Summary:
Zip code 33626 in Tampa, Florida, is served by two public middle schools, Farnell Middle School and Davidsen Middle School, both part of the Hillsborough County School District, and they present a stark contrast in performance and demographics.
Farnell Middle School is the clear standout, ranking in the 86th percentile statewide (4-star school) for the 2025-2026 school year, placing it among the top 15% of Florida middle schools. It has maintained a 4-star rating for three consecutive years and boasts significantly higher proficiency rates in ELA (77%) and Math (72%) compared to Davidsen Middle School, which ranks in the 32nd percentile (2-star school) with 50% ELA and 47% Math proficiency. Farnell also has a much lower chronic absenteeism rate (20.6% vs. 41.3%) and a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch (20.95% vs. 48.81%). Interestingly, Davidsen actually spends more per student ($9,773 vs. $8,235) and has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (21.7:1 vs. 23.7:1), yet Farnell achieves far better academic outcomes, highlighting that factors like school culture and student demographics are key drivers of success.
Both schools excel in advanced math coursework, with Farnell achieving 100% proficiency in Geometry and 97% in Algebra 1, while Davidsen also performs well at 94% and 88% respectively. However, the overall data paints a picture of two schools in the same zip code operating in vastly different realities: Farnell is a high-performing, low-poverty school with low absenteeism, while Davidsen is a struggling school with high poverty and a severe absenteeism problem that urgently needs targeted interventions around attendance and support for low-income families.
Thank you for your feedback!