Photo: Clément Bardot · CC BY-SA 4.0Tampa’s public schools score below 57% of Florida districts on tests and graduation
The grade covers the public school district serving Tampa, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Florida, not nationally.
From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Tampa’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 467 Florida towns with household incomes within a quarter of Tampa’s, its schools beat 23%, lower than their 43% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 51% of tested students were proficient in reading and 52% in math, against 52% and 52% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $11,431 per student, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
48 elementary schools, then 20 middle and eight high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Idea Victory, Idea Hope, Pepin Academies, Legacy Preparatory Academy, Walton Academy, Trinity School for Children, Brooks Debartolo Collegiate High School, Seminole Heights Charter High School, Channelside Academy of Math and Science, New Springs Schools, West University Charter High, Bridgeprep Academy of Tampa, Academy of the Holy Names (private), Ivy Global School (private), Jesuit High School (private), Tampa Catholic High School (private), Tampa Preparatory School (private), St. Johns Episcopal Parish Day School (private), St. Lawrence Catholic School (private), Christ the King Catholic School (private), St. Marys Episcopal Day School (private), Icon Preparatory School (private), Bayshore Christian School (private), Tampa Bay Christian Academy (private), Villa Madonna School (private), St. Joseph Catholic School Tampa (private), Holy Trinity Lutheran School (private), Family of Christ Christian School (private), Montessori Academy of Tampa Bay (private), Academy Prep Center of Tampa (private), Montessori Academy of South Tampa (private), Friendship Christian Academy (private), The Montessori Children's House of Hyde Park (private), St. Peter Claver Catholic School (private), Bible Truth Ministries Academy (private), Prince Private Academy (private), Camp K (private), Beach Park School (private), Montessori Beach Park School (private), Mount Calvary Junior Academy (private), The Way Christian Academy (private), Future Leaders Preparatory School (private), Tampa Pinnacle Academy LLC (private), Scholars Christian Academy (private), Tampa Torah Academy (private), Southside Baptist Academy (private), Apollo Academy (private), Presley Learning Center Academy (private), Cornerstone Foundation Academy (private), The Learning Experience (private), Linabean Academy Inc. (private), Huntington Learning Center & Schoo South Tampa (private), Digital Academy Inc. (private) and King's Kid Christian Academy (private) are in town. Hillsborough Virtual School, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Tampa’s grade
C+: better than 43% of Florida school districts, #460 of 638 Florida towns. Both inputs trail the Florida average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Tampa, with each school’s own grade.
Tampa’s public schools are run by Hillsborough County School District, which also serves Plant City and Temple Terrace. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Close to the state in reading
Tampa vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Florida towns that share Tampa’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa | C+ | Hillsborough County |
| Temple Terrace | C+ | Hillsborough County |
Every school in Tampa
132 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 6 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Ami Kids Tampa, Hillsborough Virtual Franchise High School, Delia Sanchez Full Service School, Hillsborough Virt Instr PRGS, Hillsborough Ese Contracted Residential Placement and Encore).
Questions about Tampa’s schools
Are Tampa’s schools good?
On Florida’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Tampa children attend score below 57% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #460 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 23%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Tampa in?
Hillsborough County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 218,958 students in 287 schools (2024–25).
Where do Tampa kids go to high school?
One of 8 high schools, depending on your address: Plant High School, Freedom High School, Hillsborough High School, Middleton High School, Blake High School, Robinson High School, Jefferson High School and Chamberlain High School.
What is Tampa’s graduation rate?
86% of the class of 2023 in Hillsborough County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.
How much does Tampa spend per student?
$11,431 in Hillsborough County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Tampa?
Yes: Academy of the Holy Names (Catholic, grades PK–12, 993 students), Ivy Global School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 909 students), Jesuit High School (catholic · all-boys, grades 9–12, 867 students), Tampa Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 752 students), Tampa Preparatory School (religious, grades 6–12, 712 students), St. Johns Episcopal Parish Day School (religious, grades PK–8, 594 students), St. Lawrence Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 526 students), Christ the King Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 525 students), St. Marys Episcopal Day School (religious, grades PK–8, 449 students), Icon Preparatory School (nonsectarian, grades K–10, 413 students), Bayshore Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 412 students), Tampa Bay Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 366 students), Villa Madonna School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 360 students), St. Joseph Catholic School Tampa (Catholic, grades PK–8, 297 students), Holy Trinity Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–6, 230 students), Family of Christ Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 212 students), Montessori Academy of Tampa Bay (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 124 students), Academy Prep Center of Tampa (nonsectarian, grades 5–8, 123 students), Montessori Academy of South Tampa (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 120 students), Friendship Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 114 students), The Montessori Children's House of Hyde Park (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 112 students), St. Peter Claver Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 99 students), Bible Truth Ministries Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 99 students), Prince Private Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 99 students), Camp K (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 79 students), Beach Park School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 75 students), Montessori Beach Park School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 70 students), Mount Calvary Junior Academy (religious, grades K–8, 64 students), The Way Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 62 students), Future Leaders Preparatory School (nonsectarian, grades K–7, 55 students), Tampa Pinnacle Academy LLC (special education, grades K–8, 55 students), Scholars Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–10, 52 students), Tampa Torah Academy (religious, grades PK–7, 47 students), Southside Baptist Academy (religious, grades K–12, 37 students), Apollo Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–4, 21 students), Presley Learning Center Academy (nonsectarian, grades 3–11, 20 students), Cornerstone Foundation Academy (religious, grades K–7, 18 students), The Learning Experience (nonsectarian, grades K, 13 students), Linabean Academy Inc. (nonsectarian, grades 1–12, 10 students), Huntington Learning Center & Schoo South Tampa (nonsectarian, grades 4–10, 10 students), Digital Academy Inc. (nonsectarian, grades 1–12, 10 students) and King's Kid Christian Academy (nonsectarian, grades K, 5 students). Tampa also has 12 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Tampa families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Tampa → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Florida. Stars are from neighbors.