TINKER K-8 SCHOOL vs PATRICIA SULLIVAN METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES PARTNERSHIP SCHOO

Patricia Sullivan Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School edges out Tinker K-8 School by 0.1 points overall — 9.0 versus 8.9 out of 10 — but the state rank gap is more telling: Patricia Sullivan sits at #84 of 3,777 Florida schools while Tinker K-8 ranks #121, placing both schools firmly in the top 4% statewide. Parents choosing between these two Tampa schools are comparing genuinely strong performers, not a clear frontrunner against a laggard.

On academics, Tinker K-8 School holds a narrow edge with an 8.8 academic score versus Patricia Sullivan's 8.6. The growth story flips that comparison sharply: Patricia Sullivan's 9.9 growth score outpaces Tinker K-8's 9.1 by a full 0.8 points, suggesting students at Patricia Sullivan are gaining ground at an accelerated pace relative to their starting point — a meaningful signal for families whose children are working to close any gaps or simply want strong year-over-year momentum.

The demographic and structural differences between the two schools are substantial. Tinker K-8 enrolls 588 students against Patricia Sullivan's 77, making Patricia Sullivan one of the smaller schools in the district. The student-teacher ratio at Patricia Sullivan is 12.8:1 versus 14.3:1 at Tinker K-8 — tighter, but not dramatically so given the enrollment difference. The free and reduced lunch rate diverges starkly: 30% at Tinker K-8 versus 100% at Patricia Sullivan, which reflects Patricia Sullivan's mission-based model serving families experiencing economic hardship as a core part of its program identity.

Grade coverage separates the schools at both ends: Tinker K-8 School serves Pre-K through 8th grade, letting families keep one child in a single school from early childhood through middle school. Patricia Sullivan Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School covers only Kindergarten through 5th grade, meaning families will need to plan a transition for middle school. The two campuses sit 8.3 miles apart in Tampa, making a same-family comparison a genuine logistical decision rather than a casual crosstown switch.