Best School Systems in the Tampa area (Lakeland, Brandon: low crime, house)

[tbone65]

Not looking for a debate, just data and personal experience. We have three elementary school aged children and want to get as much info as possible to make a decision.
Also, is it common knowledge that school systems are better in a particular area of Florida?
Thanks!

[spainbrit]

My children attended Anona Elementary (actually slated for closure due to its small size, but there will be a big fight over that and fighting parents in this area have won out before). They also attended Oakhurst Elementary. Both attended Seminole Middle, one child was in the MEGSS math and IMAST science programs, which are very challenging the other in the regular classes. Both did very well. One has now gone to IB at St Pete High and is really enjoying the very challenging classes and is involved in Student Govt, Clubs, varsity sports and managing to maintain a very high GPA also.
The other is at Seminole High school which he loves and is doing very well, considering he does have an IEP. He is almost a 3.0 GPA (which may not seem much to some of you, but he is not a totally ordinary student).
I am from overseas where the standard of education is seen to be better than here, but frankly I find that with parental input and support, any child can do well in a reasonable educational setting. If teachers see that parents are not involved, they will shelve the problem, they have plenty to deal with as it is. Not all are like this, but the squeaky wheel thing has merit. I find that children here are expected to grow up quicker than in Europe, they do, sometimes this is not a good thing, but it also teaches them to think for themselves, research and whatnot, instead of learning by rote. Both methods have their pros and cons, but I can say that overall I have been pleased.
I really like the Seminole Schools plus they are located in a very nice area of Greater Tampa Bay, low crime, close to beaches, mostly out of flood zones and close to everything you need for day to day living. Of course if you work in Tampa, it's a bit of a drive to work, but plenty of people to that daily. My husband drives to Lakeland daily (but then he is a martyr !)

[jessiesma]

Don't forget to let the out of towners know that we have county wide school districts so for Seminole they have to check out Pinellas Co. Schools and on the other side of the bay it's Hillsborough County. I'm not sure what the best elementary schools are since my husband only subs in middle and high but he'd agree about Seminole and would include Plante in Tampa. We'd assume Wilson Middle in Hyde Park which serves the same area is good. Don't know the elem there. Durant in Brandon is also good so whatever the elem and middle are for that neighborhood.

Originally Posted by spainbrit

My children attended Anona Elementary (actually slated for closure due to its small size, but there will be a big fight over that and fighting parents in this area have won out before). They also attended Oakhurst Elementary. Both attended Seminole Middle, one child was in the MEGSS math and IMAST science programs, which are very challenging the other in the regular classes. Both did very well. One has now gone to IB at St Pete High and is really enjoying the very challenging classes and is involved in Student Govt, Clubs, varsity sports and managing to maintain a very high GPA also.
The other is at Seminole High school which he loves and is doing very well, considering he does have an IEP. He is almost a 3.0 GPA (which may not seem much to some of you, but he is not a totally ordinary student).
I am from overseas where the standard of education is seen to be better than here, but frankly I find that with parental input and support, any child can do well in a reasonable educational setting. If teachers see that parents are not involved, they will shelve the problem, they have plenty to deal with as it is. Not all are like this, but the squeaky wheel thing has merit. I find that children here are expected to grow up quicker than in Europe, they do, sometimes this is not a good thing, but it also teaches them to think for themselves, research and whatnot, instead of learning by rote. Both methods have their pros and cons, but I can say that overall I have been pleased.
I really like the Seminole Schools plus they are located in a very nice area of Greater Tampa Bay, low crime, close to beaches, mostly out of flood zones and close to everything you need for day to day living. Of course if you work in Tampa, it's a bit of a drive to work, but plenty of people to that daily. My husband drives to Lakeland daily (but then he is a martyr !)

[spainbrit]

Right Jessiesma
also that there are the school system in Pinellas is supposedly changing, and that Hillsborough has the Choice (no choice IMO) system, which is about to end (apparently!) here in Pinellas. It's definitely important to check on your possibilities before you jump

[gtrgrl74]

Best public school cluster in Hillsborough county.

[rtjr]

Also in South Tampa: Mabry elem, Coleman middle, Plant High School

[gtrgrl74]

yes rtjr...........those are great too

[annesg]

We use private schools. The south tampa schools mentioned above are reputed to be very good, but we couldn't afford to live there. You might try greatschools.net for standardized test scores, but realize that these very tests tend to compromise the teaching b/c schools are penalized or rewarded based on those scores. It's a terrible system imho.

[spainbrit]

Its a tough call, money for house, or money for school. When we moved here it was no choice, couldn't afford either Now I'm glad we took state schools, and we have got a decent home now, not S Tampa range, but also enough to buy a house for kids when they go to college rather than paying out for accommodation we will invest in the property for them. I think we could never have got to that place if we had gone private route. My friend pays more for her dtr in private High School than she does for her son and his living at FSU - thats crazy

[branson205]

My husband & I recently moved to Tampa. We don't have children yet, but have been asking around & from what we have heard one of the best school districts in Tampa is in the "Citrus Park" area. Citrus Park is in Hillsborough County, North-West Tampa. I haven't figured it all out yet, since we have only been here for a couple of months... there are several small areas around here that are Tampa addresses but are called "Citrus Park", "Westchase", Town & Country", "Carrollwood", etc. From what I can tell Citrus Park & Westchase are REALLY nice! We live in "Carrollwood"....which is ok...we are only about 3 miles from Citrus Park. Well I don't know if this information helps, but this is what I have been told about the schoold districts around here.....Citrus Park is one of the best!