Best Public Schools in Zip Code 33543

Zip code 33543, covering Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, Florida, is home to nine schools within the Pasco school district, including six elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, serving a generally low-poverty area with a few standout performers and one school facing significant challenges.

The top-performing schools in the area are Dr. John Long Middle School, Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel (a K-8 charter), and Wiregrass Ranch High School. Dr. John Long Middle School is the clear standout, ranking in the 80th-90th percentile statewide with exceptional test scores—90% proficient in Algebra 1 and 96% in Geometry—and a low chronic absenteeism rate of 16%. Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel also excels, with strong ELA proficiency (87% in 7th and 8th grade) and high school EOC scores (94% in Algebra 1). Wiregrass Ranch High School boasts a 97.1% graduation rate and outperforms the district in all core subjects, especially 10th-grade ELA (71% vs. 62% district). In contrast, Chester W. Taylor Junior Elementary School is in a critical state, ranking in the bottom 3% of Florida elementary schools with drastically low test scores (e.g., 27% proficient in 5th-grade math), the highest economic disadvantage rate (60.5% free/reduced lunch), and the highest chronic absenteeism (38.5%).

Key metrics show an average enrollment of 986 students, with Wiregrass Ranch High School being the largest (2,218 students) and Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel High School the smallest (82 students). The average free/reduced lunch rate is 28.4%, but excluding Chester W. Taylor, it drops to 24.4%, indicating an affluent area. Spending per student averages $9,378, with Sand Pine Elementary School spending the most ($11,743) and Dr. John Long Middle School the least ($8,038). A curious data point is that Wiregrass Elementary School, Double Branch Elementary School, and Sand Pine Elementary all show 100% proficiency in 6th-grade math, likely a data error. Overall, the area’s high schools excel in ELA, and charter schools like Union Park Charter Academy and Pinecrest Academy are highly competitive, offering strong alternatives to traditional public schools.