Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 33527

Zip code 33527 in Dover, Florida, is home to four elementary schools serving grades PK-5 (with one K-8 school), all part of the Hillsborough County School District, which is ranked 45th out of 70 districts in the state.

The schools in this area present a stark contrast in performance and demographics. Independence Academy is the standout performer, ranking in the 49th percentile with the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (15.78%) and the lowest per-student spending ($9,138). It excels in advanced coursework, with 91% proficiency in Biology and 88% in Civics, though it shows a concerning drop in math proficiency from 60% in 3rd grade to 42% in 5th grade. In contrast, Dover Elementary is the lowest-performing school, ranking in the 4th percentile despite having the highest per-student spending ($12,573) and the highest free/reduced lunch rate (71.51%). Interestingly, Dover has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (19.9%) in the area, well below the state average of 31.4%, indicating that attendance is not the primary driver of its academic struggles. Nelson Elementary shows positive momentum, improving its state ranking from the 33rd to the 40th percentile year-over-year, with strong 4th-grade ELA scores (66%) and a moderate free/reduced lunch rate (48.1%). Bailey Elementary ranks in the 10th percentile with a 63.14% free/reduced lunch rate and a student-teacher ratio of 15.8.

A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better results, as Dover spends the most but performs the worst, while Independence Academy spends the least and performs the best. This suggests that socioeconomic factors and instructional effectiveness play a larger role than funding alone. For parents, Independence Academy offers the strongest overall academic environment, particularly in advanced subjects, while Nelson Elementary is the most improved traditional school. Dover Elementary faces significant challenges despite high resource allocation, and Bailey Elementary remains a lower-performing option with a high poverty rate.