The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in English language arts. The lowest is 66% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Wilson Middle School
Wilson Middle School sits on West Swann Avenue in the Hyde Park area of Tampa, one of the city's historic preservation neighborhoods characterized by brick streets, mature live oaks, and proximity to Bayshore Boulevard and the waterfront. The location puts it in one of South Tampa's most established residential pockets, and the housing market around it reflects that: home values near the school are well above both the Florida statewide median and the national median, with rents also running high. Values have eased modestly over the past year, but this remains one of the more expensive ZIP codes in the region. Families renting here spend a meaningful share of household income on housing relative to the national norm.
On academic performance, Wilson's FAST results for the most recent school year tell a largely strong story with one clear gap. In sixth grade, proficiency in both reading and math ran well above what most Florida middle schools would consider typical, and eighth-grade math was similarly high. Eighth-grade reading and eighth-grade science were also solid. The outlier is seventh-grade math, where the proficiency rate dropped sharply compared to every other grade and subject tested at the school. The gap between seventh-grade math and the rest of the school's results is wide enough that a parent of an incoming or current seventh grader would be wise to ask the school directly about curriculum sequencing, support structures, and what the school sees as driving the pattern.
The student body is relatively small for a grades six through eight school. The racial and ethnic composition skews heavily toward white students, with Hispanic students making up the next largest group and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals is low, placing this school in a considerably more economically advantaged position than most Hillsborough County schools. Data on students with IEPs and English learners was not available in what we received, so families of children who need those services should ask the school and district directly. No program offerings were included in the data, so we cannot characterize extracurriculars, electives, or specialized tracks. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were also absent.
Wilson is part of Hillsborough County School District, one of Florida's largest systems. Two recent district-level developments are worth knowing. A boundary rezoning that took effect for the 2024-2025 school year shifted assignments for a large number of students across the county, so families should confirm their current zoning directly with the district rather than assuming historical assignments hold. Separately, voters approved a multi-year property tax levy in late 2024, now active through mid-2029, that adds to the annual tax bill for homeowners in the district. The publicly reported purpose is raising teacher and support staff pay, which the district has described as addressing persistent staffing shortages.
Tampa itself is a city in active transformation. The Water Street development has made downtown a functioning mixed-use district, and the Gasworx project is knitting together Ybor City, downtown, and the Channel District into a more connected urban fabric. Walkability near Wilson is meaningfully better than Tampa's citywide average given the neighborhood's urban grid, proximity to Hyde Park Village, and the Bayshore Boulevard path. The city's economy draws on defense, healthcare anchored by institutions like Tampa General and Moffitt Cancer Center, the University of South Florida, and a financial services presence including Raymond James.
The comparison data we received for placing Wilson against other Hillsborough County schools was not usable for proficiency comparisons because only one district appears in the county comparison set, which is a structural limitation of the available data rather than a reflection of the school's standing. Trend data across years was also not available, so we cannot say whether Wilson's performance has moved up or down recently.
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