Summary:
Zip code 33525 in Dade City, Florida, is served by two public middle schools, Pasco Middle School and Centennial Middle School, both part of the Pasco school district, which ranks in the 47th percentile statewide.
These two schools offer distinct strengths for families. Pasco Middle School stands out for its exceptional advanced math program, achieving a 100% proficiency rate in Geometry and 78% in Algebra 1, far exceeding district and state averages. It also outperforms Centennial Middle School in English Language Arts across all grade levels, with its 6th-grade ELA score of 57% being the highest for any grade-level subject in the area. However, Centennial Middle School excels in Civics, where 79% of students are proficient—the only subject in the zip code to exceed the state average of 77%. Centennial also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (29.8% vs. 33.2%) and spends $1,734 more per student ($11,087 vs. $9,353), though its overall state rank (22nd percentile) is nearly identical to Pasco’s (23rd percentile), suggesting Pasco achieves comparable results with fewer resources.
Both schools face significant challenges. Chronic absenteeism is alarmingly high at both schools, with rates near or above the state average of 31.4%, which likely contributes to their low 1-star state ratings. Additionally, both schools show a declining performance trend over the past three years, indicating they are not keeping pace with statewide improvements. For parents, the choice may come down to priorities: Pasco Middle School offers stronger advanced math and ELA programs, while Centennial Middle School provides better Civics instruction and slightly lower absenteeism, though neither school is a high performer on a state level.
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