Hillsborough County Public Schools -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

• Student Achievement: The Class of 2025 earned more than $200 million in scholarships, with 222 graduates receiving their Associate of Arts degrees while attending high school, 387 earning International Baccalaureate diplomas, 351 earning Cambridge AICE diplomas, and 1,533 earning Biliteracy Seals. Over 20,000 industry certifications were awarded, preparing students for high-demand career pathways.

• Academic Excellence: HCPS earned recognition as the 2024–2025 U.S. Large District of the Year by Cambridge International. Ninety-eight percent of schools received an A, B, or C grade from the Florida Department of Education, with 12 high schools achieving graduation rates above 95%.

• Exceptional Arts, Athletics, and STEM: HCPS students and schools received national and state titles in cheerleading, basketball, flag football, lacrosse, robotics, music, and the arts. Middleton High School’s Robotics Team competed on the world stage, and both Bloomingdale High School and Plant City High School Cheerleading squads captured national championships.

• Operations & Facilities: The district completed major renovations, including refreshing 11 media centers, installing a new electric bus charging station, and replacing all high school athletic fields with synthetic turf. Several schools, including Aquilla J. Morgan High School and Kenneth E. Adum K-8, received prestigious planning and design awards.

• Community Impact: HCPS operated 16 hurricane shelters, housing over 15,000 evacuees and serving more than 59,000 meals during storms. The district launched Paige, our Early Childhood Literacy Bus, to expand early learning resources and celebrated the approval of a millage referendum to support teacher recruitment, retention, and enrichment programs.

• Fiscal Responsibility: Operating with a balanced budget, HCPS earned a clean audit with no findings and saw its bond rating upgraded from A to A+, demonstrating sound financial management.