Summary:
In zip code 33573, covering Ruskin and Sun City Center, Florida, there are two public elementary schools serving grades PK-5 within the Hillsborough County School District, a district ranked in the bottom half of the state.
Belmont Elementary School stands out as the stronger performer in the area, with a higher state ranking (21st percentile) and notably stronger English Language Arts (ELA) scores in 3rd and 4th grade (56% and 61% proficient) compared to Cypress Creek Elementary School (46% and 52% proficient). Belmont also benefits from a lower student-teacher ratio (13.8:1) and higher per-student spending ($12,173), which likely contribute to its academic edge. However, Cypress Creek outperforms Belmont in 5th-grade science (38% vs. 32%) and has a slightly higher 3rd-grade math proficiency (45% vs. 44%).
The most critical differentiator between the two schools is chronic absenteeism. Cypress Creek's rate of 41.6% is nearly 10 percentage points higher than Belmont's 31.9% and well above the state average, signaling significant attendance challenges that likely hinder academic progress. Both schools serve economically diverse populations, with Cypress Creek having a higher free/reduced lunch rate (60.91% vs. 50.52%). Despite both receiving a 1-star rating and ranking in the bottom quarter of Florida elementary schools, Belmont demonstrates a clearer "value-add" in ELA instruction, while Cypress Creek faces more systemic barriers related to attendance and resource allocation that families should consider when evaluating school options in this area.
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