Summary:
In zip code 33612 (Tampa, FL), there is only one middle school, Excelsior Prep Charter Middle School, a very small charter school serving grades 6 through 8 with just 38 students and an exceptionally high rate of economic disadvantage, where 92.11% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Excelsior Prep Charter Middle School faces significant challenges, most notably a chronic absenteeism rate of 57.1%—nearly double the already-high averages for the Hillsborough district (31.3%) and the state (31.4%). This attendance crisis is likely the primary driver of the school's low academic performance, which earned it a 1-star rating and a ranking in the 25th percentile statewide. Test scores are generally below district and state averages, with a critical failure in 8th-grade science, where 0% of students were proficient. However, there is one remarkable bright spot: 7th-grade math proficiency reached 61%, significantly outperforming both the district (39%) and state (53%) averages, suggesting a possible exceptional teacher or a small cohort of high-performing students in that grade.
Because of the school's tiny enrollment of 38 students, performance data can swing dramatically from year to year—a change in just 4 or 5 students can shift proficiency rates by over 10 percentage points. For example, 7th-grade ELA proficiency dropped from 59% to 31% in one year, while 7th-grade math jumped from 44% to 61%. The school spends $10,136 per student, a reasonable figure, but the high student-teacher ratio of 25.3:1 for such a small school raises questions about resource allocation. For parents, the most important takeaway is that Excelsior Prep Charter Middle School cannot achieve sustainable academic improvement without first dramatically reducing its chronic absenteeism rate.
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