Hillsborough County School System

Hillsborough County (Tampa) has emerged as an important education center in the Florida School system. The Hillsborough County School System is the 12th largest in the U.S. and third largest in Florida.

1996/1997 elementary school enrollment (grades K-12) in Hillsborough County increased 5.1 percent from 1993/1994, 154,872 to 162,741. The increase is largely shown in public school enrollment. Private school enrollment slightly increased despite the smaller number of students enrolled as a whole. In 1996/1997 private school enrollment was 18,861, an increase of 4.6 percent from the previous year.

More than 450 Hillsborough County students received the Gold Seal Endorsement in 1995, leading the state for the third year in the Florida Vocational Gold Seal Program. The National Merit Scholarship Program identified 62 students as semifinalists in 1995.

There are six magnet schools in Hillsborough County, three in Computer and High Tech and one each in Environmental Studies and Technology, International Studies, and the Visual Performing and Communication Arts. Adult and community education is available at more than 225 locations throughout the county. Post-secondary Adult Technical programs offer job preparatory instruction for entry into an occupation and supplemental job training skills enhancement. Training classes are offered at Erwin, Brewster and Learey Technical Centers, and Tampa Bay Technical Adult.


Public School Enrollment 1996-1997

Enrollment (PreK-12) 147,443
Preschool 2,769
Kindergarten 11,679
Elementary 58,268
Secondary 66,538
Other/Exceptional 7,395
Adult Education 14,455
Academic 7,936
Vocational 6,519
Total 161,898
Source: Hillsborough County Public Schools, Facts 1996-1997

 

Public and Private Schools 1996

Public Private

Number of Schools

149

125

Graduates

5,799

768

% Continuing Education

77%

88%

 
1994/
1995
1995/
1996
1996/
1997
1994-1997
% Increase

Total Enrollment Grades K-12

154,872

158,086

162,741

5.1%

Public

136,834

139,784

143,880

5.1%

Private

18,038

18,302

18,861

4.6%

Source: Department of education 1997

 

SAT/ACT Scores 1996

Hillsborough Florida U.S.

SAT

1024

994

1013

ACT

21.5

20.6

20.9

Source: Hillsborough County Public Schools, Facts 1996-1997