Staff and students took the stage this week at the HCPS Elementary School Fine Arts Festival! This wonderful event featured performances in chorus, mallet percussion, world drumming, rock band, handbell choir, orchestra, and dance. 🎵🩰
"I am just so thrilled that the community and the families are coming out here today to see these students shine, and they just see how much of a community we build through music," said Tracy Lisi, the HCPS K-5 music supervisor.
"I am just so thrilled that the community and the families are coming out here today to see these students shine, and they just see how much of a community we build through music," said Tracy Lisi, the HCPS K-5 music supervisor.
We wish all students, families, and staff a restful and enjoyable Spring Break! 🏖️
We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, March 24, as we finish the school year strong.
Save the Date: 'Building Your Future: School and Career Nights' in Spanish!
Join us for evenings focused on college, university, and career planning for grades 8–12. Topics include graduation requirements, college & technical programs, scholarships & financial aid, career exploration, and more.
Choose your preferred date and location:
📍 Freedom High School
🗓️ Wednesday, March 25, 6–8 p.m.
📍 Morgan High School
🗓️ Wednesday, April 1, 6–8 p.m.
Join us for evenings focused on college, university, and career planning for grades 8–12. Topics include graduation requirements, college & technical programs, scholarships & financial aid, career exploration, and more.
Choose your preferred date and location:
📍 Freedom High School
🗓️ Wednesday, March 25, 6–8 p.m.
📍 Morgan High School
🗓️ Wednesday, April 1, 6–8 p.m.
🎶👏 Congratulations to all of the middle and high school bands who performed at their annual MPA assessments over the past two weeks!
Your dedication, preparation, and countless hours of practice were on full display. We are proud of the incredible performances and the hard work each student and director put into representing their schools so well. Great job, and keep making amazing music! 🎺🥁🎼
Your dedication, preparation, and countless hours of practice were on full display. We are proud of the incredible performances and the hard work each student and director put into representing their schools so well. Great job, and keep making amazing music! 🎺🥁🎼
We are excited to launch our new HCPS Podcast "More to the Story" that goes beyond the headlines to showcase the people, programs, and everyday moments shaping education in our community. Each episode will bring you inside our schools with real voices and real conversations—from students and teachers to principals, families, and community partners. Discover how innovative learning takes place across HCPS and why there’s always More to the Story.
Students in Chamberlain High School’s 3DE Program hosted their 3DE Marketing Expo today! 🚀
More than 20 student-designed businesses pitched their ideas to local investors, who provided startup funds to help bring their concepts to life. Students then created, marketed, and sold their products to fellow Chamberlain students. 📈
More than 20 student-designed businesses pitched their ideas to local investors, who provided startup funds to help bring their concepts to life. Students then created, marketed, and sold their products to fellow Chamberlain students. 📈
Congratulations to our next round of @Buccaneers Best Krewe Award recipients for the 2025-2026 school year! 🎉
🏈 Rhonda Hernandez, ESE Paraprofessional, Foster Elementary School
🏈 SFC Steven Notto, ROTC Instructor, Steinbrenner High School
🏈 Raquel Coykendall, Assistant Principal, Kenly Elementary School
They were recognized during tonight's board meeting.
🏈 Rhonda Hernandez, ESE Paraprofessional, Foster Elementary School
🏈 SFC Steven Notto, ROTC Instructor, Steinbrenner High School
🏈 Raquel Coykendall, Assistant Principal, Kenly Elementary School
They were recognized during tonight's board meeting.
The Magnet Choice Application is now OPEN! Explore STEM, arts, career paths, and more through Hillsborough County Public Schools' magnet programs. Apply during the second window for 2026–27.
✨ Start here: hillsboroughschools.org/choice
✨ Start here: hillsboroughschools.org/choice
Congratulations to Isabella McFarlane from King High School and Alzider Ortiz from Steinbrenner High School for winning state championships at the FHSAA Wrestling State Championships in Kissimmee this past weekend! 🏆
McFarlane captured the girls 170-lb state title, while Ortiz won the boys Class 3A 106-lb championship.
We also want to recognize the following wrestlers who finished as state runners-up:
Arron McCarty, Robinson High School – Boys Class 1A, 190 lbs
Grace Jawulski, Brandon High School – Girls, 105 lbs
Jordan Deglace, Strawberry Crest High School – 110 lbs
An incredible accomplishment for these student-athletes and their schools! 💪🤼♂️🤼♀️
McFarlane captured the girls 170-lb state title, while Ortiz won the boys Class 3A 106-lb championship.
We also want to recognize the following wrestlers who finished as state runners-up:
Arron McCarty, Robinson High School – Boys Class 1A, 190 lbs
Grace Jawulski, Brandon High School – Girls, 105 lbs
Jordan Deglace, Strawberry Crest High School – 110 lbs
An incredible accomplishment for these student-athletes and their schools! 💪🤼♂️🤼♀️
Over 300 students from 20 schools competed last week in the HCPS History Fair! Students participated in a wide range of categories, including exhibits, performances, documentaries, and website creation.
The winners will represent Hillsborough County at the state competition in May, with hopes of advancing to the national competition this summer at the University of Maryland. 📚🏆
The winners will represent Hillsborough County at the state competition in May, with hopes of advancing to the national competition this summer at the University of Maryland. 📚🏆
Congratulations to our students who were named essay contest winners by the Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc.!
Their essays explored various aspects of Hispanic history and culture, and their many contributions to our local community, state, and country.
🎉 Eliza Lambert, 8th grade, Farnell Middle School
🎉 Ishta Sujay Shete, 8th grade, Farnell Middle School
🎉 Nohely Esparza, 8th grade, Marshall Middle Magnet IB World School
🎉 Anabel Garcia, 11th grade, Armwood High School
Their essays explored various aspects of Hispanic history and culture, and their many contributions to our local community, state, and country.
🎉 Eliza Lambert, 8th grade, Farnell Middle School
🎉 Ishta Sujay Shete, 8th grade, Farnell Middle School
🎉 Nohely Esparza, 8th grade, Marshall Middle Magnet IB World School
🎉 Anabel Garcia, 11th grade, Armwood High School
🌞Don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour on Sunday for Daylight Saving Time! ⏰
Special Olympians from 16 HCPS schools recently participated in the 29th Annual Gaither Stampede! 🏃♂️🏅
Athletes competed in a variety of track and field events, while also enjoying fun-filled games and activities throughout the day. It was an incredible celebration of determination, teamwork, and school spirit! 💙👏
Athletes competed in a variety of track and field events, while also enjoying fun-filled games and activities throughout the day. It was an incredible celebration of determination, teamwork, and school spirit! 💙👏
Two of our outstanding school leaders have been recognized among the state’s best! 🎉
Lipi Datta-Reid, principal of Woodson K–8 School, and Dina Langston, principal of Armwood High School, have been named recipients of the 2025–26 Principal Leadership Awards by Florida TaxWatch.
Each year, this prestigious award is given to 15 principals across Florida who are making a transformational impact on student achievement while building strong school cultures and supporting their school communities.
As part of the recognition, each principal also selected a student from their school to receive an Academic A+ Challenge Match Scholarship, sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation: Nicolas Stamatopoulos from Woodson K–8 School and Isaac Bernadin from Armwood High School.
Congratulations to these incredible leaders and students for representing HCPS with excellence!
Lipi Datta-Reid, principal of Woodson K–8 School, and Dina Langston, principal of Armwood High School, have been named recipients of the 2025–26 Principal Leadership Awards by Florida TaxWatch.
Each year, this prestigious award is given to 15 principals across Florida who are making a transformational impact on student achievement while building strong school cultures and supporting their school communities.
As part of the recognition, each principal also selected a student from their school to receive an Academic A+ Challenge Match Scholarship, sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation: Nicolas Stamatopoulos from Woodson K–8 School and Isaac Bernadin from Armwood High School.
Congratulations to these incredible leaders and students for representing HCPS with excellence!
🔥🍔 Voodoo Challenge in full swing!
High school culinary students from across the district brought the heat to the kitchen at the Voodoo Underground Competition hosted at Erwin Technical College. From bold flavors to creative plating under pressure, these young chefs showcased impressive talent, teamwork, and technical skill. 👨🍳✨
Congratulations to the finalists from Chamberlain High School and Spoto High School, who will compete on March 12th for the chance to win a culinary scholarship to Erwin Technical College! 🎉🏆
The energy was high, the competition was fierce, and the future of culinary arts is bright!
High school culinary students from across the district brought the heat to the kitchen at the Voodoo Underground Competition hosted at Erwin Technical College. From bold flavors to creative plating under pressure, these young chefs showcased impressive talent, teamwork, and technical skill. 👨🍳✨
Congratulations to the finalists from Chamberlain High School and Spoto High School, who will compete on March 12th for the chance to win a culinary scholarship to Erwin Technical College! 🎉🏆
The energy was high, the competition was fierce, and the future of culinary arts is bright!
LEAVING A LEGACY! Tampa Bay Technical High School hosted the 2026 Black History Month Congressional Record Statements. Staff, students, and community partners gathered at the school's auditorium to recognize five honorees who've made an everlasting impact in our community: Gwendolyn Henderson, Marvin Knight, Candy Lowe, and the Florida State Bulletin.
The congressional statements, presented by U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, will live on at the U.S. Library of Congress. 🇺🇸
The congressional statements, presented by U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, will live on at the U.S. Library of Congress. 🇺🇸
CELEBRATING YOUNG LEADERS! 🦸♂️🦸♀️ Muller Elementary Magnet School held its annual Leadership Day! Now in its eighth year, the event recognizes students for their academic achievement and the importance of leadership in and out of the classroom.
The celebration featured a school tour for guests, followed by student performances and a family picnic!
The celebration featured a school tour for guests, followed by student performances and a family picnic!
Congratulations to Schwarzkopf Elementary School 4th grader, Elizabeth Grim, for winning the Black History Month essay contest for the entire state of Florida!
Students in 4th through 12th grade were invited to submit essays based on this year’s theme, “Celebrating Black History”. Elizabeth’s essay beat out all other 4th graders in the state!
Elizabeth will receive a two-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $200 gift card for school supplies.
Congratulations Elizabeth!
Students in 4th through 12th grade were invited to submit essays based on this year’s theme, “Celebrating Black History”. Elizabeth’s essay beat out all other 4th graders in the state!
Elizabeth will receive a two-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $200 gift card for school supplies.
Congratulations Elizabeth!
Congratulations once again to Robinson High School seniors Sharan Santharam Srinivasan, Ammar Omar, and Sujay Korada on being named the 2025 Congressional App Challenge District 14 winners by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor! 👏📱
The congresswoman stopped by the home of the Knights last week to congratulate the “SunScreened” app developers and their families.
Watch a demonstration of their app: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnrJUq6MK-A
📸: Knight Writers
Carter G. Woodson is known as the “father of Black History”. He was the son of former slaves but went on to become a teacher and school administrator.
We have a school named after Dr. Woodson… Woodson K-8… And in honor of Black History Month, they held an extra special celebration!
Eighth-grader Ayani Davis spoke about the life and legacy of Dr. Woodson, and members of the community came by to read to students and talk with them about Black history.
We have a school named after Dr. Woodson… Woodson K-8… And in honor of Black History Month, they held an extra special celebration!
Eighth-grader Ayani Davis spoke about the life and legacy of Dr. Woodson, and members of the community came by to read to students and talk with them about Black history.
