Summary:
Zip code 33598 in Wimauma, Florida, is home to three elementary-level schools serving approximately 1,647 students, all part of the Hillsborough County School District, which ranks in the 36th percentile statewide.
The standout school in this area is RCMA Wimauma Community Academy, a K-8 public charter school that operates at a significantly higher performance level than its neighbors. It is the only school in the zip code with a 3-star rating, ranking in the 54th percentile statewide, while Reddick Elementary School and Wimauma Elementary School both rank in the bottom 10% of Florida elementary schools. RCMA achieves exceptional math proficiency, with an average of 84.3% across grades 3-5, compared to roughly 43% at both traditional schools. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 12.1%, a stark contrast to the 36-37% rates at Reddick and Wimauma Elementary. Notably, RCMA spends the least per student ($10,575) yet achieves the best results, while Wimauma Elementary spends the most ($14,324) but has the lowest academic outcomes, highlighting that school culture and attendance are more critical than spending levels.
Wimauma Elementary faces the most significant challenges, with the highest poverty rate (71.55% free/reduced lunch) and consistently declining test scores, including the lowest science proficiency in the area. Reddick Elementary shows modest improvement but still struggles with chronic absenteeism and low state rankings. For families, RCMA Wimauma Community Academy is the clear choice for academic excellence and consistent attendance, while the traditional schools require significant improvement to meet district averages. The data underscores that addressing chronic absenteeism is the most urgent priority for Reddick and Wimauma Elementary to close the performance gap.
Thank you for your feedback!