Hillsborough County Public Schools and district offices will be closed Monday, March 18th through Friday, March 22nd for Spring Break. Regular hours will resume Monday, March 25th.  Students return to school Tuesday, March 26th.

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Hillsborough Choice Options

Hillsborough Choice Options


Options for the 2019-2020 School Year

Upcoming Events and Application Periods


Locate your attendance area school/s with the School Locator.

Disclaimer: All school attendance boundaries are subject to change by School Board action. The maps and descriptions are provided for convenience only.

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Attendance Area: A school assignment based on the student's home address.

Families do not need to complete an application for their children to attend or remain at their attendance area school. Please contact the school directly for registration information.

Students who live less than two miles from a school are not eligible for transportation based on the State Board of Education Rule 6-A 001(3).

Magnet Programs: Magnet Schools and Programs are elementary, middle, and high schools with theme-based curriculum offering innovative and rigorous academic instruction by specially trained teachers.

Please select the specific school level below for Magnet steps to apply.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten Steps to Apply – Student must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2019.

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  1. Learn about amazing Elementary Magnet programs* in Hillsborough County Public Schools. See list of Elementary Magnet programs.

  2. Explore these options by attending a District Exploration Night, a school tour or Open House. See list of upcoming events.

  3. Apply during an open application period.

  4. Notification of results will be communicated via email and phone. If an offer is extended to your child, a response to reserve their seat is required by the deadline date listed in the notification.

  5. If you have questions or need assistance, call the Choice Information Line at (813) 272-4692.

* The elementary IB program has a transportation area. The elementary school to which the student's application is directed is based on the residential address. Locate which IB school area your address is in.

Kindergarten students are only eligible for magnet transportation if they are accompanied on the bus by an older sibling who attends the same school and lives at the same address.

Elementary

Elementary School Steps to Apply (grades 1-5)

  1. Learn about amazing Elementary Magnet programs* in Hillsborough County Public Schools. See list of Elementary Magnet programs.

  2. Explore these options by attending a District Exploration Night, a school tour or Open House. See list of upcoming events.

  3. Apply during an open application period.

  4. Notification of results will be communicated via email and phone. If an offer is extended to your child, a response to reserve your seat is required by the deadline date listed in the notification.

  5. If you have questions or need assistance, call the Choice Information Line at (813) 272-4692.

* The elementary IB program has a transportation area. The elementary school to which the student's application is directed is based on the residential address. Locate which IB school area your address is in.

Middle

Middle School Steps to Apply (grades 6-8)

  1. Learn about amazing Middle Magnet programs* in Hillsborough County Public Schools. See list of Middle Magnet programs.

  2. Explore these options by attending a District Exploration Night, a school tour or Open House. See list of upcoming events.

  3. Apply during an open application period.

  4. Notification of results will be communicated via email and phone. If an offer is extended to your child, a response to reserve your seat is required by the deadline date listed in the notification.

  5. If you have questions or need assistance, call the Choice Information Line at (813) 272-4692.

* The middle IB program has a transportation area. The middle school to which the student's application is directed is based on the residential address. Locate which IB school area your address is in.

High

High School Steps to Apply (grades 9 and 10)

  1. Learn about the many competitive High School Magnet programs Hillsborough Public Schools offers to students. See list of high school programs.

  2. Attend a District Exploration Night or High School Information Night. See list of upcoming events.

  3. Apply during an open application period.

  4. Eligibility/Prerequisite Factors:
    • GPA: grades earned in core subjects from 7th grade and part of 8th grade (language arts, math, science and social studies)
    • Test scores: standardized test scores from 6th and/or 7th grade
    • Collegiate Academy, IB, and Middleton applicants: students must have taken and passed Algebra I or Algebra I Honors

  5. Students applying to magnet programs at Blake High School, please see below for important information.
    • Arts program applicants - students must submit an application and participate in an audition. Students who meet the academic criteria will be invited to audition for the Arts program.
    • Urban Teaching Academy (UTA) applicants - students must submit an application and participate in an interview. Students who meet the academic criteria will be invited to interview for the Urban Teaching Academy program.

  6. Transcripts -
    • Students who have been continuously enrolled in HCPS in 6th, 7th and 8th grade do not need to submit transcripts.
    • Students who have not been enrolled continuously enrolled in HCPS in grades 6th, 7th and 8th grade, must submit transcripts in order for the application to be considered complete.

  7. Notification of results will be communicated via email and phone. If an offer is extended to your child, a response to reserve your seat is required by the deadline date listed in the notification.

    If you have questions or need assistance, call the Choice Information Line at (813) 272-4692.

    * The high school IB program has a transportation area. The high school to which the student's application is directed is based on the residential address. Locate which IB school area your address is in.


For more information on Magnet Programs, click here.

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School Choice: School Choice provides parents and legal guardians with children entering grades K-11 the opportunity to choose three nonmagnet schools or Career & Technical Education programs. Parents may choose from a list of schools with space available. Transportation may be limited or not available in some areas.

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What are my transportation options? Transportation is provided to some options within the region a student resides. In some areas, transportation may be limited. To view these options click here. Transportation will not be provided if you live within the two-mile walking attendance area for the school.

image: star Choosing the Right School for Your Child image: stars

Step 1

Locate your
attendance area school

Attendance area schools are schools based upon your residential address.

  • Visit our School Locator to identify your attendance area elementary, middle and high schools.
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  • To register at your attendance area school, simply take the required documents to the elementary school site to register your child.

Step 2

Explore your options

Step 3

Apply directly online

  • You will receive a confirmation email that your application was received in the system.
  • You will be notified via email and phone of the results.
  • Accept assignment by responding online or by calling the Choice Information Line at (813) 272-4692.

Each school in our district must comply with the Class Size Reduction Amendment.

Hillsborough Virtual: Hillsborough Virtual School (HVS) is a school choice option for students entering grades K‐12. HVS students are served by Highly Qualified Hillsborough County teachers for each class online.

For more information click here.

Career and Technical Programs: Career & Technical Programs offer technical training leading to high wage/high skill jobs and to further post secondary education.

For more information click here.

Current Out of County Students (including those of HCPS Employees)
  • Students Applying to Return to Their Current Elementary School
 No Application Required to Remain at Current School
  • Students Applying to Return to Their Current Middle/High School
 No Application Required to Remain at Current School
Out of County Students
  • Students Applying for the First Time to HCPS or to a Different School (Elementary, Middle, and High Schools)
 Out of County residents (residents not living within Hillsborough County) can apply during the final Choice Application Window.
  • HCPS Employees Applying for the First Time to HCPS or to a Different School (Elementary, Middle, and High Schools)
 Apply online during open application periods
Out of County Students Applying to Attend a Charter School (New to Charter) Click Here
  • Out of County Students Applying to Return to Their Current Charter School
 No Application Required to Remain at Current School

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Military Families: Welcome military families to Hillsborough County Public Schools!

For more information click here.

Other Options:

Charter Schools
Charter schools are independent public schools operated by a non-profit organization.

Home Education
Home education is defined by Florida Statute 1003.01 as "sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent in order to satisfy the attendance requirements of SS.1002.41, 1003.01 (4), and 1003.21 (1)."

Mckay Scholarships
The John M. Mckay Scholarship provides additional Choice options to students with an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan.

Partnership Schools
Partnership schools are schools that have developed an innovative partnership between the public and private sector. Proof of employment in the partnership area is a requirement.
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