Summary:
The three public schools in zip code 33573, covering parts of Ruskin and Sun City Center, Florida, include two elementary schools and one middle school, all part of the Hillsborough district, which holds a 2-star rating.
Belmont Elementary School stands out as the top performer in the area, earning a 2-star rating and leading in academic metrics. Its 4th-grade English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rate of 61% exceeds both district and state averages, and it boasts the most favorable student-to-teacher ratio (13.8:1) and highest per-student spending ($12,173). In contrast, Shields Middle School faces significant challenges, with a 1-star rating, a high student-to-teacher ratio of 26.5:1, and the lowest per-student spending ($9,315). Its chronic absenteeism rate of 50.5% is alarmingly high, far surpassing district and state averages, and its core subject proficiency rates (e.g., 6th-grade ELA at 32%) are well below benchmarks. Cypress Creek Elementary School falls in the middle, with a 1-star rating and a 60.91% free/reduced lunch rate, the highest economic disadvantage in the zip code. Its 4th-grade math proficiency (55%) is a relative strength, but its 5th-grade science score (38%) is the lowest locally.
A key takeaway is the strong link between resource allocation and outcomes: Belmont Elementary’s higher spending and lower class sizes correlate with its superior performance, while Shields Middle School’s lower investment and overcrowding align with its struggles. The chronic absenteeism crisis at Shields (50.5%) and Cypress Creek (41.6%) likely drives their low test scores, though Shields shows an anomaly with a 78% Algebra 1 proficiency rate, likely due to only advanced students taking the exam. Despite the district’s overall low ranking, Belmont Elementary demonstrates that high achievement is possible, particularly in 4th-grade ELA and 5th-grade math.
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