The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Raymond B. Stewart Middle School
Raymond B. Stewart Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders in Zephyrhills, a city in eastern Pasco County that has been changing shape quickly. The school sits on its own campus along 10th Avenue, separated from the historic downtown district on 5th Avenue that anchors civic life in Zephyrhills. It is a conventional public middle school, not a magnet or charter, and it draws from a community that mixes longtime retirees with a growing wave of families drawn by relatively affordable housing and proximity to the Tampa Bay corridor.
The student body is sizable for a middle school. White students make up roughly half the enrollment, Hispanic students around a third, and Black students a smaller but meaningful share, with additional students identifying as two or more races or other backgrounds. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school firmly in a lower-income economic context. Data on English learner enrollment and students with IEPs were not available in what was provided.
On Florida's FAST assessments, proficiency rates across the three grades tell a consistent story: math and ELA results are below what most parents would hope to see, running well under half of students reaching proficiency in most tested grades. Sixth-grade math is the softest point. Eighth-grade math is the highest among the three grades tested, though still below the midpoint. ELA results are similarly modest across all three grades, with seventh grade showing a slight high point. The eighth-grade science assessment, administered through the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, shows about a third of students reaching proficiency. Multi-year trend data were not available, so it is not possible from this data alone to say whether results are improving, flat, or declining. A parent who wants to understand whether the school is on a positive trajectory should ask the school directly for trend information.
No program offerings data were available for Stewart, so details on electives, clubs, or specialized academic tracks cannot be confirmed from this source. Graduation rate is not applicable here since the school serves only middle grades. The comparison framework identified only one district in Pasco County, so no meaningful peer comparison of proficiency could be produced.
The broader school district context matters for families making location decisions. Pasco County voters approved a millage increase in 2022 to fund teacher and staff salaries, and publicly reported figures indicate teacher vacancies have dropped substantially since that vote. A renewal is heading to the ballot in late 2026. The county's "Penny for Pasco" sales tax, renewed with strong voter support, directs capital funding to the school district for construction, safety improvements, and renovations, which is relevant given that Zephyrhills itself is under pressure from rapid growth. The district has been redrawing attendance boundaries in the Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills area, effective for the 2026-2027 school year, so families new to the area should confirm current and projected attendance zones before buying or renting.
On housing, the Zephyrhills ZIP code shows home values meaningfully below both the Florida and national medians, with values declining modestly year over year. Rents are similarly pulling back. Rent-to-income ratios sit near what housing economists generally consider the threshold of affordability, and estimated mortgage costs are within reach for households at or near median income, which makes the area accessible relative to much of the Tampa Bay region. Zephyrhills has been among the faster-growing smaller cities in Florida, with several master-planned communities under construction, though the city has placed a temporary moratorium on new residential annexations and rezonings while it works through water-supply and infrastructure constraints.
The city itself has a quiet residential feel outside the downtown core. Zephyr Park on Zephyr Lake, a restored railroad depot park, and a newly opened community park give families outdoor options. Transit service connects Zephyrhills to Dade City to the north and Wesley Chapel to the west, though coverage outside the downtown area is limited. Sidewalk gaps between residential areas, schools, and parks have been recognized as a problem, and the city has allocated funding to address them.
For a family weighing Stewart, the academic proficiency picture warrants a direct conversation with the school about supports, programming, and direction of travel over time.
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