The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Excelsior Prep Charter Middle School
Excelsior Prep Charter Middle School sits in Tampa's University Square area and serves grades six through eight. The enrollment data tells an unusual story right away: the school currently shows only sixth graders on its rolls, with no students yet recorded in seventh or eighth grade. The total enrollment is very small, consistent with a school that appears to be in its opening year or early launch phase. A prospective family should ask the school directly about its growth timeline, how long it has been operating, and when the full grade band will be populated.
Because the school is a charter, it falls outside the Hillsborough County district's traditional attendance boundaries. Families choose to enroll rather than being assigned. The Hillsborough district recently completed a major rezoning affecting a large number of schools and students throughout the county, but that boundary change does not directly govern charter enrollment, so it is a less immediate concern here than it would be for a zoned public school.
The student body is small enough that demographic patterns are visible at the individual level, so percentages carry limited analytical weight. The composition skews heavily Hispanic, with a smaller share of Black students and very few white students. A substantial share of the enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively economically disadvantaged population. Data on English learner rates and students with IEPs was not available.
State FAST assessment results are reported for sixth and seventh grade, though given the enrollment data, the seventh-grade results presumably reflect a very small sample or prior-year data, and readers should treat them cautiously. In ELA, sixth-grade proficiency is in the moderate range, and seventh-grade proficiency is noticeably lower. Math proficiency sits in a similar moderate range at both grade levels, with sixth and seventh grade close to each other. These results are below the midpoint of what one would typically see at a competitive or high-performing middle school. Because the school is so new and enrollment so thin, these figures may not yet reflect a stable pattern, and a parent would benefit from asking the school what supports are in place and how the numbers have moved. No multi-year trend data was available.
No program offerings were reported in the data, so the narrative cannot speak to any specific curriculum model, enrichment tracks, or extracurricular activities. That is a meaningful gap for a family evaluating fit; direct inquiry to the school about its instructional model and any signature programs is warranted.
A graduation rate does not apply here because Excelsior Prep serves only middle grades.
On housing, the zip code around University Square shows home values modestly below both the state median and the national median, with values having edged slightly lower over the past year. Rents in the area have also softened slightly. Compared to Tampa's more affluent enclaves like Hyde Park or Davis Islands, this part of the city is more attainably priced. The broader Tampa market is navigating a mix of rapid development downtown and some cooling in the broader metro, with apartment supply expected to tighten again by the late 2020s. Homeowners in Hillsborough County should also be aware that voters approved a one-mill property tax levy in late 2024, running through the summer of 2029, to fund teacher and staff pay increases. Under state law, charter schools receive a share of those funds, so this levy touches Excelsior Prep families whether they rent or own.
Tampa itself is a large, internally varied city. The University Square neighborhood where the school sits is not the city's most walkable area, which is concentrated downtown and in districts like Hyde Park and the Channel District. The city's HART bus network and the free TECO Line Streetcar serve the broader area. Major employers in healthcare, defense, higher education, and financial services give the region economic depth.
Civil rights data was not available for this school.
The clearest thing this profile signals is that Excelsior Prep is a very early-stage charter serving a low-income, predominantly Hispanic population in a part of Tampa with relatively accessible housing costs. The academic results so far are modest, and the school's small size means families are making a choice with limited track record to assess. Visiting the school and speaking with staff about its model and trajectory would be the most productive next step.
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