Hillsborough County Public Schools -

For Immediate Release 

Contact:          Tanya Arja or Erin Maloney
                         Hillsborough County Public Schools  
                         Office of Communications 
                         813-272-4060 

 Tampa, Fl. (October 5, 2022) – Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Addison Davis was announced as a finalist for the Green-Garner Award, which is considered the nation’s highest honor in urban education. The award recognizes a school district leader who has displayed a profound commitment to improving the educational outcomes of a diverse student population.  

Under Superintendent Davis’s leadership, Hillsborough County Public Schools has made a steady rise in student achievement over the last two and a half years. Through the hard work of our school-based administrators, teachers, support professionals, district staff, students, and families, HCPS has much to celebrate, including: 

• Reaching a significant milestone, jumping from 35^th in the state to #19, becoming a top 20 school district for the first time in district history.  

   

• Increasing the number of schools with “A”, “B”, or “C” letter grades to 93%, a dramatic increase from 2019 when only 86% of schools attained a “C” or above. 

•  

• Decreasing the number of “D” and “F” rated schools by 82%, going from 28 schools to 5 in a two-year span using concentrated efforts of small group instruction and accelerated learning opportunities, signifying a true transformation for many chronically under performing schools. 

• Reaching the highest graduation rate in district history at 89.2% while narrowing the achievement gap for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, African American and Hispanic students, and students with disabilities.  

• Increasing the number of high schools offering the Cambridge AICE diploma from 1 to 14.  

• Establishing Spanish Immersion, Dual Language, and Montessori elementary programs to increase parental choice.  

• Increasing mental health supports districtwide, including adding mental health counselors at more than 100 schools to better meet student needs and establishing a Mobile Response Unit to assist with students experiencing a mental health crisis.  

• Prioritizing workforce development initiatives by working closely with local government and industry leaders to establish a Medical Academy and a Construction Academy to create a future workforce pipeline. 

• Expanding the district’s Diversity Office to now encompass Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, ensuring all demographic groups are represented in district initiatives.   

• Strengthening hiring practices in areas that focus on minority groups to ensure a diverse workforce for the student population we serve.   

• Overcoming $150 million operational deficit – the state’s largest deficit for a school district – through transparency and accountability. 

The award is named in honor of Richard R. Green, who led the nation's largest school system as chancellor of New York Public Schools, and Edward J. Garner, a businessman and former School Board President in Denver Public Schools.  

The winner will be named at the Council of Great City Schools’ upcoming 66^th Annual Fall Conference in Orlando and will receive a $10,000 college scholarship to present to a high school senior from the winner’s school district.  

The Council of the Great City Schools is the only national organization exclusively representing the needs of urban public schools. Composed of 77 large city school districts, its mission is to promote the cause of urban schools and to advocate for inner-city students through legislation, research, and media relations.