Wharton High School

It's Family Day at the Florida State Fair! 😎🎡🌭

Don't forget to stop by the Florida Center near Gate 2 and check out the HCPS exhibit area. We also have many schools and students showing livestock in the TECO Arena. Please stop by and cheer them on!

Congratulations to Charlize Buie and Ariana Garriga as they have been named Positive Coaching Alliance Triple-Impact award winners!

It's a short week! Fair day is Friday and President's day is Monday. We start the week with Club day. Parent conferences are Tuesday.

Students from 28 of our high schools participated in the 2026 Poetry Jam at Centro Asturiano in Ybor City!

Now in its 21st year, the high school competition empowers students through writing, public speaking, and storytelling. 📝

Congratulations to this year's finalists and winners!
1st Place: Zoey Tice, Plant City HS
2nd Place: Athena Wint, Lennard HS
3rd Place: Bailey Turnquist, Leto HS
Students' Choice Award: Bailey Turnquist, Leto HS

HCPS celebrates Love the Bus Month! 🚌💛

School buses safely transport thousands of students each day—replacing up to 36 cars on the road and making them the safest, most efficient ride to school. Thank you to our drivers and transportation staff for keeping every journey reliable and secure!

Congratulations to our kicker #6 Owen Brown as he commits to the admission process at Wesleyan University on National Signing Day! Best of luck as he takes on college football!

Hillsborough County Public Schools recognizes that student success is driven by the unwavering dedication of our school counselors. 💙 During National School Counseling Week, we proudly honor you—the essential core of HCPS!

Welcome to the first week of February. This week we kick off Black History Month and celebrate our guidance counselors. PTSA is hosting a spirit night at Chipolte and spring sports start as winter sports hit playoffs.

HCPS celebrates Black History Month!

Honoring 100 years since Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, we continue his legacy through learning, experiences, and partnerships that highlight African American history and contributions. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OeFIo7

Pictured: The Armwoods, digital artwork by Molly McGiveney, 2025 Blake High School graduate.

We are hooked on celebrating our Hillsborough Treasures! 🤩🎣🌊 Our 2026 Excellence in Education Awards winners were recognized during last night’s School Board meeting. We look forward to shining a light on the incredible impact they make every day over the next year.

They truly represent the depth of dedication, passion, and excellence that runs throughout our district.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 🗓️ It's almost time for Family Day at the Florida State Fair! Friday, February 13, is a non-student day of school.

Youth ages 17 and under will receive free admission to the fair until 5 p.m. with an admission-paying parent or guardian 21 or older.

While you're at the fair, be sure to stop by the Florida Center and check out the HCPS exhibit area! We'll also have many schools and students showing livestock in the barns. Please stop by and cheer them on!

For more information on the Florida State Fair, please visit floridastatefair.com.

🎉 Results are available!

Hillsborough County Public Schools Magnet & School Choice Application results are live online.
✅ If you received an offer, you have until Friday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. to accept.

Don’t miss your opportunity to secure your spot!
👉 bit.ly/MagnetChoiceHCPS

Moving through week 4. This week we will celebrate our scholars with an ice cream social for those honor roll students.

Our Wharton Wildcats are riding the wave of excellence this morning as they shell-abrated their very own Science/AICE teacher, Christi Atkinson! 🤩🌊🎉 She was named the Hillsborough County Public Schools 2026 Teacher of the Year during last night’s Excellence in Education Awards ceremony.

“I am very proud and excited to represent my school, to represent everybody that I've ever encountered as an educator who has inspired me to get where I'm at and I'm just over the moon!”

Check out more about Mrs. Atkinson here: https://youtu.be/e2mWEs7PxjY

Meet our treasured 2026 Excellence in Education Awards winners! 🤩💎🐠🎉 These three outstanding educators and support staff rise above the tide and make a lasting impact across our district:

🌊 Teacher of the Year: Christi Atkinson, Science/AICE Teacher, Wharton High School

🌊 Instructional Support Employee of the Year: Mary Torres-Cerezo, Licensed Professional Nurse, Willis Peters Exceptional Student Education Center
🌊 Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year: Ché Counce, Access Points Teacher, Symmes Elementary School

Chosen from 690 nominees districtwide, these incredible individuals are true gems of Hillsborough County Public Schools. Congratulations!

Remember there is no school on Monday. AVID is hosting their Talent Show. Soccer heads to the playoffs. Make it a great week!

There will be no classes for students on Monday, January 19. Regular classes will resume on Tuesday, January 20.

We are proud to announce a historic milestone for Hillsborough County Public Schools! Our 2024-2025 graduation rate is an impressive 90.9%, marking the highest rate in the district's history. 🎉🎓

This means 910 more students than the previous year crossed the stage, ready for college, careers, the military, or whatever their next journey in life may hold.

This achievement belongs to our entire HCPS family. From our staff and families to our community partners, thank you for helping our students succeed. Together, we are #LeadingTheWay!