FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, FL (April 24, 2026) —Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to announce that the district was named the Most Improved FAFSA Completion winner in the extra-large school district category as part of the Florida College Access Network’s (FCAN) Florida FAFSA Challenge, a statewide effort to help more students access financial aid for education beyond high school.
According to FCAN, Hillsborough County Public Schools achieved the largest increase in FAFSA completion among peer districts of similar student population between March 31, 2025, and March 31, 2026, with a 13.4 percentage-point increase in completion during that period.
“This recognition reflects the commitment of our schools, counselors, and district teams to opening doors to opportunity for our students,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “Completing the FAFSA is often the first step toward college, career training, or technical education, and we are proud of the progress our students have made.”
Launched by FCAN in 2015, the Florida FAFSA Challenge encourages schools and districts statewide to increase the number of high school seniors completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a critical gateway to federal, state, and institutional financial aid, including the Pell Grant. The initiative recognizes districts that demonstrate strong completion rates or significant year-over-year improvement and provides tools and resources to support educators and families.
Hillsborough County Public Schools will be formally recognized during the Talent Strong Florida Summit, hosted by FCAN, on Friday, May 8. The summit will take place at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, bringing together education, workforce, and community leaders from across the state to strengthen pathways to postsecondary success.
To learn more about FAFSA and the application process, visit FAFSA | Hillsborough County Public Schools.