Hillsborough

The Hillsborough County school district serves 284 schools in the Tampa Bay area, including 177 elementary, 41 middle, 47 high, and 19 alternative schools, and ranks 45th out of 70 districts in Florida. The data reveals a stark divide between high-performing schools with low poverty rates and struggling schools facing significant challenges. For example, Bell Creek Academy ranks in the 93rd percentile with a 99.3% graduation rate and 87% proficiency in Algebra 1, while Dr. Carter G Woodson K-8 School ranks in the 2nd percentile with only 21% proficiency in 3rd-grade ELA. Similarly, Lutz Preparatory School achieves near-perfect test scores with a 0.9% free/reduced lunch rate, whereas Ruskin Elementary School has a 71.48% free/reduced lunch rate and ranks in the 4th percentile.

Key metrics highlight the district's performance gaps. The district's graduation rate is 90.9%, slightly below the state average, with top schools like Newsome High School and Plant High School exceeding 98%, while Chamberlain High School lags at 81.5%. Chronic absenteeism averages 31.3% districtwide, but ranges from single digits at Bryant Elementary School (7.0%) to over 50% at Armwood High School (53.0%) and Brandon High School (57.2%). Per-student spending varies widely, from $6,977 at Florida Connections Academy to $16,181 at Pepin Academies, but higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes.

Interesting findings include a widespread "7th grade math dip" seen at schools like Randall Middle School, where 6th-grade math proficiency is 82% but drops to 52% in 7th grade before rebounding to 90% in 8th grade. Charter schools show mixed results, with Southshore Charter Academy ranking low despite the charter model. Florida Connections Academy stands out as an anomaly with a 0.0% chronic absenteeism rate (likely a data artifact for a virtual school) and a 43.2:1 student-teacher ratio, but test scores well below district averages, such as 17% proficiency in 5th-grade math.