Summary:
Zip code 33615 in Tampa, Florida, is home to five elementary schools—Woodbridge Elementary School, Bellamy Elementary School, Bay Crest Elementary School, Davis Elementary School, and Dickenson Elementary School—all part of the Hillsborough school district, which ranks in the mid-tier of Florida districts. These schools serve similar-sized enrollments (514 to 602 students) and face high poverty levels, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 61% to 71%.
Bellamy Elementary School stands out as the top performer, ranking in the 34th percentile statewide—well above its peers—and is the only school to exceed district averages in multiple subjects like 3rd-grade ELA (63%) and 4th-grade math (64%). It achieves this with a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.9:1 and moderate spending. In contrast, Bay Crest Elementary School struggles significantly, ranking in the 8th percentile with the lowest proficiency scores (e.g., 28% in 3rd-grade ELA) and the highest student-teacher ratio of 24:1. Dickenson Elementary School presents a paradox: despite having the highest chronic absenteeism rate (40.6%), it boasts the cohort’s best single-subject score (61% in 5th-grade math) and shows strong improvement, jumping from the 11th to the 22nd percentile.
Key takeaways for parents include that student-teacher ratios strongly correlate with performance—schools with ratios near 14:1 (Bellamy, Davis, Dickenson) outperform those with larger classes. Chronic absenteeism is a systemic crisis, exceeding district and state averages at every school, with rates from 30.2% at Bellamy to 40.6% at Dickenson. Notably, higher spending does not guarantee success; Davis Elementary School spends the most per student ($13,853) but ranks second-lowest (11th percentile), while lower-spending Woodbridge Elementary School ranks higher (22nd percentile). Overall, Bellamy offers the strongest academics and efficiency, while Bay Crest requires the most support, and Dickenson shows promise in math despite attendance challenges.
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