Summary:
The four schools in Tampa's 33634 zip code, part of the Hillsborough County School District, serve students from Pre-K through 8th grade and present a stark contrast between one high-performing charter and three struggling traditional public schools.
Horizon Charter School Of Tampa is the standout, earning a 4-star rating with near-perfect proficiency rates (100% in Algebra 1, Geometry, and Civics) and a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 15.7%. In contrast, Webb Middle School, Morgan Woods Elementary School, and Town & Country Elementary School all rank in the bottom 20% of Florida schools, receiving 0 or 1-star ratings. For example, only 24% of Webb Middle School's 7th graders are proficient in English Language Arts, and just 29% of Morgan Woods' 3rd graders are proficient in Math. A key factor is economic disadvantage: Horizon Charter has only 6.62% of students on free/reduced lunch, while the other three schools range from 62% to 78%. Chronic absenteeism is also a crisis at Webb Middle (47.5%) and Morgan Woods (40.4%), far exceeding the state average of 31.4%.
Interestingly, Town & Country Elementary spends the most per student ($16,931) and has the smallest class sizes (12.6:1), yet its academic performance remains low, showing that funding alone doesn't solve deeper challenges. Meanwhile, Horizon Charter achieves elite results with the lowest spending ($8,250 per student) and a higher student-teacher ratio (21.8:1). A notable anomaly is Webb Middle's Algebra 1 proficiency rate of 92%, likely reflecting a selective group of advanced 8th graders rather than the school's overall performance. For parents, Horizon Charter is the clear top choice, while the traditional schools face significant hurdles tied to poverty and attendance.
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