Summary
Winthrop Charter School in Riverview, FL, is a large, high-performing public charter school serving 1,827 students from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and it stands out as an academic powerhouse in the Hillsborough district.
Winthrop consistently earns a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, placing it in the top 20% of all elementary schools in Florida, and its academic performance dramatically outpaces nearby schools. For example, Winthrop averages 78% proficiency in English Language Arts and 72% in Math, while the average of 10 nearby schools is just 50% and 51%, respectively. In advanced subjects, Winthrop achieves near-perfect scores, with 100% proficiency in Geometry and Biology and 93% in Civics. The closest competitor, Creekside Charter Academy, scores 92%, 96%, and 76% in those same subjects, while other schools often don't offer these courses or score far lower. Winthrop also has a significantly lower chronic absenteeism rate (18.9%) compared to the average of nearby schools (37.4%), and it achieves these results while spending the least per student ($8,245) among all comparison schools, highlighting exceptional efficiency.
One interesting finding is a persistent dip in 8th-grade Math scores, which is likely because the most advanced students take the Algebra 1 exam (where Winthrop scores 86%), leaving a smaller cohort for the standard test. Overall, Winthrop's success is especially noteworthy given that one-third of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a higher rate than some lower-performing neighbors like Creekside (18.6%). This demonstrates that the school adds significant educational value, proving that high achievement is possible regardless of demographics. For parents in Riverview, Winthrop represents a clear top-tier choice in a landscape where most traditional public schools rank in the bottom 25-40% of the state.
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