Simmons Career Center

Simmons Career Center in Plant City, FL, is a small alternative public school within the Hillsborough district, serving 127 students in grades PK through 12 with a high level of individualized attention due to a low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

This school faces significant challenges that set it apart from nearby mainstream schools. The most pressing issue is an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 62.3% (2023-2024), nearly double the district average, which directly impacts academic performance. Test scores are consistently low across subjects, with only 4% of students proficient in Geometry and 19% in 10th Grade ELA, compared to district rates of 53% and 57%, respectively. The school spends a substantial $21,332 per student—over three times the cost at Florida Connections Academy—to provide small classes and support services, yet this investment has not yet translated into competitive academic outcomes. Interestingly, US History is a bright spot, with 41% proficiency, suggesting a potential model for improvement. The graduation rate is volatile but showed a positive trend, reaching 83.8% in 2024-2025, up from a low of 68.1% two years prior.

Comparisons to other alternative schools highlight unique dynamics. Simmons Exceptional Center, sharing the same campus, serves students with more profound disabilities and has an even higher absenteeism rate (83.7%) and per-student spending ($53,078). In contrast, Polk Full Time Eschool in the Polk district demonstrates that alternative models can succeed, with a low 8.0% absenteeism rate and a high 89.7% graduation rate, though it serves a different demographic. For parents, Simmons Career Center offers a highly personalized environment for students who need a non-traditional setting, but the school is grappling with deep-rooted attendance and academic hurdles that require significant support to overcome.