Contact:Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

Tampa, Fl. (November 14, 2024) – Students in Hillsborough County Public Schools achieved remarkable academic success in 2024, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for the Best Elementary and Middle School categories.

U.S. News analyzed 105,093 Pre-K, elementary, and middle schools. Sixty of our district schools earned a Best Elementary Schools badge and 31 schools earned a Best Middle Schools badge for placing among the top 40% in the state on the newly released Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools report. 

“We are extremely proud of the hard work our schools, students, and staff have put in to achieve these rankings from U.S. News & World Report. This recognition highlights the dedication of our educators and students in striving for academic excellence,” said Superintendent Van Ayres.

McKitrick Elementary School (#28 in Florida Elementary Schools) 

Bevis Elementary School (#31 in Florida Elementary Schools) 

Bryant Elementary School (#39 in Florida Elementary Schools) 

Grady Elementary School (#41 in Florida Elementary Schools) 

Roosevelt Elementary School (#78 in Florida Elementary Schools) 

Mitchell Elementary School (#79 in Florida Elementary Schools) 

Clark Elementary School (#96 in Florida Elementary Schools)

Fishhawk Elementary School (#97 in Florida Elementary Schools)

 

Walker Middle Magnet School (#41 in Florida Middle Schools) 

Williams Middle Magnet School (#63 in Florida Middle Schools) 

Wilson Middle School (#77 in Florida Middle Schools) 

Coleman Middle School (#78 in Florida Middle Schools)

Martinez Middle School (#89 in Florida Middle Schools) 

Randall Middle Magnet School (#113 in Florida Middle Schools) 

Roland Park K-8 Magnet School (#124 in Florida Middle Schools) 

Farnell Middle School (#125 in Florida Middle Schools) 

Maniscalco K-8 School (#134 in Florida Middle Schools)

Lutz K-8 School (#184 in Florida Middle Schools)

 

For each state, schools were assessed on their pupils’ proficiencies in mathematics and reading, as measured by state assessment tests. Half of the ranking formula was the results themselves; the other half was the results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. In other words, the top-ranked schools are high achieving ones that succeeded in educating all of their students. All data for the rankings are from third-party sources, including the U.S. Department of Education. U.S. News has published numerical rankings for more than 47,000 public elementary schools and more than 23,000 public middle schools.

 

 

Contact:Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

Tampa, Fl. (November 8, 2024) – One or more Hillsborough County School Board members are scheduled to attend the following events or meetings:

 

Contact:Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

Tampa, Fl. (November 1, 2024) – One or more Hillsborough County School Board members are scheduled to attend the following events or meetings:

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Colin Higgins
Hillsborough Education Foundation
813-525-0522

 

TAMPA, Fla. – (October 29, 2024) – Imagine starting your day as a CEO and ending it by listening to the perspectives of students and teachers shaping the future of our community. On November 1, 150 business leaders will experience just that, trading boardrooms for classrooms in the sixth annual CEOs in Schools initiative.

Each executive will be paired with a principal from a Hillsborough County public elementary school, gaining an opportunity to experience firsthand the day-to-day activities of educators and students. In return, these CEOs will share their own business expertise, inspiring young learners and contributing to their educational journey.

Throughout the day, CEOs will immerse themselves in various school activities—from greeting students in the morning to attending classroom sessions and school planning meetings. This unique exchange of knowledge and perspectives has fostered lasting relationships between local businesses and schools.

A Lasting Impact
Now in its sixth year, CEOs in Schools has proven to be more than just a one-day event—it’s a gateway to deeper community involvement. CEOs have gone on to sponsor school initiatives, mentor students, and partner with schools on long-term projects. The positive ripple effects of these connections extend well beyond the classroom, benefiting both students and business leaders alike.

Media Invitation
Members of the media are invited to witness the inspiring synergy between a business leader and the educational community on November 1:

Learn more about the program at CEOsInSchools.com.

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About Hillsborough Education Foundation
Every child deserves access to the best possible education — and the teachers, tools, and trusted mentors they need to succeed. But today, this fundamental right remains out of reach for too many young people in our community. Hillsborough Education Foundation works to ensure every student in Hillsborough County receives an outstanding public education that equips them for a fulfilling future. By unlocking opportunities for students, investing in teachers, and strengthening public schools, we’ll make Hillsborough County Public Schools one of the best places to learn and teach, where 100% of students graduate with the ability to pursue anything they can dream. Learn more and join us at EducationFoundation.com.

 

About Vistra Communications
Founded in 2007, Vistra Communications, LLC (Vistra) is an award-winning, integrated marketing, communications, and consulting agency providing services to corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations. Our mission is to help our clients reach their goals. With a team of approximately 80 professionals, we provide a broad range of customized solutions to our clients. Vistra is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Lutz, Florida, with a second office in the Washington, D.C. area. For more information, visit ConsultVistra.com.

 

Contact:Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (October 25, 2024) – One or more Hillsborough County School Board members are scheduled to attend the following events or meetings:

 

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (October 21, 2024) – Hillsborough County Public Schools invites the community to participate in naming the new technical college set to open in Plant City in Fall 2025.

 

The technical college, located at 1690 E. Park Road, will offer career-focused programs such as Industrial Electricity, Welding Technology, Building Construction, HVAC, and Forklift Certification. These courses are designed to be completed in approximately one year, allowing students to swiftly enter high-demand, well-paying jobs.

 

To propose a name for the new technical college, community members can submit their suggestions through an online survey at https://bit.ly/plantcitytechnical.

 

The survey opens on Monday, October 21, at 9:00 AM and closes on Friday, November 8, at 5:00 PM. It is available in both English and Spanish.

 

Following the survey, the district will compile the suggestions and present them to the school board for review. The board is scheduled to vote on the official name during their meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

 

Contact:Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (October 18, 2024) – One or more Hillsborough County School Board members are scheduled to attend the following events or meetings:

 

Contact:Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (October 15, 2024) – Hillsborough County Public Schools will bring school-based and district staff back on Wednesday to plan and prepare to welcome students to school on Thursday, October 17.  

 

School-based and district staff, with help from countless volunteers, made tremendous progress yesterday cleaning up campuses from the damage from Hurricane Milton.

 

As of this morning, there are 35 schools without power. We have been assured that our utility partners will be able to get all schools back online in the next 36 hours. 

 

We have also made the decision to extend the first quarter to Friday, October 25, giving students adequate instructional time to complete the grading period. Our Academic Services team is reviewing the calendar to determine necessary adjustments to make up the required instructional time and we will communicate that at a later date. 

 

Like our neighboring counties who were in the path of Hurricane Milton, we are grateful we can reopen schools to students, to provide some sense of normalcy for our community. 

 

Contact: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

 

Tampa, Fl. (October 14, 2024) – Hillsborough County Public Schools will remain closed on Tuesday, October 15, due to continued recovery efforts from Hurricane Milton.  

 

Our decision is due to the following: 

Based on these factors, schools and district offices will remain closed on Tuesday, October 15. At this time, our goal is to reopen on Wednesday. However, our decision on reopening will be based on power restoration.

 

Decisions are being made day-by-day because we understand the importance of getting our students back in class with our amazing educators. Our priority is to safely reopen schools as soon as possible.