Ensuring student success today and a prepared workforce for tomorrow
Focus Areas: Education
Education is one of two segments connecting the cradle to career pipeline.
Research shows that Tampa Bay has many opportunities to improve in both performance and educational attainment. Strong performance in kindergarten readiness and third-grade reading contributes to higher graduation rates, and less disconnected youth. Progress in these areas boost educational outcomes which will shape prosperity as an adult.
The Partnership is focusing on facilitating collaboration around early childhood learning, literacy, and developing career-driven skill sets throughout the educational continuum.
Data Highlights
37.80%
of Tampa Bay residents, age 25-34, have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher compared with 40.89% for the national average.
For all ages in our region, attainment of a BA/BS+ degree is 35.04%
(Source: 2026 Regional Competitiveness Report)
53.57%
Performance improved in English Language Arts Third Grade Reading, continued to improve to 55.40%. Of the 50,393 students tested for ELA reading scores, approximately 1,165 more students are reading at grade level than last year.
(Source: 2026 Regional Competitiveness Report)
88.61%
of Tampa Bay students graduate from high school. Tampa Bay currently ranks 11th of 20 comparison communities in high school graduation rates. The high school graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students improved significantly from 79.31% to 83.56% (4.25 percentage points higher), lifting our regional ranking to 10th place.
(Source: 2026 Regional Competitiveness Report)
48.25%
The share of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in school decreased slightly from 49.89% to 48.25%, moving Tampa Bay from 10th to 13th place and falling just behind the national average.
(Source: 2026 Regional Competitiveness Report)
79%
Nationally, of jobs that pay greater than $60k, 79% currently require a college degree. (Microsoft, August 2022.)
Education Subcommittee
28
Members From
21
Organizations
The Education Subcommittee is a subsection of the Talent Working Group. They identify and address the early stages of the regional talent pipeline, focusing on early learning and K-12 education.
Robin DeLaVergne
Senior Vice President External Affairs, Tampa General Hospital
Key Highlights
Proactively met with Representative McFarland to provide feedback from the business and nonprofit community about legislation that encourages private sector investment in early education and child care programs via tax credits.
Supported amendments to income limitations for access to early learning/ school readiness programs. Qualifications were expanded from federal poverty levels to state median income.
Aided in the successful passage of education referendums in Hernando, Hillsborough (new), Manatee, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.
Related Research
Education indicators inform nearly ⅓ of all research in the Regional Competitiveness Report.
Focus Areas
