Summary:
The 33527 zip code in Dover, Florida, is home to six schools within the Hillsborough County School District, including four elementary schools, one high school, and one alternative school, serving a diverse community with a wide range of academic outcomes.
Independence Academy (K-8) is the standout performer in the area, ranking in the 49th percentile statewide and achieving proficiency rates well above district and state averages, particularly in science and civics. It also serves the lowest percentage of students from low-income families (15.78% on free/reduced lunch). In contrast, Dover Elementary and Bailey Elementary School are the lowest-performing schools, ranking in the bottom 10-20% of Florida elementary schools (0-1 stars) and serving the highest poverty populations (71.51% and 63.14% respectively). Nelson Elementary School falls in the middle, with a 48.1% poverty rate and mid-tier performance. Strawberry Crest High School is a solid above-average high school (64th percentile, 3 stars) with a 94.7% graduation rate, though it shows a concerning drop in Algebra 1 proficiency from 42% to 26% in one year. Willis Peters Exceptional Center is a specialized alternative school with a very low student-teacher ratio (5.5:1) and high per-student spending ($52,127), serving a unique population not comparable to the other schools.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results, as the lowest-performing schools (Dover and Bailey) have the highest per-student spending among standard schools ($12,573 and $11,783), while the top performer (Independence Academy) spends less ($9,138). Additionally, chronic absenteeism varies widely, with Dover Elementary having the best rate (19.9%) despite its high poverty, while Bailey and Nelson struggle with rates at or above the district average of 31.3%.
Thank you for your feedback!