The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Math. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Folsom Elementary School
Folsom Elementary sits on Harney Road in Thonotosassa, an unincorporated community in northeastern Hillsborough County. The school serves prekindergarten through fifth grade and is part of the Hillsborough district, one of Florida's largest public school systems. Thonotosassa itself is a low-density, car-dependent place where newer single-family subdivisions share space with older homes, citrus heritage, and open land around Lake Thonotosassa. Most residents commute to Tampa or Plant City for work, and the area is on a steady growth path as builders market it as affordable Tampa-adjacent housing. Civic life clusters around the branch library and a handful of parks rather than a commercial downtown, and the overall character is quiet and rural.
The student body at Folsom reflects the neighborhood's economic reality. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing this well above typical economic need levels for a Florida elementary school. The school is racially and ethnically diverse, with Black students making up the largest group, followed by Hispanic students and white students. Data on English learner and special education populations was not available in what was provided, so a parent with a child in either category may want to follow up directly with the school.
State assessment results on Florida's FAST tests, reported for the most recent school year, show a mixed picture. Math proficiency is relatively solid in third and fourth grade, with most students in those grades testing at or above the state's standard, which is a genuine strength at those levels. Fifth-grade math proficiency drops considerably, landing well below the performance seen in the earlier grades. Reading proficiency is lower across all three tested grades, with roughly a third to two-fifths of students reaching the bar in each year. The fifth-grade science assessment, administered statewide, shows fewer than a third of students scoring proficient. These are areas a parent would want to ask the school about directly, including what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting standard and how the school tracks individual progress over time. Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say from this data whether performance is improving, stable, or declining.
No magnet program or specialized academic pathway was reported for Folsom, and the school is a standard neighborhood public elementary. Programs data was not included in what was provided, so details on enrichment, after-school offerings, or any targeted academic interventions are gaps a parent should explore through the school or the Hillsborough district directly.
Two district-level developments are worth knowing about. Hillsborough voters approved a property tax referendum that took effect in mid-2025, running through 2029, designed to fund salary supplements for teachers and support staff to address chronic staffing shortages. Homeowners in the district are seeing higher property tax bills as a result. Separately, the district carried out a significant boundary rezoning for the 2024-2025 school year affecting many schools across the county, so families new to the area should confirm their current assignment rather than assuming it.
Housing in the Thonotosassa zip code is priced modestly above the Florida state median and slightly above the national median, with values that have edged down slightly over the past year. Rental costs relative to income are a real consideration, with renters spending a meaningful share of income on housing. For buyers, estimated monthly mortgage costs are substantial at current rates, which have remained elevated. The area's trajectory, continued single-family construction on larger lots marketed as a quieter alternative to denser Tampa suburbs, points to a community that is growing and changing.
Folsom is a neighborhood school in a community that is genuinely rural in feel but within reach of a major metro. The academic results in reading and fifth-grade subjects are areas that warrant a conversation with school leadership, and families whose children need specific support services should ask about those directly given the gaps in the available data.
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