The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Stewart Middle Magnet School
Stewart Middle Magnet School sits in a West Tampa neighborhood just off Spruce Street, part of the Hillsborough County public school district serving sixth through eighth graders. The "magnet" label in the school's name is worth flagging: the data on hand does not confirm active magnet program designation in the school's current classification fields, so a parent interested in a specific themed curriculum or selective admissions should ask the school directly about what that distinction means in practice today.
The student body is meaningfully diverse, with Black and Hispanic students together making up a substantial majority of the enrollment, white students representing a smaller share, and smaller Asian and multiracial populations. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places this in the category of higher-needs schools by that measure. Data on students with IEPs or English learner status was not available in what was provided.
On Florida's FAST assessments, the picture across grades is uneven and warrants honest attention. In math, the sixth and seventh grade proficiency rates are low by any reasonable standard, well under half of students reaching proficiency at either grade. Eighth grade math tells a notably different story, with a majority of students scoring proficient, a gap worth understanding rather than assuming. ELA results sit in a middle range across all three grades, with seventh grade the strongest and sixth and eighth grade clustering at roughly the same level. Eighth grade science, measured by the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, comes in at just under half of students proficient. Trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say from this information whether performance is improving, flat, or declining. A parent would do well to ask the school directly about what's driving the spread between grades, particularly in math, and what academic supports are in place for students who are behind.
No program offerings data was included in what was provided, which means it is not possible to describe specific electives, arts programs, or enrichment pathways from this record. That information would need to come from the school itself.
Because this is a middle school, graduation rate is not applicable here. The relevant outcome for these students is preparation for high school, which the test results speak to in part.
The surrounding West Tampa and broader Tampa context matters for families making a housing decision. Home values in the zip code are modestly below the Florida statewide benchmark and roughly in line with the national median, and have edged slightly downward year over year. Rents have also softened slightly. Affordability by a standard mortgage-to-income measure remains a stretch in the current rate environment, though rent as a share of income is somewhat more manageable. Tampa itself is a city with real neighborhood variation, from walkable historic districts like Hyde Park and Seminole Heights to denser newer development near Water Street downtown. The area is in an active construction phase, particularly around downtown and Ybor City, and the broader metro has seen sustained population growth.
Hillsborough County school families should be aware of two recent district-level changes. Voters approved a one-mill property tax levy in late 2024 that runs through 2029, raising additional funds dedicated to teacher and support staff pay, which is a direct cost for homeowners in the district. Separately, the district carried out a significant boundary rezoning for the 2024-2025 school year affecting a large number of schools and thousands of students, so assigned school placements across the county are less settled than they might have been in prior years. Families should verify current attendance zone assignments directly with Hillsborough.
The comparison framework for positioning this school against peer districts was limited by the structure of the available data, and a meaningful proficiency index comparison was not produced, so this school cannot be placed among county peers on that measure from this record alone.
See more original research from School Decision →