Dear Parents:

Hillsborough County Public Schools wants students to find relevance in the classes they take and the schools they attend. Since introducing our first magnet schools, we have added more career and technical education opportunities, Hillsborough Virtual School, and charter schools, as well as Hillsborough Choice, in which students can choose from among traditional public schools based on their interests and talents.

This year we have added the Collegiate Academy at Armwood and Leto high schools. Students in this program can receive an Associate of Arts degree while in high school by taking college courses at these school sites. These opportunities complement the existing HCC-Lennard Collegiate Academy, a partnership between Lennard High School and the SouthShore campus of Hillsborough Community College. Students in this program can complete their first year of college while earning their high school diploma. Students who complete the full 30 college credits available to them through this program may enter any public Florida college or university as second-year students (sophomores). These programs, along with college course books, are offered at no cost to our students.

We now have four International Baccalaureate authorized high schools, and two middle, one K-8, and three elementary schools that use the IB or international studies curriculum. New this year, Riverhills Elementary will be using the International Studies curriculum while seeking recognition as an IB school.

We strive to provide programs that students and parents want, so each year we add new choices. Our top priority is student achievement and it is our belief that students are more likely to be successful if they are enrolled in programs that interest them.

Please spend some time reviewing the many opportunities offered through Hillsborough County Public Schools’ Choice Options. This website is designed to fully inform you about school choice and magnet school options. If you still have questions about Hillsborough Choice when you are finished, please call 813-272-HOW2 (4692).

Sincerely,

MaryEllen Elia
Superintendent