Deer Park Elementary School in Tampa

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	8/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education, and using 2025 Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education.
Student Growth	8/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Florida Department of Education.

Posted: August 6, 2026

This school both my girls have gone to its the best

Posted: August 6, 2026

Posted: February 10, 2026

me encanta nuestra escuela! Profesoras muy majas y atentas, mi niña va muy agusto a clase

Posted: February 10, 2026

Posted: April 20, 2024

I do not recommend public school even in Florida. Not an acceptable 28:1 student/teacher ratio. Teachers rush through curriculum with zero 1:1 time because there are too many students in the class with a variety of needs. Teachers are overwhelmed. Inappropriate comments from students regarding race, gender, and violence, as well as personal items were stolen in the classroom. Administration will not do anything. Enroll in private school with the Florida Step Up For Students scholarship.

Posted: April 20, 2024

Posted: February 4, 2023

I went to this school awhile back and it had truly amazing music/art/theater programs and amazing staff and also very safe we never had a single lockdown/fire or anything like that

Posted: February 4, 2023

Posted: July 27, 2021

Its a great school with amazing teachers. I would really recommend this school for your child.

Posted: July 27, 2021

Posted: August 5, 2019

Deer Park is an excellent school. Looks like a private school very clean. My only complaint is not happy with the new nurse. My child came home with a bruised on her leg. She cane to the clinic but the nurse didn't call us. Very upsetting. Nurse Jinky always calls us. She's very caring and we wish she never left Deer Park. My kids miss her very much.

Posted: August 5, 2019

Posted: August 29, 2018

My son does extremely well in his classes but at HOST he is always getting into trouble. He is by no means an angel BUT he is not a bad behavioral type of child. This makes me think they are not watching the kids and just letting them do whatever at HOST. I'm going to have to send him elsewhere for after-school care if this continues.

Posted: August 29, 2018

Posted: April 30, 2018

Decent school for Elementary grades, It will be good to add more character building aspects to Kids.

Posted: January 18, 2018

My two sons teachers are top notch, as are the principal and assistant principal. However, I have never liked the two front desk employees. They epitomize fake nice, smiling while exuding irritation at anything requiring them to move or look at or speak to you. It doesnt matter what Ive been in the office for, its been for many different reasons but their attitude has always been the same. They seem to have no desire to actually help anyone with anything. They are the first and most frequent point of contact most people have with the school, so to have two women with such bad attitudes in that position is a real shame - because everything else is great!

Posted: January 18, 2018

Posted: November 6, 2017

I would rate the school a 10

Posted: November 6, 2017

Posted: September 29, 2017

1) Teachers are rude - they need coaching on how to speak with parents and students
2) Teachers need coaching on how to encourage students
3) Sometimes teachers are mean

Posted: August 14, 2017

My son attended Deer Park for 4 years and we were happy but I have to say they are not aware that kids need to socialize in order to be able to grow and develop social skills and confidence in themselves. Comparing now this school with our new school (after we moved to another area), I know that my son is happier now. He actually said he feels free now. I understand the school wants to discipline kids but they also need some "free time".

Posted: October 4, 2016

We arrived recently in the area and our 4th grade kid not being fluent in english we were worried about the adaptation. The teachers have been making a lot efforts for helping in the integration process. The admin staff is always helpfull and the surroundings of the school exceptional. Go rangers!

Posted: August 8, 2016

Great School - My daughter has attended Deer Park since she was in Kindergarten. She will be attending 4th grade this year. I would not want her to attend any other school!

Posted: January 23, 2016

My son has attended Deer Park for 3 years now and we both LOVE the school. The teachers are amazing. The communication between parents and teachers is top notch. The teachers really care about their students and always push them to excel in their school work. I specifically stay in the Westchase area just to keep my son at Deer Park. I always see the pricinipal and assistant principal walking the halls and at every school event. Hands down the best school a parent could ask for-for their child.

Posted: March 20, 2015

As a transplant from Atl, I purchased a home in the westchase area solely for the best schools and Deer Park has not disappointed. My child attended 4th and 5th grade there and my overall experience has been EXCELLENT. The teacher are caring individuals while they have built a relationship with parents that is superb. This school gets incredible support from the community and the principal and VP are exceptional. My child has previously attended private schools while I can say this ranks right up there in terms of academics and opportunities.

Posted: February 26, 2015

Very bad school experience in KG. My KG kid Changed 3 classes so far!!!being in between jammed classes or unqualified teacher who resigned leaving my kid and a lot if kids in this class below level. Very disappointed. Back to Pinnellas county with way better school system.

Posted: January 12, 2015

This school is really clean and I love the layout. The security is tight, as I have tried to get it into the gates after the bell rang and was told by the principal that I had to go to the office, she walked me there. Mrs porebski is always outside when picking up my child. Mrs fowler and Dr Gordon are wonderful teachers! They go above and beyond their jobs as teachers and teach the children that their classroom and students are a family away from home. I have had the pleasure of volunteering and have seen firsthand the amount of patience these teachers have. They have wonderful functions in which they involve the parents. Spirit sticks are also great incentives for the kids, my child loves them! The chorus teachers threw an excellent winter program for the parents, where our children performed. They did a fabulous job! The cafeteria is so nice and clean, and so is the library. The only complaint I have is that it takes awhile to drop off and pick up, mainly because there are so many parents doing so. Even with this small dilemma, the school has a system that gets us in and out as quickly as possible. Overall this school has exceeded my expectations!

Posted: September 11, 2014

My child just started 1st grade this year at D.P. and I have already noticed some weirdness in e-mails interactions with the teacher. This week I went there for my first volunteering and I was so upset. The teacher yelled at the children the entire time I was there. I was so sad when I left, I almost cried. You expect a child bullying another child, not their teacher!

Posted: January 24, 2014

We LOVED our Kindergarten teacher here, Mrs. Lee. She was excellent in all aspects. But now in first grade we have been really disappointed. It seems that the curriculum is only placing ALL emphasis on FCAT performance than providing a solid education that will allow these students to compete throughout their lives. I'm not going o even mention the "non-existent" principal with NO leadership whatsoever.

Posted: January 22, 2014

I saw someone wrote they are impressed with the cleanliness of the school. Did you know children were getting sick because of the bacteria because of the water damage? With kids getting sick, they had to "redo" part of the school. Communication is poor at the school, information gets out last minute if it does get out at all. Many safety concerns with the school as there were holes in the play area/playground that kids were falling in and getting fractured ankles and also police were called when several kids heard adults yelling in the bushes. Notice how you never see the principal, Mrs. Porebski at the outside school functions? Lots of bullying at this school and nothing is done on the principal's part, teacher or guidance counselor. The principal is more concerned with her physical appearance than what goes on at the school. HOST program is poor too. Kids just run around the cafeteria.

Posted: September 25, 2013

My ten year old daughter (5th grader) NYC. Deer Park has made the transition wonderful. The teachers and administration are very communicative, and the curriculum is challenging yet provides students with all the necessary tools for success! Thank you!

Posted: August 26, 2013

My started Kindergarten this year, and I have to say that I am impressed with the cleanliness of the school, the amazing staff and teachers. I am very happy to have him starting in such a great place!

Posted: August 10, 2013

My daughter will be starting 1st grade this year @ Deer Park. She loved her kindergarten teacher and class but I was less than impressed with the principal and the overall running of the school. There is very little communication with the parents and what does come is very late/last minute. The principal has no leadership skills and does not begin to know how to talk to parents. She seems more concerned with herself than the students. We never saw her at any school function. The school also seems overcrowded as they were struggling to find additional classrooms last year. Everyone talks about what a great school, but I'm not seeing it.

Posted: July 14, 2013

My daughter completed her kindergarten year here @ deer park & she absolutely Loved it! Ms.Febre & Ms.Henry were amazing!! Very involved with their students & attentive to each students individual needs. I loved that they pay close attention to each students strengths & weaknesses & use that information to help them maximize their learning abilities. My child finished kindergarten as 1 of the top students in her class & reading @ a 2nd grade reading level. Staff members are very friendly & always helpful. I couldn't tell you how many times I'd be on campus & a staff member would approach me to tell me how well my child was doing. The staff knows their students even though they're not in their class & that alone says a lot to how attentive they are. This school really cares about their students & ensuring that they progress in ALL areas. We moved due to work related reasons & I am sad to have to withdraw her from Deer Park. I highly recommend Deer Park to anyone considering or new to the area.

Posted: June 30, 2013

The teachers at the school are top notch. The school is in a very good location. The only major issue is that the principal lacks good leadership skills and it does bring the quality down. WIth at new principal I would I would rate it a 4-5.

Posted: May 15, 2013

Love this school! My son was at a private school in South Africa before we moved to the US and he was doing really well so I was quite worried to uproot him but he has settled so well and absolutely adores school! He is in first grade and his teacher, Mrs Kasper, has been fantastic.

Posted: May 7, 2013

We were happy the first few years, here. But this year our teacher is very hands-off and the parents from our classroom feel out of the loop. The guidance department has been slow to respond or take action on several requests and I feel like the school constantly has a hand out for money from the parents. The new homes and apartments in our district have caused some overcrowding-especially in the lower grades. The PE and music teachers are great and the Library staff is, too. There are MANY wonderful teachers at this school. Thankfully, my child is a self-starter and really enjoys school. Otherwise, we would not be doing as well, here.

Posted: March 21, 2013

The test scores alone prove that the quality of education has gone down at this school. There are a few good teachers, but the majority are wet behind the ears and would make better baby sitters than educators. They are proof that teaching is not for everyone. They seem unable to get the best out of the students. Unlike her predecessor, the new principal seems relatively non-existent. My child has been a straight-A student at this school for years, but it seems like the quality of education at Deer Park has gone down. More emphasis is placed on FCAT performance than providing a solid education that will allow these students to compete globally.

Posted: January 27, 2013

Been at this school for 9 months now after attending an amazing school in the North. Despite what I've always believed, you can get a great education in FL. The teachers and faculty I've met are amazing. Great diversity without anyone feeling odd. Just attended an amazing MATH night where kids LOVED to do math.

Posted: October 31, 2012

Great teachers and good programs. Everyone cares for the kids great great scholl, now that is 15 words.

Posted: October 26, 2012

Love, Love the school great teachers, principal vice principal and great students and strong PTA. My daughter has been here for 5 years, and we will miss it when she graduates

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Westchase	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tampa	FL	1.4 mi
2	Hyde Park	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tampa	FL	12.6 mi
3	The Pavillions	Apartment Complex	Tampa	FL	15.1 mi
4	Avelar Creek	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Riverview	FL	24.5 mi
5	Harbour Isles	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Apollo Beach	FL	25.5 mi
6	Panther Trace	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Riverview	FL	25.6 mi
7	FishHawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	28.3 mi
8	Fish Hawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	28.9 mi
9	Fishhawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	29.3 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	South Tampa	Tampa	FL	11.6 mi
2	South of Gandy (SOG)	Tampa	FL	14 mi
3	Fishhawk Ranch /Lithia FL	Lithia	FL	28.9 mi

Base	Distance
Coast Guard Clearwater	11.8 mi.
MacDill AFB	16.4 mi.

Deer Park Elementary School

Tampa, FL 33626

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