Summary:
Zip code 33619 in Tampa, Florida, is home to two middle schools serving grades 6-8: Progress Village Middle Magnet and Dowdell Middle Magnet School, both part of the Hillsborough school district.
These two schools present a stark contrast in academic performance and resources. Progress Village Middle Magnet is a standout, ranking in the 66th percentile statewide (3-star) and consistently exceeding district and state averages in core subjects like ELA (67% proficient), math (58%), science (66%), and civics (80%). It also boasts a lower student-teacher ratio (19.9) and higher per-student spending ($10,638). In contrast, Dowdell Middle Magnet School ranks in the bottom 10% (1-star), with proficiency rates well below averages, a higher student-teacher ratio (23.3), and lower spending per student ($8,906). A notable exception is Dowdell's Algebra 1 proficiency (92%), which surpasses even Progress Village's strong 84% rate, suggesting a targeted strength in advanced math.
Key differences also appear in student engagement and demographics. Dowdell Middle Magnet School has a chronic absenteeism rate of 45.7%, nearly double that of Progress Village Middle Magnet (28.3%), and a higher percentage of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch (66.67% vs. 43.11%). While Progress Village is a high-performing school overall, it has an inconsistent performance in 7th-grade math (40% proficiency), which falls below the state average. For parents, this data highlights a clear choice between a consistently high-achieving school with more resources and a lower-performing school with a specific strength in advanced math but significant challenges with attendance and overall academics.
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