NORTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL vs PATRICIA SULLIVAN METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES PARTNERSHIP SCHOO

Northwest Elementary School and Patricia Sullivan Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School sit 11.1 miles apart in Tampa and carry nearly identical overall ratings — 8.9 vs. 9.0 out of 10 — but that 0.1-point gap obscures meaningful differences underneath. In Florida's statewide rankings, Patricia Sullivan lands at #84 of 3,777 schools while Northwest Elementary ranks #122 of 3,777, placing both well inside the top 4% of the state but with Patricia Sullivan holding a clear edge in overall standing.

The academic and growth scores tell opposite stories. Northwest Elementary scores 9.6/10 on academics versus Patricia Sullivan's 8.6 — a full point higher, reflecting stronger raw proficiency on state assessments. Patricia Sullivan flips that advantage on growth, scoring 9.9/10 compared to Northwest's 8.9, meaning Patricia Sullivan students gain more ground relative to their starting points year over year. Families prioritizing current test performance lean toward Northwest; families who want to see their child accelerate from wherever they start lean toward Patricia Sullivan.

The demographic and structural differences between these two schools are stark. Northwest Elementary enrolls 693 students with 37% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch and a student-teacher ratio of 15.4:1. Patricia Sullivan serves just 77 students, all of whom — 100% — qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, with a student-teacher ratio of 12.8:1. Patricia Sullivan's smaller class sizes and full-population economic need reflect its partnership mission, while Northwest operates as a larger, more economically mixed neighborhood school.

One structural distinction affects younger children directly: Northwest Elementary serves grades PK through 05, offering pre-kindergarten on site, while Patricia Sullivan serves grades KG through 05, starting at kindergarten. Families with pre-K-age children who want to keep their child in one building through fifth grade will find that option only at Northwest.