Excelsior Prep Charter Middle School

Excelsior Prep Charter Middle School is a very small charter school in Tampa, FL, serving just 38 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Hillsborough school district, and it stands out for its extremely high level of economic disadvantage, with over 92% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

The school’s most defining feature is its intense challenges: a chronic absenteeism rate of 57.1%—nearly double the district and state averages—and a 1-star rating that places it in the bottom quarter of Florida middle schools. However, its small size creates dramatic swings in performance. For instance, in the most recent year, 7th-grade math proficiency hit 61%, outperforming the district and state averages and even topping nearby schools like Liberty Middle School and Williams Middle Magnet School. Yet, 8th-grade science proficiency was 0%, a catastrophic result far below the district’s 50% and the state’s 52%. This volatility is a direct result of the tiny student body, where a single student’s score can shift percentages drastically. In contrast, the nearby Terrace Community Middle School—a 5-star school with a 2.27% poverty rate—shows how powerfully socioeconomic factors and attendance correlate with outcomes.

Despite these hurdles, there are glimmers of hope. The school’s civics proficiency improved from 63% to 56% year-over-year, and per-student spending nearly doubled to $10,136, though the student-to-teacher ratio remains high at 25.3:1. For parents, Excelsior Prep offers potential for personalized attention due to its size, but the extreme absenteeism and inconsistent academics—especially the 0% science score—are serious red flags. The school is fighting an uphill battle that most nearby schools, like Greco Middle Magnet School or Sligh Middle School, do not face to the same degree.