Hillsborough County Public Schools -

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

Tampa, Fl. (August 7, 2023) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Interim Superintendent Van Ayres and School Board Members will welcome students for the 2023-24 school year with a full day of school visits planned across the county. More than 224,000 students are expected to return to school on Thursday, August 10.

On the first day, Interim Superintendent Van Ayres and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister will be available for morning live shots from 6-7:45 a.m. at Carrollwood K-8 to discuss the first day of school and remind drivers to be cautious as students will be out walking to school, riding bikes, or waiting at bus stops. Carrollwood K-8 is located at 3516 McFarland Rd., Tampa.

Media must contact the respective communications departments for HCPS and HCSO to schedule interview timeslots with Superintendent Ayres and Sheriff Chronister.

This is the first year that Carrollwood will be welcoming 6^th graders. As part of the districtwide boundary adjustments, Carrollwood is expanding to a K-8 school using a phased in approach, adding a grade level each year.

• 2023-2024 - Add 6th grade

• 2024-2025 - Add 7th grade

• 2025-2026 - Add 8th grade

Also new this school year, HCPS is opening two new workforce development high schools, the Medical Academy at D.W. Water, and the Building Construction Academy at Bowers/Whitley.

Through these Magnet schools, students will be trained in state-of-the-art programs housed in high-tech, advanced facilities. The economic forecast for the Tampa Bay region indicates the medical and construction fields will have some of the most sought-after careers in the next five to 10 years, ensuring our students have industry certifications and the knowledge to start their careers right after graduation or be prepared for post-secondary training.  

The Medical Academy offers programs of study including Nursing, Cardiology, Emergency Responding, and BioMedical Sciences. The Building and Construction Academy will offer courses in Construction, Plumbing, and Automotive. 

Interim Superintendent Ayres and School Board Members will visit the following schools throughout the day on August 10. Media interested in scheduling a live interview with Van Ayres must set a time with Jennifer Holton. Requests will be processed in the order they come in.