TAMPA, Fla. —
As Plant High School continues to get accolades for being ranked the top school in the area by U.S. News and World Report, it’s important to remember schools at the opposite end of the spectrum.
"Kids are living in communities that are in persistent trauma,” said Hillsborough County School Board Chairwoman Tamara Shamburger, "and they bring those issues to school with them, unfortunately. And those create great barriers to them getting a great education."
The district’s Full Service Centers help with some of those issues. As part of Hillsborough County Schools, workers there help meet the needs of students and families in East and West Tampa, which are areas of the city with higher poverty rates.
It's also the area of Chamberlain High School. While Plant High got the highest ranking in the area from U.S. News and World Report, Chamberlain came in last. Eighty-five percent of kids do graduate, but 80 percent are economically disadvantaged.
So workers say sometimes the students need additional support because if families aren't stable, students aren't either.
"Being homeless, or getting school supplies or food to eat -- those are some of the challenges on a daily basis that I see,” said Felecia Johnson, who works at the Just Full Service Center in West Tampa.
The service center also connects families to other resources depending on need: everything ranging from fatherhood support, job skills, legal help, grandparent assistance, adult GED services and more.
"I like to see families make it. I like to see students make it. It doesn't matter where you come from, It's what you do with what you have,” said Johnson.
For more information on the Full Service Centers, click here.
Emerald Morrow is a reporter with 10News WTSP. Like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. You can also email her at emorrow@wtsp.com.