Dawson Elementary School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Tanya Arja or Debra Bellanti

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Office of Communications

813-272-4060

Tampa, Fl. (November 11, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to announce that 16 schools have earned the Florida Department of Education’s Purple Star School of Distinction designation for the 2025 through 2028 school years. The Purple Star program honors schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families during school transitions and throughout their K–12 experience. 

“Serving military families is part of who we are as a community,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “Our Purple Star schools provide dedicated points of contact, intentional transition supports, and resources that help students thrive academically and socially from day one. We’re honored to support the men and women stationed at MacDill Air Force Base and the thousands of military-connected families who call Hillsborough County home.” 

Florida’s Purple Star School of Distinction designation lasts three school years and recognizes campuses that provide targeted supports for military families and students—such as clear enrollment and records transfer processes, a designated military point of contact, and accessible information about school- and community-based resources. The program was established by the Florida Legislature in 2021 (school designation) and expanded in 2024 to include districts; it is defined in Rule 6A-1.0999, F.A.C. 

Congratulations to our schools who have earned this prestigious designation:

2025-2028

2024-2027

2023-2026

2022-2025

Visit https://bit.ly/HCPS-Military-Families to see the list of our Purple Star Schools of Distinction and to learn more about our programs and resources for our military families.