Limona Elementary School

Limona Elementary School in Brandon, FL, serves 543 students in grades PK through 5 and is part of the Hillsborough school district, with about 52.7% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This school stands out as a relative academic bright spot in a challenging local area, where many nearby schools are struggling—of the ten schools within a few miles, only Limona, Valrico Elementary School, and Brooker Elementary School currently hold a 3-star rating or higher, while others like Seffner Elementary School and Mango Elementary School are rated much lower.

One of Limona's most compelling strengths is its exceptional 5th-grade performance, with students achieving 71% proficiency in English Language Arts and 66% in Science in the most recent school year—scores that are dramatically higher than every nearby school. The school also maintains consistently lower chronic absenteeism (28.8%) compared to neighbors like Kingswood Elementary School (42.4%) and Yates Elementary School (45.3%), which likely supports its academic results. Additionally, Limona achieves these outcomes with lower spending per student ($11,736) than many peers, suggesting efficient resource use.

However, there are some concerns to note. After years of consistent performance in the 65th-76th percentile statewide, Limona has dropped to the 48th and 52nd percentile in the last two years, a decline that coincides with rising chronic absenteeism since the pandemic. English Language Arts scores are also more variable across grade levels, with 3rd-grade ELA recently falling 9 points below the state average while 4th-grade ELA was 9 points above. Despite these challenges, Limona remains a solid choice for families, especially those looking for strong preparation for middle school, as evidenced by its standout 5th-grade results.