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

33.28%

of Tampa Bay residents, age 25+, have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our performance trails the highest-ranking comparison community, Austin.

> 48%

Dropping nearly three whole percentage points from last year, less than 48% of third grade students are reading on level according to exams.

86.07%

of Tampa Bay students graduate from high school. Tampa Bay currently ranks 14th of 20 comparison communities in high school graduation rates, a 4-place fall in ranking since the 2023 report.

43.37%

of three and four year olds are currently enrolled in school in the Tampa Bay region. This is less than the U.S. average of 46.68% and considerably lower as compared to South Florida’s rate of 59.93%.

79%

Nationally, of jobs that pay greater than $60k, 79% currently require a college degree. (Microsoft, August 2022.)

Education Subcommittee

25 Members From

22 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.