Summary:
Zip code 33592 in Thonotosassa, Florida, is home to two elementary schools, Folsom Elementary School and Thonotosassa Elementary School, both serving grades PK-5 within the Hillsborough school district, which is ranked in the 36th percentile statewide.
Folsom Elementary School is the standout school in this area, consistently outperforming Thonotosassa Elementary School across most subjects and grade levels. For example, in 4th grade math, Folsom achieved 64% proficiency compared to Thonotosassa's 43%, and in 5th grade science, the gap was 43% versus 29%. Folsom ranks in the 26th percentile statewide, while Thonotosassa has fallen dramatically to the bottom 4th percentile after a steep decline from the 27th percentile just two years prior. Notably, Folsom shows a bright spot in 4th grade, where students scored above the district average in both ELA (62%) and math (64%). Despite this, both schools serve high-poverty populations, with free/reduced lunch rates of 71% at Folsom and 77% at Thonotosassa.
The most critical shared challenge is a chronic absenteeism rate of 47.9% at both schools, far exceeding the district and state averages of 31.3% and 31.4%, respectively. This suggests a systemic community issue that likely drives the below-average academic performance. Interestingly, Thonotosassa spends $1,090 more per student ($12,893) than Folsom ($11,803), yet this higher investment has not translated into better outcomes, possibly due to the overwhelming impact of absenteeism. For parents, Folsom Elementary School offers stronger academic performance and stability, while Thonotosassa Elementary School requires urgent attention from the district to address its rapid decline.
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