. Confirm current assignments with the district.

Bayshore High School or Manatee High School (Manatee County)

For grades 9 through 12, Manatee County north key students are typically assigned to Bayshore High School or Manatee High School. Both are in the Bradenton area. Manatee High School is the older downtown Bradenton high school with strong athletic traditions. Bayshore High School offers a range of academic programs. Confirm current boundary assignments with Manatee County Schools.

What Are the Notable Public School Options in the Area?

Pine View School (Sarasota County Gifted)

Pine View School at 1 Python Path, Osprey, FL is a public school serving academically gifted students in grades 2 through 12 from across Sarasota County. It is consistently ranked among the top public schools in Florida by multiple education ranking systems. Admission requires qualification through the Sarasota County gifted education identification process. Families who qualify their children for Pine View often cite it as a primary reason they choose the Sarasota County side of the island. Transportation from Longboat Key to Pine View in Osprey is approximately 35 to 50 minutes. Confirm current gifted qualification process at sarasotacountyschools.net.

IB Programs in Sarasota County

Sarasota County offers International Baccalaureate (IB) programs at the middle and high school levels. Riverview High School and other Sarasota County high schools participate in the IB program, providing a rigorous pre-university curriculum. For families with academically motivated high school students, the IB option within Sarasota County public schools is a meaningful academic resource.

What Private School Options Are Near Longboat Key?

The Sarasota area has a well-developed private school ecosystem, which is relevant given Longboat Key's affluent demographic. Notable private schools within commuting range include:

Is Longboat Key a Good Place for Families with School-Age Children?

This depends heavily on your school priorities and tolerance for commute. The one public elementary school on the island (Longboat Key Elementary) serves early grades for Sarasota County residents. Middle and high school requires commuting off the island daily, typically 25 to 45 minutes each way. For families who use private schools in Sarasota, the calculus is similar: daily driving to the mainland is unavoidable.

Many families who are willing to make the daily school commute find that the lifestyle benefits of living on Longboat Key — beaches, water activities, quiet streets, and a safe environment — are worth the driving. Others find the daily transport burden to be too much and choose to live closer to their chosen school in Sarasota or Bradenton. For families with teens who drive themselves, the concern diminishes somewhat once children can manage their own transportation. The school situation is one more factor to evaluate honestly rather than assume will resolve itself.

If schools are your primary household priority, consider living closer to school in Sarasota (near Pine View or the Sarasota city schools) or in Bradenton (near the Manatee County magnet and IB programs). You can still visit and enjoy Longboat Key's beaches without the daily school commute burden.

Frequently Asked Questions About Longboat Key Schools

How do I find out which school district my Longboat Key property is in?

The simplest approach is to check the property's county through the applicable county property appraiser website. Sarasota County properties are at sc-pa.com; Manatee County properties are at mcpafl.org. The county assignment determines the school district. Once you know the county, use the district's school locator tool to confirm specific school assignments. Sarasota County uses a school locator at sarasotacountyschools.net. Manatee County uses a similar tool at manateeschools.net. Do not rely on the listing agent's statement about school assignment; verify it yourself through the district.

Can I apply for school choice to a different school on Longboat Key?

Both Sarasota County and Manatee County offer open enrollment / school choice programs that allow students to apply to schools outside their assigned attendance zone, subject to available capacity. Magnet programs (like Booker Middle's fine arts program in Sarasota County) have their own application processes. Private school choice is available through Florida's education scholarship programs for qualifying students. The Florida Department of Education oversees several scholarship programs that provide state funding for private school tuition for eligible students. Details change annually; check fldoe.org for current program availability.

How good are the public schools assigned to Longboat Key?

School quality in the Sarasota area is generally above the Florida average. Sarasota County Schools has been recognized as one of Florida's stronger school districts. Within the county, there is variation by school, and Longboat Key's small elementary school has a community character that many parents find appealing. Pine View School (accessible to qualifying Sarasota County students) is one of Florida's highest-rated public schools. Manatee County Schools serves the north key; the district is generally solid but not uniformly top-rated across all schools. For current Florida School Grades (A-F ratings) and detailed school data, visit the Florida Department of Education's school performance reports at fldoe.org.

Is IMG Academy near Longboat Key?

IMG Academy is in Bradenton, approximately 35 to 50 minutes from Longboat Key. IMG is a private boarding school known for its elite athletic training programs combined with college-preparatory academics. It primarily serves boarding students from around the world who are training in their sport (tennis, soccer, golf, baseball, football, basketball, track and field, lacrosse). Families who have children attending IMG sometimes choose to live in the Bradenton or Longboat Key area to be close to campus during the school year.

What college or university options are near Longboat Key?

The Sarasota-Manatee area has several higher education options within commuting distance. New College of Florida (a public liberal arts honors college, one of only about a dozen in the US) is in Sarasota. Ringling College of Art and Design is a highly-regarded private arts college in Sarasota. State College of Florida (Manatee-Sarasota) has campuses in Bradenton and Sarasota with associate and bachelor's degree programs. The University of South Florida has a Sarasota-Manatee campus offering upper-division and graduate programs. For a full four-year research university, USF's main campus in Tampa is 80 to 95 minutes away.

About Barrett Henry: Barrett Henry is a licensed Broker Associate with REMAX Collective serving the greater Tampa Bay, Sarasota, and Manatee County areas. With 23+ years of real estate experience, Barrett specializes in luxury coastal properties, waterfront homes, and barrier island real estate including Longboat Key. Learn more about Barrett or schedule a consultation.