Is New Tampa the only area in Tampa with good schools? (Lakeland: crime rates, chapel)

[tercsi1]

I am a pharmacist. My husband and I lived in New Tampa for a year. We loved it but we moved for personal reasons. We currently live on Long Island in New York. We are seriously considering moving back to New Tampa; however, the only openings for a transfer for me are in the Lakeland and Zephyhills areas. Are there any A rated schools in those areas? Our children are 7 and 11. Also, are those areas safe? When we lived in Tampa there was a constant string of pharmacy robberies in the Tampa Bay area, which are rare in New York. Are the crime rates in Lakeland and Zepyhrhills high as well?

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by tercsi1

I am a pharmacist. My husband and I lived in New Tampa for a year. We loved it but we moved for personal reasons. We currently live on Long Island in New York. We are seriously considering moving back to New Tampa; however, the only openings for a transfer for me are in the Lakeland and Zephyhills areas. Are there any A rated schools in those areas? Our children are 7 and 11. Also, are those areas safe? When we lived in Tampa there was a constant string of pharmacy robberies in the Tampa Bay area, which are rare in New York. Are the crime rates in Lakeland and Zepyhrhills high as well?

New Tampa is far from the best school district in Tampa. South Tampa, Lithia, Lutz, and Palm Harbor all have better schools k-12. Lithia could work for Lakeland and Lutz for Zepyrhills. Although New Tampa/Wesly Chapel would be just as well for either location.

[071402]

Originally Posted by DUNNDFRNT

New Tampa is far from the best school district in Tampa. South Tampa, Lithia, Lutz, and Palm Harbor all have better schools k-12. Lithia could work for Lakeland and Lutz for Zepyrhills. Although New Tampa/Wesly Chapel would be just as well for either location.

Question: OPs kids are going into or are in middle school. Can't they apply for choice schools in Tampa at this age? thanks

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by 071402

Question: OPs kids are going into or are in middle school. Can't they apply for choice schools in Tampa at this age? thanks

There is a poster that works for Hillsborough Schools, hopefully he chimes in. This is what I know from my personal experience, I moved from Hyde Park to Palma Ceia, my daughter was going into middle school, She wanted to stay in the Wilson Middle School, but our new address was for Coleman. I tried the choice route, and this is what was explained to me, the choice program does not apply to schools that are full, so per no child left behind they have a number of kids per classroom, they have a formula that tells them how many classes they are going to have based on last year's enrollment and they keep a reserve number for new enrollments, after that you are left with 1 or no slots for choice program applicants. Magnet schools seem fine they are located in the not so great parts, and also you are assigned a school per your area, so if there are 2 science magnets then you have to live in the area of that specific magnet. When the enrollment period opened up all of South Tampa schools were greyed out because they were full.

[MortonR]

Choice is only available for schools that have less than 100% attendance from students within their assigned attendance area.

The process is very vague in my opinion, and there is no guarantee whatsoever that your child will be selected. It's pretty much a crapshoot, especially if you are applying to a school with limited openings.

Add to this that you MUST have established residency to apply, meaning you have to be living here and have a legal residence. If you move into the area you can't apply until you have established residency, so if you wanted to try and get the ball rolling before you return, well, you can't.

You can use web sites like Greatschools.com or the Florida DOE to identify "A" rated schools. There are a number of them in the Wesley Chapel area (Pasco County) but I can't speak for Lakeland as I know little about it.

As one of the previous posters mentioned, New Tampa is far from having a monopoly on "A" rated schools. There are many in the Valrico/Lithia and Plant City areas, as well as plenty throughout the rest of the County. You'll just have to find them and decide where you want to live relative to that, or use home values to find an area and work from there.

Magnet schools are an option, but again, there is an application process which requires the students to have established residency. There are no mid-year enrollments that I am aware of.

Magnet schools are typically in economically disadvantaged areas, as this was a way to gain compliance with the Federal laws regarding busing. They will often be a part of a neighborhood school that serves the local student population as well, many of which will not be a part of the magnet program at that school, but participate in a regular curriculum in the same facilities as you would find in any other school of its type.

Short of moving into an area served by an "A" rated school, you're going to have to move here and establish residency before your children can apply and be considered for a choice or magnet program.

RM

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by DUNNDFRNT

There is a poster that works for Hillsborough Schools, hopefully he chimes in. This is what I know from my personal experience, I moved from Hyde Park to Palma Ceia, my daughter was going into middle school, She wanted to stay in the Wilson Middle School, but our new address was for Coleman. I tried the choice route, and this is what was explained to me, the choice program does not apply to schools that are full, so per no child left behind they have a number of kids per classroom, they have a formula that tells them how many classes they are going to have based on last year's enrollment and they keep a reserve number for new enrollments, after that you are left with 1 or no slots for choice program applicants. Magnet schools seem fine they are located in the not so great parts, and also you are assigned a school per your area, so if there are 2 science magnets then you have to live in the area of that specific magnet. When the enrollment period opened up all of South Tampa schools were greyed out because they were full.

I would hope you are pleased with Coleman. It's a very good school based on what I know - I also have some friends who are on faculty there, and they are very good.

RM

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by MortonR

I would hope you are pleased with Coleman. It's a very good school based on what I know - I also have some friends who are on faculty there, and they are very good.

RM

Coleman is great, most of the faculty I met seemed very dedicated and have been in the school for a long time. No complains

[Sunnydee]

I've heard that Fish Hawk Ranch has excellent schools and the commute to Lakeland wouldn't be too bad.

[algia10]

Originally Posted by DUNNDFRNT

Lithia could work for Lakeland and Lutz for Zepyrhills. Although New Tampa/Wesly Chapel would be just as well for either location.

How in the world could Lithia work for Lakeland, or Lutz for Zephryhills? have you looked at the map? NOTICE how far I am zoomed out to get them both in the photo. You have to be in the school boundary if you go to a public school.




Choice is a lottery system for public schools in Hillsborough County, BUT the school has to participate in the choice program, and the school can choose NOT TO participate, and when they don't you have to change schools. Not something that really works.

[algia10]

Originally Posted by Sunnydee

I've heard that Fish Hawk Ranch has excellent schools and the commute to Lakeland wouldn't be too bad.

Time wise it would be around 40 minutes.....