Summary:
Zip code 33584 in Seffner, Florida, is served by two public middle schools, Jennings Middle School and Burnett Middle School, both part of the Hillsborough school district, which ranks below the state average.
When comparing the two schools, Burnett Middle School stands out as the stronger performer, particularly in advanced academics. It achieves near-perfect proficiency in Algebra 1 (97%), far exceeding the state average of 63%, and also outperforms Jennings Middle School in English Language Arts (40.3% vs. 33.7%) and 8th-grade Science (31% vs. 19%). However, Burnett struggles with foundational math, with only 10% of 7th graders proficient in grade-level math. Jennings Middle School shows more balanced, though still low, math scores and has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (18.9:1 vs. 22.8:1). Both schools rank in the bottom 11% of all Florida middle schools, and both serve a high-needs population, with over 64% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The most critical challenge for both schools is chronic absenteeism, which is dramatically above state and district averages. Jennings Middle School has a staggering 57.4% chronic absenteeism rate, while Burnett Middle School is at 45.4%, compared to the state average of 31.4%. This high absenteeism is a primary driver of low test scores and state rankings. Additionally, both schools perform poorly in Civics (53% and 49% vs. 77% state average) and 8th-grade Science, indicating critical gaps in subjects essential for high school readiness. While per-student spending is similar at both schools, outcomes vary significantly, suggesting that resource allocation and targeted programs, like Burnett's exceptional Algebra 1 program, can make a difference even in challenging circumstances.
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