Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary schools in the 33563 zip code of Plant City, Florida, serving grades PK-5 (with one exception), all part of the Hillsborough County School District, a district with a 2-star rating.
The standout performer is Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, the only school in the area with a 3-star rating and the highest state ranking (48th percentile). It leads in English Language Arts and Science proficiency, has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (16.1%), and the lowest percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (44.71%). In stark contrast, Burney Elementary School faces the most significant challenges, with the lowest state ranking (6th percentile) and a 0-star rating. Despite having the highest per-student spending ($17,656) and the smallest class sizes (11.5:1), Burney posts the lowest test scores across nearly every subject. Bryan Elementary School shows a positive trajectory, improving from a 1-star to a 2-star rating, while Advantage Academy of Hillsborough is on a steep decline, dropping from a 2-star to a 1-star rating with alarmingly low middle school scores, including just 4% proficiency in 8th-grade Science.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee success, as Burney's high investment yields the lowest results. Chronic absenteeism is a major crisis, with four of six schools exceeding the high state average of 31.4%, including Wilson Elementary School (34.9%) and Jackson Elementary School (33.5%). The magnet program at Lincoln appears to attract a more engaged community, correlating with its superior outcomes. Overall, this zip code presents a wide range of school performance, from the high-achieving Lincoln to the struggling Burney, with most schools facing significant socioeconomic and attendance hurdles.
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