Deer Park Elementary School

Deer Park Elementary School is a large, high-performing elementary school in the Citrus Park area of Tampa, FL, serving 957 students in grades PK-5 within the Hillsborough district.

Deer Park stands out for its consistent academic excellence, earning a 4-star or 5-star rating every year for the past decade. Its math proficiency is particularly impressive, with 85% of 5th graders meeting state standards—27 points higher than the state average and the highest among nearby schools except for the top-tier Bryant Elementary School. Science scores are also a major strength, with 81% of 5th graders proficient, far exceeding district and state averages. The school serves a relatively affluent community, with only 23.5% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, a figure significantly lower than many neighboring schools like Davis Elementary School (71.5%) and Bellamy Elementary School (68.4%). Deer Park also demonstrates efficient spending, achieving strong results with a per-student cost of $10,437, which is more effective than schools with higher budgets like Citrus Park Elementary School ($15,180).

While Deer Park has seen a slight dip in its state ranking from the 93rd percentile in 2019 to the 81st-89th percentile range recently, it remains a solidly high-achieving school. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 20% is a relative strength, dramatically lower than the district average of 31.3% and far better than nearby Slam Academy Tampa Elementary (47.1%). Interestingly, the nearby charter school Victory Charter School Tampa has a lower poverty rate (10%) but mediocre academic performance and a high absenteeism rate (39.2%), showing that a charter designation doesn't guarantee better results. Overall, Deer Park offers a strong, well-rounded education with standout math and science programs, making it a top choice for families in the area.