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Florida Connections Academy

Public, Charter, Virtual, Alternative Grades K-12

2109^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Alternative Schools

Better than 6% of Florida alternative schools

Summary

Florida Connections Academy in Temple Terrace, FL, is a large, public virtual school serving 5,748 students in grades K-12, offering a flexible online alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar schools in the Hillsborough district. Unlike nearby alternative schools that are small, in-person facilities for students with specialized needs—such as Caminiti Exceptional Center or Pepin Academies—this school’s virtual model allows it to serve a much larger population at a lower cost, spending just $6,977 per student compared to over $16,000 at many local peers. Its 0% chronic absenteeism rate is a statistical quirk of online attendance tracking, not a sign of perfect engagement, and its high student-teacher ratio of 43.2:1 reflects the scalability of virtual instruction.

Academically, the school shows a clear strength in English Language Arts, with proficiency rates in grades like 7th (56%) and 6th (53%) coming close to district and state averages. However, mathematics is a persistent challenge, with scores often 20 to 40 percentage points lower—for example, only 17% of 5th graders are proficient in math, compared to 58% in the district. The school outperforms nearby alternative schools like Idea Hope and Idea Victory in ELA and science, though those schools show surprising strength in Algebra 1. The graduation rate has improved rapidly from 52.2% to 73.1% over three years, but still lags behind the district’s 90.9% and state’s 92.2%.

This school is best suited for self-motivated students with strong parental support who thrive in a flexible, online environment. Its low free/reduced lunch rate of 25% suggests a more affluent population than nearby alternatives, which may influence outcomes. While it cannot provide the intensive, small-group support of specialized centers like Dorothy Thomas Center or Lopez Exceptional Center, it offers a cost-effective, scalable option for families seeking an alternative to traditional schooling, with the key caveat that math support and graduation readiness require careful attention.

5,748

Students ?

43.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$6,977

Per pupil spending ?

25.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

13008 N Telecom Pkwy
Temple Terrace, FL 33637

(813) 291-0550

District: Hillsborough

Racial breakdown:

White:

41.8%

Hispanic:

31.5%

African American:

17.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Florida Connections Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 45th percentile in 2023 → 22nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (40% vs 63% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Florida average (73% vs 92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg59%

Florida avg63%

Elementary school

2,109^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 34 pts since 2021

From bottom 40% (2021) to bottom 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

987^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 19%▼ down 45 pts since 2021

From top 37% (2021) to bottom 19% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

652^nd of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Bottom 22%▼ down 33 pts since 2021

From top 44% (2021) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	11.7	2109 of 2240	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.3	2030 of 2258	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.4	1921 of 2256	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.3	1790 of 2240	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.3	1631 of 2219	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.9	1342 of 2247	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	24.2	987 of 1216	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.1	919 of 1205	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.4	741 of 1196	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.9	704 of 1177	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.2	574 of 1148	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.6	415 of 1136	63.5%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	22.2	652 of 838	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.9	595 of 844	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.9	520 of 807	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.7	437 of 792	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.3	447 of 774	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.4	331 of 746	55.6%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Biology 156%-18 vs state

US History55%-19 vs state

Civics54%-23 vs state

English Language Arts49%-12 vs state

Science30%-26 vs state

Algebra 129%-34 vs state

Math28%-34 vs state

Geometry21%-35 vs state

★

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Schools Near Florida Connections Academy

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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
Florida Connections Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	13008 N Telecom Pkwy	Temple Terrace	33637	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	Yes	No	Yes	No	(813) 291-0550	5,748	133	43.2	25.1%	2,404 (41.8%)	1,009 (17.6%)	1,811 (31.5%)	85 (1.5%)	16 (0.3%)	25 (0.4%)	398 (6.9%)								(n/a)	38.0	39.0	49.0	53.0	56.0	48.0	50.0	47.0	27.0	23.0	17.0	31.0	31.0	32.0	29.0	31.0	29.0	21.0	56.0	55.0	54.0	$6,977	$219	$6,757
Florida Autism Charter School Of Excellence	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	6310 E Sligh Ave	Tampa	33617	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	Yes	No	No	Yes	(813) 985-3223	152	16	9.8	49.3%	30 (19.7%)	55 (36.2%)	54 (35.5%)	5 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.3%)								(n/a)																						$25,838	$77	$25,761
Idea Victory	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	11612 N Nebraska Ave	Tampa	33612	Hillsborough County	Idea Public Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(813) 461-6650	1,316	52	25.3	71.0%	61 (4.6%)	394 (29.9%)	853 (64.8%)	7 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	31.0	39.0	43.0	31.0	45.0	40.0	53.0	22.0	34.0	31.0	33.0	35.0	61.0	42.0	20.0		49.0	62.0	46.0		49.0
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
The Spring	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1009 N Parsons Rd	Seffner	33584	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	No	(813) 651-2166	10	0		30.0%	0 (0.0%)	6 (60.0%)	4 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
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
Lopez Exceptional Center	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	315 W Old Hillsborough Ave	Seffner	33584	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 744-8008	57	13	4.3	45.6%	19 (33.3%)	19 (33.3%)	15 (26.3%)	2 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.5%)								(n/a)																						$53,289	$7,198	$46,090
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
Dorothy Thomas Center	Public, Alternative	K-12	3215 Nundy Rd	Tampa	33618	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 975-7355	35	10	3.5	68.6%	14 (40.0%)	14 (40.0%)	6 (17.1%)	1 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																						$80,090	$9,256	$70,833

Frequently Asked Questions about Florida Connections Academy

Is Florida Connections Academy a good school?

Florida Connections Academy ranks in the bottom 5.8% of Florida alternative schools.

What district is Florida Connections Academy in?

Hillsborough

How many students attend Florida Connections Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 5,748 students attended Florida Connections Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Florida Connections Academy?

Students at Florida Connections Academy are 42% White, 32% Hispanic, 18% African American, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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Schools in Temple Terrace, FL

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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.