The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Math. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Sligh Middle School
Sligh Middle School sits on East Sligh Avenue in Tampa, serving sixth through eighth graders as a regular public school within the Hillsborough County School District. The school draws from a neighborhood context that sits apart from Tampa's more affluent enclaves like Hyde Park or Palma Ceia, and that distinction shows up clearly in the student body and the academic results.
The school's enrollment is mid-sized for a middle school, spread fairly evenly across the three grade levels. The student population is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic enrollment as well, and white students represent a small share. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that economic hardship is a defining feature of the community this school serves. Data on English learners and students with IEPs were not available in what was provided.
On Florida's FAST assessments, proficiency rates in math and ELA run in the low-to-mid range across all three grades. Sixth-grade math is somewhat stronger than seventh grade, with eighth grade falling in between. ELA proficiency edges down slightly from sixth to eighth grade. Science results at the eighth-grade level, measured by the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, are in a similar range to the lower math results. These figures represent a real challenge: fewer than half of students in any tested grade and subject are reaching the state's proficiency threshold. Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say from this data whether results are improving, holding, or declining. Parents who want to understand the school's trajectory would do well to ask directly about year-over-year progress and what supports are in place for students who are not yet proficient.
No program offerings data was available, so there is no information here about extracurriculars, electives, arts, athletics, or any specialized academic pathways. That is a gap worth filling through the school directly.
A comparison against other districts in Hillsborough County was not possible because the county has only one district, which means positioning Sligh against peer schools within the broader system would require school-level data not included here.
On the housing side, the zip code around the school sits well below Florida's statewide median home value and below the national median as well, making it one of Tampa's more accessible areas by purchase price. Rents here also run below the city's more competitive corridors. Both home values and rents have softened modestly over the past year in this area. Affordability by the rent-to-income measure is still a stretch for households at typical income levels, though less so than in Tampa's pricier neighborhoods.
Two district-level changes are worth knowing. Voters approved a property tax measure in late 2024 that runs through mid-2029, adding a levy on assessed home value to fund teacher and staff pay increases. Homeowners in the attendance zone will see this reflected in their tax bills starting in 2025. The district also completed a significant boundary rezoning for the 2024-2025 school year that affected a large number of schools and a substantial share of students across the county. Families new to the area should confirm current attendance boundaries directly with the district, since the publicly reported rezoning moved many students to different schools.
Tampa itself is a city of distinct neighborhoods. The area around Sligh Avenue is removed from the downtown development boom centered on Water Street and the Channel District, and it does not carry the walkability or commercial density of those districts. HART bus service connects the broader city, and the public library system and park network are citywide resources, though their proximity varies by where a family actually lives relative to the school.
For a family weighing this school, the core question is what supports are available for students who are not yet meeting state standards, and what the school's actual trajectory looks like year over year. The academic data raises that question directly, and the answer requires a conversation with the school.
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