Dear Parents:

Hillsborough County Public Schools has continually increased parental choice options since the mid-1990s. That is when we introduced our first magnet schools. Launched primarily to maintain desegregated schools, our magnet schools and programs now serve nearly 15,000 students.

Magnet schools are not our only choice options. Almost 25,000 more students have chosen to attend a school of choice, which includes traditional schools, career and technical centers, charter schools, or Hillsborough Virtual School.

We now have four International Baccalaureate authorized high schools, and two middle, one K-8, and two elementary schools that use the IB or international studies curriculum. The 2012-2013 school year will be the second in which we offer an all-boys and an all-girls preparatory middle school. We also have increased opportunities for students to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.

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 will be more successful if they are enrolled in programs that interest them. Hillsborough Choice provides students with many thematic options to prepare them for success in college or the workforce.

We invite you to learn more about the many opportunities offered through Hillsborough County Public Schools’ Choice Options.

Sincerely,

MaryEllen Elia
Superintendent