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Buchanan Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

1082^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 11% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Buchanan Middle School in Tampa, FL, serves 928 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Hillsborough school district, with a high percentage of students (62.7%) from low-income families.

The most significant challenge facing Buchanan is an exceptionally high rate of chronic absenteeism, with 51.7% of students missing substantial amounts of school in the 2023-2024 school year. This rate is dramatically higher than top-performing nearby schools like Walker Middle Magnet School (11.6%) and Martinez Middle School (16.0%), and far exceeds the district average of 31.3%. This absenteeism crisis is strongly linked to the school's consistently low academic performance, which places it in the bottom 15-20% of Florida middle schools. Proficiency rates in core subjects like 6th Grade ELA (31%), 7th Grade Math (24%), and 8th Grade Science (28%) are among the lowest in its peer group, comparable only to Greco Middle Magnet School and Pierce Middle School.

Despite these struggles, Buchanan has a notable bright spot: 91% of its students taking the Algebra 1 EOC were proficient, significantly outperforming the district (59%) and state (60%). This success, however, does not extend to the general 8th-grade math population, where only 48% were proficient, suggesting a "two-tiered" system where advanced students thrive while the majority struggle. The school's per-student spending ($9,574) is in the middle of its peer group, indicating that the core issue is not a lack of funding but rather how resources are used to combat absenteeism and foundational skill gaps. With a decade-long decline in state ranking, Buchanan faces deep-seated challenges that require a focused effort on improving attendance before academic interventions can be effective.

928

Students ?

22.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,574

Per pupil spending ?

62.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1001 W Bearss Ave
Tampa, FL 33613

(813) 975-7600

District: Hillsborough

Feeder schools for Buchanan Middle School:

Elementary:	Miles Elementary School
	Mort Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

61.5%

African American:

23.9%

White:

9.3%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Buchanan Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 38th percentile in 2016 → 11th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (37% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (52% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg58%

Florida avg62%

1,082^nd of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 11%▼ down 27 pts since 2016

From bottom 38% (2016) to bottom 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

34^th of 41Middle 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	15.8	1082 of 1216	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.7	1038 of 1205	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.6	1044 of 1196	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.5	1055 of 1177	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.2	969 of 1148	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.1	891 of 1136	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.2	880 of 1099	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.4	794 of 1035	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	31.2	713 of 1031	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.0	622 of 997	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	31.2	692 of 999	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	31.1	674 of 956	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	32.6	616 of 897	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2011	27.2	679 of 891	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	33.6	597 of 839	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	29.0	578 of 780	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	30.8	542 of 740	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	29.3	543 of 736	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	44.1	400 of 675	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	46.1	356 of 602	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2004	46.7	337 of 593	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Algebra 165%~ state avg

Math40%-19 vs state

Civics40%-37 vs state

English Language Arts33%-29 vs state

Science28%-24 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Sunday, August 15, 2010

I am a student here going to 8th grade now and i totally love this school!!!!!! the teachers are fun,lots of fun activities and if we are close to failing,there is elp to help us pass...all the bad comments about this school are probally true and we used to have only four electives but we are getting more this year.so we are going to have electives like P.E,band,orchestra,chorus,italian,spanish,journalism,stem,avid,art,guitar class,agriculture,ltssand some other electives that have to do with working in the office and in the media center or you can sign up to be a teachers assistant.i ended up in this becuz i rejected a magnet school that my mom picked for me that i did not want and because of he im at buchanan.i thought it was going to be a nightmare over here but i was WRONG!!!!!!being here with friends and nice teachers that focus on what you are doing wrong or right is incredible..i have learned how to play the cello and violin but im sticking to the violin cuz i love it..our orchestra group went to mpa and got a straight supirior and a trophy for the school making us one of the best music departments in hillsborough..awsome-i have nothing negative to say about James Buchanan middle school:):):) Close Quote

Schools Near Buchanan Middle School

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Ranking:

E = Elementary, M = Middle, H = High, A = Alternative, P = Private

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)	EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Civics (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 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Buchanan Middle School	Public	6-8	1001 W Bearss Ave	Tampa	33613	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 975-7600	928	41	22.4	62.7%	86 (9.3%)	222 (23.9%)	571 (61.5%)	13 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (3.7%)	15.8	1082^nd of 1216 public middle schools	11.0%		17.7	1038^th of 1205 public middle schools	13.9%	44	31.0	36.0	31.0	41.0	24.0	48.0	28.0	65.0		40.0	$9,574	$1,286	$8,288
Excelsior Prep Charter Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	2156 University Square Mall	Tampa	33612	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(813) 644-9060	38	2	25.3	92.1%	1 (2.6%)	16 (42.1%)	21 (55.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30.2	908^th of 1216 public middle schools	25.3%		31.7	863^rd of 1205 public middle schools	28.4%	45	50.0	50.0	43.0	48.0	61.0	50.0	0.0			56.0	$10,136	$740	$9,396
Hill Middle School	Public	6-8	5200 Ehrlich Rd	Tampa	33624	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 975-7325	820	42	19.3	42.2%	215 (26.2%)	72 (8.8%)	463 (56.5%)	29 (3.5%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	38 (4.6%)	46.6	671^st of 1216 public middle schools	44.8%		46	658^th of 1205 public middle schools	45.4%	13	58.0	50.0	57.0	58.0	27.0	71.0	53.0	88.0		77.0	$10,348	$1,137	$9,210
Sligh Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2011 E Sligh Ave	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 276-5596	761	35	21.7	76.9%	37 (4.9%)	509 (66.9%)	191 (25.1%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	16 (2.1%)	29.3	924^th of 1216 public middle schools	24.0%		20.3	1000^th of 1205 public middle schools	17.0%	76	41.0	45.0	45.0	47.0	40.0	59.0	42.0	82.0		65.0	$10,401	$1,657	$8,743
Liberty Middle School	Public	6-8	17400 Commerce Park Blvd	Tampa	33647	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 558-1180	779	39	20.0	39.3%	200 (25.7%)	170 (21.8%)	235 (30.2%)	112 (14.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (7.7%)	64.6	403^rd of 1216 public middle schools	66.9%		66.3	371^st of 1205 public middle schools	69.2%	32	71.0	66.0	65.0	64.0	36.0	79.0	60.0	94.0	100.0	77.0	$11,172	$989	$10,183
Greco Middle Magnet School	Public, Magnet	6-8	6925 E Fowler Ave	Temple Terrace	33617	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 987-6926	764	39	19.5	71.6%	79 (10.3%)	367 (48.0%)	244 (31.9%)	35 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	35 (4.6%)	12.6	1105^th of 1216 public middle schools	9.1%		11.6	1097^th of 1205 public middle schools	9.0%	8	37.0	31.0	36.0	26.0	12.0	43.0	27.0	95.0		37.0	$11,388	$1,980	$9,408
Martinez Middle School	Public	6-8	5601 W Lutz Lake Fern Rd	Lutz	33558	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 558-1190	1,104	50	22.2	15.9%	605 (54.8%)	37 (3.4%)	257 (23.3%)	126 (11.4%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	75 (6.8%)	90.2	69^th of 1216 public middle schools	94.3%		91.2	64^th of 1205 public middle schools	94.7%	5	83.0	86.0	83.0	90.0	67.0	92.0	81.0	99.0		96.0	$8,592	$530	$8,063
Sergeant Paul R Smith Middle School	Public	6-8	14303 Citrus Pointe Dr	Tampa	33625	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 792-5125	595	31	18.9	51.4%	101 (17.0%)	38 (6.4%)	396 (66.6%)	37 (6.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.7%)	40.8	759^th of 1216 public middle schools	37.6%		52.4	558^th of 1205 public middle schools	53.7%	201	44.0	59.0	54.0	50.0	24.0	67.0	47.0	91.0	92.0	68.0	$11,712	$1,440	$10,272
Walker Middle Magnet School	Public, Magnet	6-8	8282 N Mobley Rd	Odessa	33556	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	No	(813) 631-4726	1,039	50	20.8	20.9%	415 (39.9%)	37 (3.6%)	369 (35.5%)	139 (13.4%)	6 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	72 (6.9%)	92.8	37^th of 1216 public middle schools	97.0%		94.2	34^th of 1205 public middle schools	97.2%	3	87.0	87.0	90.0	95.0		97.0	80.0	98.0	100.0	94.0	$9,692	$771	$8,920
Pierce Middle School	Public	6-8	5511 N Hesperides St	Tampa	33614	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 872-5344	858	39	22.0	67.4%	41 (4.8%)	77 (9.0%)	719 (83.8%)	12 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (0.9%)	15.2	1088^th of 1216 public middle schools	10.5%		15.7	1064^th of 1205 public middle schools	11.7%	24	38.0	31.0	36.0	48.0	20.0	43.0	18.0	93.0		53.0	$10,185	$1,655	$8,530

Frequently Asked Questions about Buchanan Middle School

Is Buchanan Middle School a good school?

Buchanan Middle School ranks in the bottom 11.0% of Florida middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Buchanan Middle School?

Students at Buchanan Middle School are 62% Hispanic, 24% African American, 9% White, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Buchanan Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 928 students attended Buchanan Middle School.

What district is Buchanan Middle 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.