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James Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2203^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 2% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

James Elementary School in Tampa, FL, is a PK-5 school within the Hillsborough district serving 388 students, with over 82% of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, indicating a highly disadvantaged community.

The school faces severe academic challenges, ranking in the bottom 2% of Florida elementary schools, with test scores significantly below district and state averages. The most critical factor is a chronic absenteeism crisis: 55.5% of students were chronically absent in 2023-2024, nearly double the district average of 31.3% and the highest rate among nearby schools. This absenteeism has remained above 50% for four years, creating a direct link to low academic performance. For example, only 19% of 4th graders were proficient in math, compared to 47% at Foster Elementary School and 51% at Robles Elementary School. Notably, Lomax Magnet Elementary School, with a similar poverty rate (77.8%), has a much lower absenteeism rate (22.8%) and achieves significantly better results (28th percentile vs. 2nd percentile), showing that addressing attendance can be a powerful lever for improvement.

Despite spending $16,445 per student—higher than many higher-performing neighbors like Lomax ($15,341)—outcomes remain poor, suggesting resources aren't the issue but rather the overwhelming non-academic barriers students face. However, there is a glimmer of hope: 5th Grade Science proficiency rose from 21% to 38% over three years, a trend worth investigating for replication. Nearby The Collaboratory Preparatory Academy, with a low poverty rate (13.1%) and large class sizes, achieves better results (14th percentile), underscoring that James's challenges are concentrated in a specific, highly disadvantaged population with complex needs.

388

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,445

Per pupil spending ?

82.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4302 E Ellicott St
Tampa, FL 33610

(813) 740-4800

District: Hillsborough

Racial breakdown:

African American:

63.9%

Hispanic:

25.8%

White:

7.5%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 2nd percentile in 2016 → 2nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (28% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (2nd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (56% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school28%

District avg58%

Florida avg62%

2,203^rd of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 2%▼ down 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

173^rd of 175Elementary Schools in the Hillsborough

45^th of 70Hillsborough among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	4.5	2203 of 2240	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	3.3	2231 of 2258	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.2	2211 of 2256	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.9	2181 of 2240	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.2	2194 of 2219	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.5	2233 of 2247	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.0	2168 of 2182	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.3	2090 of 2118	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	4.8	2068 of 2112	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	5.6	2036 of 2087	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	15.2	1863 of 2064	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	12.6	1893 of 2029	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	9.5	1887 of 1984	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	6.2	1928 of 1985	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	16.7	1686 of 1919	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	12.7	1691 of 1847	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	12.2	1656 of 1789	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	6.2	1723 of 1786	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.3	1666 of 1688	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	3.5	197 of 202	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science38%-22 vs state

English Language Arts28%-33 vs state

Math26%-38 vs state

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, October 17, 2016

I have a nephew who goes here and hopefully my two daughters will too great school Close Quote

Schools Near James Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)			FAST Math (2026)			Statewide Science Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
James Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4302 E Ellicott St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 740-4800	388	25	15.5	82.7%	29 (7.5%)	248 (63.9%)	100 (25.8%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	4.5	2203^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	1.7%		3.3	2231^st of 2258 public elementary schools	1.2%	28	27.0	24.0	33.0	25.0	19.0	38.0	38.0	$16,445	$3,148	$13,297
Potter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3224 E Cayuga St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 276-5564	467	28	16.4	85.9%	16 (3.4%)	350 (74.9%)	82 (17.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.6%)	2.9	2217^th of 2240 public elementary schools	1.0%		2.6	2237^th of 2258 public elementary schools	0.9%	20	29.0	27.0	28.0	36.0	16.0	23.0	20.0	$13,996	$2,718	$11,279
Sheehy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6402 N 40th St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 233-3800	396	24	16.7	78.3%	16 (4.0%)	294 (74.2%)	75 (18.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	7 (1.8%)	12.1	2105^th of 2240 public elementary schools	6.0%		8.9	2169^th of 2258 public elementary schools	3.9%	64	27.0	21.0	36.0	20.0	27.0	45.0	62.0	$15,137	$2,503	$12,633
Robles Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4405 E Sligh Ave	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 744-8033	472	31	15.2	82.4%	20 (4.2%)	325 (68.9%)	100 (21.2%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	19 (4.0%)	11.8	2108^th of 2240 public elementary schools	5.9%		10.6	2136^th of 2258 public elementary schools	5.4%	28	35.0	45.0	35.0	43.0	51.0	26.0	33.0	$15,381	$2,579	$12,802
Lomax Magnet Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4207 N 26th St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 276-5569	239	18	13.5	77.8%	6 (2.5%)	193 (80.8%)	23 (9.6%)	9 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.3%)	32.3	1611^th of 2240 public elementary schools	28.1%		34.7	1501^st of 2258 public elementary schools	33.5%	110	47.0	28.0	69.0	50.0	47.0	56.0	54.0	$15,341	$1,808	$13,533
The Collaboratory Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	6406 E Chelsea St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	Yes	No	No	Yes	(844) 702-3123	61	2	30.5	13.1%	3 (4.9%)	37 (60.7%)	13 (21.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	7 (11.5%)	19.9	1928^th of 2240 public elementary schools	13.9%		17.7	1976^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.5%	48	53.0	45.0	29.0	47.0	45.0	47.0	47.0	$29,297	$1,005	$28,291
Oak Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2716 N 46th St	Tampa	33605	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 740-7733	314	23	13.7	79.3%	20 (6.4%)	216 (68.8%)	58 (18.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.1%)	14	2062^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	7.9%		9.7	2155^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.6%	93	40.0	21.0	33.0	64.0	40.0	36.0	24.0	$15,765	$2,560	$13,205
Foster Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2014 E Diana St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 276-5573	428	27	16.0	81.5%	18 (4.2%)	265 (61.9%)	122 (28.5%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.2%)	12.3	2094^th of 2240 public elementary schools	6.5%		17.4	1981^st of 2258 public elementary schools	12.3%	113	40.0	43.0	43.0	39.0	47.0	23.0	37.0	$14,475	$2,409	$12,066
Lockhart Elementary Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3719 N 17th St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 276-5727	376	29	13.0	85.6%	19 (5.1%)	321 (85.4%)	31 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.1%)	8.5	2161^st of 2240 public elementary schools	3.5%		10.1	2148^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.9%	13	37.0	34.0	38.0	31.0	37.0	38.0	37.0	$16,131	$2,241	$13,890
Edison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1607 E Curtis St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 276-5579	303	26	11.6	85.1%	13 (4.3%)	206 (68.0%)	81 (26.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	9.8	2147^th of 2240 public elementary schools	4.2%		5.4	2216^th of 2258 public elementary schools	1.9%	69	28.0	44.0	39.0	25.0	46.0	37.0	29.0	$20,363	$3,978	$16,384

Frequently Asked Questions about James Elementary School

Is James Elementary School a good school?

James Elementary School ranks in the bottom 1.7% of Florida elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of James Elementary School?

Students at James Elementary School are 64% African American, 26% Hispanic, 7% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend James Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 388 students attended James Elementary School.

What district is James Elementary School in?

Hillsborough

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.