Middle Schools in Hillsborough

Hillsborough County is home to 41 middle schools serving grades 6-8, a district ranked 45th out of 70 in Florida, where academic performance is sharply divided between high-achieving schools and those facing significant challenges.

The top-performing schools in the district are Walker Middle Magnet School, Terrace Community Middle School, Martinez Middle School, Randall Middle School, and Coleman Middle School, all earning 5-star ratings and ranking in the top 10% of Florida. These schools share very low chronic absenteeism rates (under 21%) and high proficiency in math and reading, with Randall and Coleman achieving 99-100% proficiency in Algebra 1 and Geometry. In stark contrast, schools like Greco Middle Magnet School, Jennings Middle School, and Giunta Middle School rank in the bottom 1% of the state, with chronic absenteeism rates exceeding 48% and proficiency in core subjects often falling below 30%. The largest school, Shields Middle School, also struggles with a 50.5% chronic absenteeism rate and low test scores.

A critical finding is that 7th grade math is a universal weakness across nearly all schools, with even top performers like Randall (52%) and Martinez (67%) showing a noticeable dip, while struggling schools like Burnett Middle School and Memorial Middle School report just 10% proficiency. Additionally, higher per-student spending does not guarantee better outcomes; the highest-spending schools, such as Franklin Middle Magnet School ($16,155 per student), are among the lowest-performing, while top schools like Farnell Middle School spend less than $8,300 per student. The Hillsborough district's overall 2-star rating masks this extreme internal disparity, where some schools are among the best in Florida while others face profound challenges.