Lopez Elementary School

Lopez Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Seffner, Florida, serving 575 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Hillsborough School District, which is ranked 49 out of 67 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite being part of the Hillsborough district, Lopez Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools over the past several years, with a ranking between 1069 and 1596 out of over 2,000 schools. This is largely due to the school's high chronic absenteeism rates, which range from 30.9% to 41.8%, significantly higher than the district average of around 31.4%. Additionally, Lopez Elementary's test scores lag behind both the Hillsborough district and the state of Florida averages across multiple subjects and grade levels, with only 42% of 5th graders proficient or better in ELA, compared to 52% in Hillsborough and 56% statewide.

When comparing Lopez Elementary to nearby schools in the Hillsborough district, such as Limona Elementary, it becomes clear that Lopez is underperforming relative to its peers. Limona Elementary, which is only about 3 miles away, has significantly higher test scores and a lower chronic absenteeism rate. The high rates of free/reduced lunch, ranging from 72.35% to 78.82%, and the school's lower spending per student, between $10,723 and $11,899, may be contributing factors to the school's struggles. While addressing these challenges will likely require a multi-faceted approach, there are opportunities for Lopez Elementary to implement targeted interventions and strategies to improve student performance and engagement.