Summary
Lamb Elementary in Tampa, FL, is a public school serving 513 students in grades PK-5 within the Hillsborough district, and it is showing a remarkable academic turnaround despite serving a high-poverty community where over 72% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Lamb Elementary stands out for its exceptional math performance, which has recently surpassed both district and state averages in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade—a notable achievement compared to nearby schools with similar demographics like Gibsonton Elementary and Ippolito Elementary, which typically underperform in math. However, the school faces a significant challenge with chronic absenteeism, which has remained above 53% for three consecutive years—nearly double the district and state averages and the highest among nearby schools. For context, high-performing Winthrop Charter School (2.86 miles away) has an absenteeism rate of just 18.9%. Despite this, Lamb has improved its state ranking from the 2nd percentile in 2021-2022 to the 32nd percentile in 2025-2026, a much faster rate of improvement than neighboring schools like Riverview Elementary and Gibsonton Elementary, which have remained stagnant.
The school’s improvement is driven by a strong math curriculum and a low student-teacher ratio of 16.5:1, supported by higher per-student spending ($13,366) than the district average. However, English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency lags behind at 44%, compared to 65% in math, indicating a need for continued focus. Lamb’s recent gains, including a doubling of 5th-grade science scores from 20% to 42%, suggest effective interventions are working, but the school’s progress remains fragile due to extreme absenteeism. If the school can address this issue, its academic performance could soar, making it a promising option for families in the area.
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