Summary:
This analysis examines four middle schools in the 33610 zip code of Tampa, Florida, all part of the Hillsborough County School District, serving grades 6 through 8 with a combined enrollment of 2,361 students.
Williams Middle Magnet School is the clear standout, ranking in the top 15% of Florida middle schools (86th percentile) with a 4-star rating, far outperforming its peers. It boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (13.6%) and the highest test scores, with 78.7% of students proficient in ELA and 61% in math. In stark contrast, Sligh Middle School and Young Middle Magnet School are the lowest-performing, both earning 1-star ratings and ranking in the bottom quartile of the state. Sligh has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 45.3% and the lowest test scores, while Young, despite spending the most per student ($14,974) and having the smallest class sizes, still struggles academically. Ferrell Middle Magnet School sits in the middle, earning a 3-star rating and performing near the district average.
A key takeaway is that the "magnet" label does not guarantee success, as Young Middle Magnet performs poorly despite its designation. Spending more per student does not automatically lead to better results, as Williams spends the least ($9,232 per student) yet achieves the highest outcomes. Chronic absenteeism is a critical warning sign, with Sligh's rate of 45.3% directly correlating with its low performance. Math proficiency is a consistent weakness across all schools, particularly in 7th grade, where scores fall well below the state average. Overall, Williams Middle Magnet demonstrates that high performance is achievable even within a lower-performing district, while the other schools face significant challenges related to poverty and attendance that require targeted intervention.
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