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Medical Academy At D.W. Waters

Q: Is Medical Academy At D.W. Waters a good school?

Medical Academy At D.W. Waters ranks 199 th of 838 Florida alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

199^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 838 Florida Alternative Schools

Better than 76% of Florida alternative schools

Summary

Medical Academy At D.W. Waters is a small, alternative public school in Tampa, FL, serving 95 students in grades PK through 12 within the Hillsborough school district, where nearly 58% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school stands out for its dramatic academic turnaround in the 2025-2026 school year, achieving proficiency rates that far exceed district and state averages in core subjects like Biology 1 (100% proficient) and US History (81% proficient). However, this recent success contrasts sharply with historically low graduation rates—just 10.5% in 2022-2023—and a chronic absenteeism crisis, with 50.8% of students chronically absent in 2023-2024. For comparison, nearby Pepin Academies boasts a 94.3% graduation rate and spends only $16,181 per student, while Medical Academy spends up to $37,572 per student with far less consistent outcomes. The school also shares an address with Hillsborough Virtual School, which has a 98.5% graduation rate and 0% chronic absenteeism, highlighting the stark contrast in student populations.

The data suggests Medical Academy is at a critical juncture: its 2025-2026 test scores indicate potential for high performance, especially in science and history, but this is undermined by severe challenges in student attendance and retention. The school’s small enrollment makes its metrics volatile, and the combination of high spending with a low graduation rate raises questions about resource effectiveness. While it can outperform similar schools like Idea Hope when functioning well, the primary focus must be on improving attendance and ensuring academic gains translate into students earning diplomas.

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,865

Per pupil spending ?

57.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2704 N Highland Ave
Tampa, FL 33602

(813) 233-2655

District: Hillsborough

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

47.4%

African American:

32.6%

White:

11.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Medical Academy At D.W. Waters to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 2nd percentile in 2004 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (71% vs 64% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Florida alternative schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 74 percentile points since 2004

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the Florida average (10% vs 88%)

!High chronic absenteeism (51% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg63%

Florida avg64%

199^th of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Top 24%▲ up 74 pts since 2016

From bottom 3% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 8Alternative 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	62.4	199 of 838	76.3%	★★★★☆
2025	37.1	496 of 844	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	2.3	752 of 774	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	3.0	703 of 746	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.7	715 of 734	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.2	710 of 716	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	1.3	706 of 714	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	2.6	675 of 693	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	4.0	594 of 648	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	2.7	474 of 484	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Biology 1100%+26 vs state

US History81%+7 vs state

Algebra 167%+4 vs state

English Language Arts62%~ state avg

Geometry61%+5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Medical Academy At D.W. Waters

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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 ()				Ranking ()				FAST English Language Arts (2026)								FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Medical Academy At D.W. Waters	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	2704 N Highland Ave	Tampa	33602	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 233-2655	95	7	14.6	57.9%	11 (11.6%)	31 (32.6%)	45 (47.4%)	2 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	4 (4.2%)								(n/a)							63.0	62.0									67.0	61.0	100.0	81.0		$24,865	$2,741	$22,124
Hillsborough Virtual Franchise High School	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	2704 N Highland Ave	Tampa	33602	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	Yes	No	(813) 272-4362	3	0			1 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Hillsborough Virt Instr Prgs	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	2704 N Highland Ave	Tampa	33602	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	Yes	No	(813) 272-4362	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Hillsborough Virtual School	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	2704 N Highland Ave	Tampa	33602	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	Yes	No	(813) 272-4362	491	48	10.1	9.4%	186 (37.9%)	76 (15.5%)	164 (33.4%)	15 (3.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (9.6%)								(n/a)	64.0	50.0	71.0	85.0	67.0	78.0	79.0	60.0	27.0	35.0	46.0	46.0	58.0	62.0	54.0	58.0	44.0	49.0	80.0	90.0	89.0	$20,042	$1,099	$18,942
Hospital/Homebound/Homebased Programs	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	3993 E 21st Ave	Tampa	33605	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 273-3933	168	25	6.7	10.1%	55 (32.7%)	49 (29.2%)	55 (32.7%)	5 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.4%)								(n/a)																				40.0		$89,949	$16,680	$73,269
Detention Center West	Public, Alternative	3-12	3948 W Dr Martin Luther King	Tampa	33614	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 871-7650	26	5	5.2	15.4%	7 (26.9%)	16 (61.5%)	3 (11.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Pepin Academies	Public, Charter, Alternative	3-12	3916 E Hillsborough Ave	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	Yes	No	No	No	(813) 236-1755	834	62	13.4	5.3%	243 (29.1%)	210 (25.2%)	328 (39.3%)	13 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (4.7%)								(n/a)	5.0	2.0	14.0	11.0	8.0	22.0	20.0	16.0	8.0	7.0	7.0	4.0	10.0	17.0	5.0	16.0	12.0	9.0	26.0	32.0	12.0	$16,181	$515	$15,665
Lavoy Exceptional Center	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	4410 W Main St	Tampa	33607	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 872-5285	42	11	3.8	40.5%	15 (35.7%)	8 (19.0%)	16 (38.1%)	1 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.8%)								(n/a)																						$78,923	$12,162	$66,760
Idea Hope	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	5050 E 10th Ave	Tampa	33619	Hillsborough County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(813) 755-4690	790	42	18.8	79.7%	28 (3.5%)	483 (61.1%)	265 (33.5%)	11 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)								(n/a)	34.0	36.0	49.0	45.0	52.0	39.0			26.0	39.0	41.0	47.0	65.0	57.0	40.0		100.0		47.0		49.0
Caminiti Exceptional Center	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	2600 W Humphrey St	Tampa	33614	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 975-7611	69	15	4.6	82.6%	15 (21.7%)	19 (27.5%)	28 (40.6%)	4 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.3%)								(n/a)																						$64,077	$7,077	$57,000

Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Academy At D.W. Waters

What is the racial makeup of Medical Academy At D.W. Waters?

Students at Medical Academy At D.W. Waters are 47% Hispanic, 33% African American, 12% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander.

Is Medical Academy At D.W. Waters a good school?

Medical Academy At D.W. Waters ranks 199^th of 838 Florida alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Medical Academy At D.W. Waters?

In the 2024-25 school year, 95 students attended Medical Academy At D.W. Waters.

What district is Medical Academy At D.W. Waters in?

Hillsborough

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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.