News & Events

Tampa, Fl. (February 16, 2026) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to announce outstanding progress in preparing students for postsecondary success. According to the most recent data released by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), the district achieved a 70.9% College and Career Acceleration (CCA) rate, marking a 3-percentage-point increase from the previous year.

The CCA rate represents the percentage of high school graduates who have earned college credit or industry certifications by the time they graduate. This growth reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to preparing students for postsecondary success through advanced coursework, industry certifications, and dual enrollment opportunities.

Over the last six years, HCPS has increased its CCA rate by 17 percentage points, a testament to the district’s long-term instructional strategies, targeted support systems, and commitment to expanding access to high-quality acceleration pathways.

“This significant progress reflects the hard work and dedication of our school and district leaders, teachers, counselors, support staff, and instructional teams,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “Their commitment to creating meaningful acceleration opportunities ensures that every student graduates prepared for college, career, and life.”

Schools With the Highest CCA Rates

• Newsome High School – 91%

• Plant High School – 88%

• Tampa Bay Technical High School – 82%

• Bloomingdale High School – 81%

• Sickles High School – 81%

• Steinbrenner High School – 81%

• Alonso High School – 80%

• Freedom High School – 80%

Schools Showing the Largest One-Year Increase

• Gaither High School – +15 points

• Sickles High School – +12 points

• Brandon High School – +11 points

• Newsome High School – +8 points

• Spoto High School – +8 points

HCPS remains committed to expanding advanced coursework, increasing access to industry certifications, and supporting students in achieving the credentials and experiences that prepare them for future success.

To learn more about accelerate programs and career and technical education at HCPS visit hillsboroughschools.org.

Tampa, Fl. (December 12, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) celebrated the official ribbon cutting of the new Rick Lott Technical College in Plant City on Friday, December 12. The event brought together school board members, district leaders, business partners, and community stakeholders to mark a major investment in workforce education for East Hillsborough County.

Located at 1690 E. Park Road in Plant City, next to Plant City Stadium, Rick Lott Technical College sits on a modern campus featuring dedicated lab and shop spaces designed to mirror real-world job sites.

“Today’s ribbon cutting at Rick Lott Technical College is about opportunity,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “Students in Plant City and across East Hillsborough now have a clear pathway to high-skill, high-wage careers right here in their own community. From welding and HVAC to building construction and electrical trades, these programs equip graduates with the certifications local employers need—so they can step confidently into the workforce and build a prosperous future.”

During the ceremony, guests toured classrooms and hands-on labs showcasing programs such as:

• Building Construction

• Electricity / Industrial Electricity

• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

• Welding Technology

• Forklift Certification and other short-term workforce programs

Most programs are structured to be completed in approximately one year, allowing students to earn industry-recognized credentials and transition quickly into high-wage, high-demand jobs across the Tampa Bay region.

Principal Gary Graham stated that “Our labs and shops were designed to look and feel like the workplaces our students will step into after graduation. Every day, they will work with the tools, equipment, and safety standards used on real job sites. These are practical, affordable programs that move students from the classroom into a career as efficiently as possible.”

Rick Lott Technical College joins Hillsborough County’s robust network of technical colleges and Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs that provide students with clear pathways from school to career.

Districtwide, HCPS offers:

• CTE programs at all traditional high schools, multiple career centers, and dozens of middle schools

• More than 70 career and technical education programs across high-skill, high-wage fields

• Opportunities for students to earn thousands of industry certifications each year, giving them a competitive edge in the job market

Existing technical colleges—including Erwin, Brewster, and Aparicio-Levy—offer a combined portfolio of programs in health sciences, information technology, business, public service, and industrial education. Rick Lott Technical College expands those opportunities with a specialized focus on construction, electrical, HVAC, welding, and related trades that align with regional workforce needs.

To learn more about the career and technical educational opportunities at HCPS, visit hillsboroughschools.org.

Photos from the event can be found at this link and may be used with credit to Hillsborough County Public Schools: Https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wu4jjs6qirb038pkms50r/AMekyXkeClXP83N2csdR28Y?rlkey=3bnimq9w6b3uk6wzk0wd031y0&st=m43fufks&dl=0

Tampa, Fl. (August 20, 2025) - Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to announce that several of its high schools have achieved outstanding recognition in the newly released U.S. News & World Report 2025–2026 Best High Schools Rankings, published yesterday.

The U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best High Schools ranks nearly 18,000 out of more than 24,000 reviewed public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The schools were ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.

Those data sets include College Readiness, State Assessment Proficiency, State Assessment Performance, Underserved Student Performance, College Curriculum Breadth, and Graduation Rate.

“We are deeply honored to see our high schools continue their strong showing in the U.S. News & World Report rankings,” said HCPS Superintendent Van Ayres. “This recognition demonstrates the unwavering dedication of our educators, the ambition of our students, and the support of our community. It reflects our collective commitment to excellence and to ensuring every student is prepared for success beyond high school graduation.”

HCPS High Schools Ranking in top 200 in the State

State Ranking (out of 520) / National Ranking (out of 18,000)

Plant High School - 36 / 549

Newsome High School – 45 / 732

Steinbrenner High School – 54 / 878

Robinson High School – 77 / 1,210

Sickles High School – 86 / 1,316

Strawberry Crest High School – 151 / 2,481

Tampa Bay Tech High School – 156 / 2,579

Bloomingdale High School – 160 / 2,667

Alonso High School – 162 / 2,679

Riverview High School – 175 / 2,983

Middleton High School – 180 / 3,099

U.S. News & World Report will release their Elementary and Middle School rankings later this year.

Read more about how U.S. News calculated the Best High Schools Rankings at: Search Best High Schools - US News

Hillsborough County Public Schools was selected as * Cambridge’s District of the Year in the Large District Category and Showcase District – honoring the district’s work to expand student access to the rigorous Cambridge curriculum, maintain or improve student performance on Cambridge exams, and demonstrate a commitment to education and opportunities.

Watch The Full Video Here

More info on Cambridge and AICE programs

*What Is Cambridge International?

• Cambridge International Education (formerly Cambridge Assessment International Education) is a global division of the University of Cambridge that provides rigorous curricula and assessments across five stages—from PreK through Advanced (ages 5–19)

• It serves over 10,000 schools in more than 160 countries, emphasizing a blend of deep subject knowledge, critical thinking, and international standard

Program Impact

Students can earn college credits, particularly through Cambridge AS & A Level exams. In Florida, this can translate to higher scholarship potential—like savings through Bright Futures—and faster paths through college

AICE stands for Advanced International Certificate of Education.
It’s an international diploma program developed by Cambridge International Education (part of the University of Cambridge).

Hillsborough County Public Schools’ high school graduation rate for the 2023-2024 academic year increased by 1.8 percentage points over the prior year, to an impressive 88%. Twelve of our high schools have a graduation rate above 95%

Riverview High School was named the first school in Hillsborough County to receive the Green Apple designation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Florida Green Schools.

Yung Romano, a 9th-grade IB Biology teacher at Strawberry Crest High School, has been honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Middleton High School students qualified for the Robotics World Championship and won the Rising All-Star Award.

Students from Randall Middle School were selected to have their science experiment flown to the International Space Station as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). This is the district’s 12th year to launch a project with SSEP, making us the longest continual K-12 district in the country to do so.

View Full Article

Hillsborough County Public Schools has invested over $1 billion, funded by the half-penny sales tax referendum that was passed by residents in November 2018, to improve facilities across the school district. Some of the projects include replacing air conditioning units, improving old roofs, enhancing security systems, and repaving parking lots, among other necessary projects.