Hillsborough School District

Hillsborough County Public Schools is one of the largest districts in Florida, serving 224,152 students across 305 schools. That scale means families have real options — from neighborhood elementaries to specialized programs — but it also means school quality varies, so knowing how individual campuses perform matters.

Across the district, 286 schools carry a ranked score, averaging 6.4 out of 10. That mid-range average reflects the size and diversity of the system. The strongest performers sit well above that baseline, and parents comparing schools should pay close attention to where specific campuses land relative to peers — the gap between the district average and the top tier is meaningful.

The highest-rated school in Hillsborough is Patricia Sullivan Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School, an elementary earning a 9.3 out of 10. That score places it at the top of a competitive field. Grady Elementary follows at 9.1, with Lanier Elementary close behind at 9.0. Citrus Park Elementary and DeSoto Elementary both score 8.8, rounding out a group of five elementary schools that consistently outperform the district's 6.4 average by a significant margin. The concentration of standouts at the elementary level signals that families focused on early grades have strong options if they know where to look.

Hillsborough's size is both its strength and its challenge. With 305 schools total, the district offers broad geographic coverage across Tampa and surrounding communities, giving most families multiple schools within a reasonable distance. At the same time, a district this large tends to show wider performance ranges — the 6.4 average score means a substantial number of schools fall below what the top performers demonstrate is achievable. Parents should compare individual school scores rather than relying on the district average alone. Using specific ratings alongside location and program fit gives the clearest picture when choosing where to enroll.