Pierce Middle School

Summary:

Pierce Middle School is a public middle school located in Tampa, Florida, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 845 students. The school is part of the Hillsborough School District, which is ranked 45 out of 68 districts in Florida and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

While Pierce Middle School shares the same district and rating as the nearby schools, such as Coleman Middle School, Orange Grove Middle Magnet School, and Young Middle Magnet School, it stands out as an underperforming school in terms of test scores, chronic absenteeism, and student demographics. Pierce Middle School has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (78.22%) compared to the nearby schools, which range from 15.89% to 79.30% Hispanic students. Additionally, the school has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 42.3% to 51.0% over the past few years, significantly higher than the nearby schools, which have rates ranging from 17.4% to 31.3%.

The performance of Pierce Middle School also suggests a potential correlation between socioeconomic status and academic achievement. The school has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 72.43% to 93.51% over the past few years, compared to the nearby schools, which range from 16.4% to 83.99%. This, coupled with the school's lower test scores, highlights the need for additional support and resources to address the unique needs of the student population. The Hillsborough School District may need to re-evaluate its approach to supporting and improving underperforming schools like Pierce Middle School, focusing on targeted interventions, resource allocation, and collaboration with the community to provide a more equitable and effective education for all students.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 5511 N Hesperides St
       Tampa, FL  33614


(813) 872-5344

District: Hillsborough

SchoolDigger Rank:
1032nd of 1,196 Florida Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,413 Help


Feeder schools for Pierce Middle School:

Elementary:    Alexander Elementary School
    Cannella Elementary School
    Crestwood Elementary School
    Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  19.6 Help
Number of students:  845

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
78.2%
African American:
11.1%
White:
6.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  72.4% Help


 See top rated Florida middle schools

 Compare Pierce Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Pierce Middle School ranks worse than 86.3% of middle schools in Florida. It also ranks 34th among 43 ranked middle schools in the Hillsborough School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.47. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (78.2%), African American (11.1%), White (6.9%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 72.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pierce Middle School is 19.6, which is the 18th best among 43 middle schools in the Hillsborough School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Pierce Middle School employs 43 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pierce Middle School is $8,413. 28 middle schools in the Hillsborough School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Pierce Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Pierce Middle School 1032nd of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Pierce Middle School in the ranking list.)

Hillsborough:

SchoolDigger ranks Hillsborough 45th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Pierce Middle School.

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Your rating for Pierce Middle School?

Rank History for Pierce Middle School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 33.90 421st 593 29.0%
2005 27.79 470th 602 21.9%
2006 27.12 506th 675 25.0%
2007 28.25 550th 736 25.3%
2008 24.77 585th 740 20.9%
2009 23.24 615th 780 21.2%
2010 27.53 636th 839 24.2%
2011 26.58 683rd 891 23.3%
2012 22.85 701st 897 21.9%
2013 23.64 747th 956 21.9%
2014 21.38 811th 999 18.8%
2016 24.93 762nd 997 23.6%
2017 23.37 813th 1031 21.1%
2018 24.37 795th 1035 23.2%
2019 25.65 853rd 1099 22.4%
2021 22.98 892nd 1136 21.5%
2022 24.14 902nd 1148 21.4%
2023 17.40 1009th 1177 14.3%
2024 17.47 1032nd 1196 13.7%
See the entire list of Florida Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Pierce Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    






Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1.8)
0%

25%

0%

0%

75%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, February 9, 2023

Open Quote No tienen Ética profesional, no saben resolver problemas con los estudiantes. Luego de mi hija a ver peleado con una nińa en la escuela, aún siguen los acosos constantemente de parte de las nińas y ellos no toman acción. Close Quote


by a citizen
Sunday, July 1, 2018

Open Quote I attended Pierce middle school in the 90s. It was trash school then and doesn’t seem to have improved much at all. I’m lucky I made it out without being beaten or stabbed. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, July 2, 2010

Open Quote Very satisfied with the school. Teachers will work with your child and administrators are good. Some people get a misperception of the school based from hear say. Close Quote


by a citizen
Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Open Quote My daughter attended this school and unfortunately my grandson is now attending - but this will be his ONLY year at this school. He was an A student and on the Dean's Honor Roll for the previous 2 years at his previous school (also in Hillsborough County). This is one of the worst schools in the district and it's no wonder, given the attitude of the teachers. I certainly hope the new bill passes regarding teacher raises if it will eliminate the poor teachers at Pierce. The downside is it probably won't make a bit of difference to the ones who need to be bounced and will only affect those who are struggling to teach children with no interest in learning or who have learning disabilities. It's Murphy's Law. I am reminded of the quote: "Those who can, do . . . those who can't, teach." I don't think this could apply more to the teachers at Pierce. Shame on you all and on the Board for allowing it to happen. I can guarantee this is not their only complaint! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Pierce Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 546 187 18 271 4 n/a n/a 0 1026
1989 475 187 10 292 6 n/a n/a 0 970
1990 395 186 15 348 5 n/a n/a 0 949
1991 382 178 23 388 1 n/a n/a 0 972
1992 354 165 28 403 1 n/a n/a 0 951
1993 335 155 20 388 2 n/a n/a 0 900
1994 361 195 18 413 4 n/a n/a 0 991
1995 273 181 25 343 1 n/a n/a 0 823
1996 273 181 25 343 1 n/a n/a 0 823
1997 391 184 52 481 2 n/a n/a 0 1110
1998 347 158 47 471 2 n/a n/a 0 1025
1999 316 148 36 561 4 n/a n/a 0 1065
2000 296 149 43 611 2 n/a n/a 0 1101
2001 242 164 40 594 2 n/a n/a 0 1042
2002 211 198 31 668 4 n/a n/a 0 1112
2003 211 198 31 668 4 n/a n/a 0 1112
2004 192 199 20 670 1 n/a n/a 0 1082
2005 162 194 17 726 5 n/a n/a 0 1104
2006 162 146 26 788 4 n/a n/a 0 1126
2007 126 128 23 717 6 n/a n/a 50 1050
2008 129 119 18 705 2 n/a n/a 58 1031
2009 112 92 20 756 1 n/a n/a 41 1022
2010 113 89 19 694 2 n/a n/a 97 1014
2011 108 86 23 810 6 0 20 0 1053
2012 97 89 32 836 5 0 17 0 1076
2013 83 107 40 776 5 1 17 0 1029
2014 83 89 36 824 4 0 18 0 1054
2015 72 83 36 772 3 0 11 0 977
2016 58 81 32 727 1 0 10 0 909
2017 71 80 34 739 0 0 7 0 931
2018 80 90 26 714 1 1 8 0 920
2019 84 87 22 732 0 0 17 0 942
2020 72 92 24 707 0 1 19 0 915
2021 60 91 20 642 2 2 15 0 832
2022 54 119 22 599 0 2 11 0 807
2023 58 94 17 661 0 1 14 0 845

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pierce Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1026 60.0 17.1 38.1
1989 970 54.0 17.9 36.5
1990 949 57.0 16.6 45.6
1991 972 54.0 18.0 50.1
1992 951 52.0 18.2 48.9
1993 900 52.0 17.3 54.9
1994 991 56.0 17.7 55.5
1995 823 50.0 16.5 60.8
1996 823 50.0 16.5 60.8
1997 1110 61.0 18.2 57.9
1998 1025 63.0 16.3 51.7
1999 1065 63.0 16.9 71.4
2000 1101 62.0 17.8 76.8
2001 1042 69.0 15.1 70.6
2002 1112 77.0 14.4 77.3
2003 1112 77.0 14.4 77.3
2004 1082 76.0 14.2 78.8
2005 1104 74.0 14.9 80
2006 1126 59.0 19.1 82.9
2007 1050 59.0 17.8 83.1
2008 1031 69.0 14.9 80.8
2009 1022 69.5 15.5 90.2
2010 1014 66.5 15.2 95.2
2011 1053 67.6 15.5 88
2012 1076 65.8 16.3 87.7
2013 1029 69.0 14.9 89.1
2014 1054 68.0 15.5 94
2015 977 66.0 14.8 93.1
2016 909 65.0 13.9 89.8
2017 931 62.0 15.0 90.2
2018 920 62.0 14.8 90.5
2019 942 57.0 16.5 90
2020 915 56.0 16.3 89.5
2021 832 59.0 14.1 93.5
2022 807 47.0 17.1 84.5
2023 845 43.0 19.6 72.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Pierce Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1026 60.0 17.1 38.1
1989 970 54.0 17.9 36.5
1990 949 57.0 16.6 45.6
1991 972 54.0 18.0 50.1
1992 951 52.0 18.2 48.9
1993 900 52.0 17.3 54.9
1994 991 56.0 17.7 55.5
1995 823 50.0 16.5 60.8
1996 823 50.0 16.5 60.8
1997 1110 61.0 18.2 57.9
1998 1025 63.0 16.3 51.7
1999 1065 63.0 16.9 71.4
2000 1101 62.0 17.8 76.8
2001 1042 69.0 15.1 70.6
2002 1112 77.0 14.4 77.3
2003 1112 77.0 14.4 77.3
2004 1082 76.0 14.2 78.8
2005 1104 74.0 14.9 80
2006 1126 59.0 19.1 82.9
2007 1050 59.0 17.8 83.1
2008 1031 69.0 14.9 80.8
2009 1022 69.5 15.5 90.2
2010 1014 66.5 15.2 95.2
2011 1053 67.6 15.5 88
2012 1076 65.8 16.3 87.7
2013 1029 69.0 14.9 89.1
2014 1054 68.0 15.5 94
2015 977 66.0 14.8 93.1
2016 909 65.0 13.9 89.8
2017 931 62.0 15.0 90.2
2018 920 62.0 14.8 90.5
2019 942 57.0 16.5 90
2020 915 56.0 16.3 89.5
2021 832 59.0 14.1 93.5
2022 807 47.0 17.1 84.5
2023 845 43.0 19.6 72.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pierce Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $1,404 (16.2%) $7,279 (83.8%) $8,683
2019 $1,244 (14.0%) $7,667 (86.0%) $8,911
2020 $1,336 (14.7%) $7,753 (85.3%) $9,090
2021 $1,644 (17.7%) $7,630 (82.3%) $9,274
2022 $1,875 (20.4%) $7,312 (79.6%) $9,186
2023 $2,180 (25.9%) $6,233 (74.1%) $8,413

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pierce Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 853rd of 1099 Middle schoolsRanks 1009th of 1177 Middle schools
 8.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Pierce Middle School)3436
 2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Hillsborough)5352
 1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5452
 2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Pierce Middle School)3931
 8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Hillsborough)4945
 4%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5549
 6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pierce Middle School)3535
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Hillsborough)5449
 5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5248
 4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Pierce Middle School)537
 46%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Hillsborough)6226
 36%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5446
 8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pierce Middle School)3931
 8%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Hillsborough)5347
 6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5649
 7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Pierce Middle School)1530
 15%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Hillsborough)3147
 16%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)4642
 4%
8th Grade Science (Pierce Middle School)3016
 14%
   8th Grade Science (Hillsborough)4741
 6%
   8th Grade Science (Florida)4844
 4%
End of Course Civics (Pierce Middle School)4843
 5%
   End of Course Civics (Hillsborough)6764
 3%
   End of Course Civics (Florida)7166
 5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Pierce Middle School)8994
 5%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Hillsborough)6360
 3%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)6254
 8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students942845
 10.3%
African American8794
 8%
American Indian00
Asian2217
 22.7%
Hispanic732661
 9.7%
Pacific Islander01
White8458
 31%
Two or More Races1714
 17.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients90%72.4%
 17.6%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Pierce Middle School

In the 2022-23 school year, 845 students attended Pierce Middle School.

Pierce Middle School ranks in the bottom 13.7% of Florida middle schools.

Students at Pierce Middle School are 78% Hispanic, 11% African American, 7% White, 2% Asian, 2% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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