Summary:
Zip code 33566 in Plant City, Florida, is home to three elementary schools serving grades PK through 5 within the Hillsborough School District, a district ranked in the 36th percentile statewide.
Walden Lake Elementary School stands out as the top academic performer in the area, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 69th percentile. It leads in English Language Arts (65.7% proficient) and Math (70.7% proficient), while also having the lowest rate of students from low-income families (39.43% free/reduced lunch). In contrast, Trapnell Elementary School faces the greatest challenges, with the highest percentage of low-income students (73.4%) and the lowest academic rankings (46th percentile), despite spending the most per student ($14,074) and having the smallest class sizes (13.7:1 student-teacher ratio). Springhead Elementary School shows a positive trajectory, improving from a 2-star to a 3-star rating and posting the highest 5th-grade Science scores in the zip code (74% proficient), though it struggles with a chronic absenteeism rate (31.6%) that matches the district average.
A key takeaway is that Math is a universal strength across all three schools, with each outperforming the state average in 3rd-grade Math. However, the data reveals a clear spending paradox: Trapnell's higher investment does not translate into higher test scores, highlighting how socioeconomic factors heavily influence academic outcomes. For parents, Walden Lake Elementary School offers the strongest overall academics and lowest poverty rate, while Springhead Elementary School is a promising choice for families prioritizing science education, and Trapnell Elementary School provides the most individualized attention despite its academic struggles.
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