Hillsborough County public schools

In spring 2026, 58% of Hillsborough County students in grades 3 to 10 read on grade level. That is 3 points below the state (61%) and up 4 points from 54% in 2025. The district serves about 237,343 students.

Open Hillsborough on the interactive map

58%reading on grade level, 2026

$10,729spent per student, 2024-25

42%ready for kindergarten, fall 2024

15.1%of children in poverty

Reading and spending

Hillsborough County's reading rate rose 4 points this year; the state as a whole rose 4 points. The district spent $10,729 per student in 2024-25 from state, local and federal funds, $802 less than the state average of $11,531. Across Florida, spending per student shows no clear link to reading rates, because higher spending often reflects higher need or a small district.

What sits behind the score

Children under 18 below the poverty line, 2020-2024	15.1%	State 16.5%
Children who started kindergarten ready, fall 2024	42%	State 43%
Advertised teacher vacancies per 1,000 students, January 2026	1.4	State 0.9
English learners, approximate share of students	≈9.9%	State ≈10.2%

Kindergarten readiness and child poverty track reading rates more closely than anything else measured across Florida's 67 districts.

The November 2026 school tax vote

On November 3, 2026, Hillsborough County voters renewed school funding measure: ½-cent sales tax. It passed with 61% of the vote. Ten-year renewal for school repairs and maintenance.

Pledged for: School repairs and maintenance. No spending report has been published yet.

Source: WUSF, Nov 12 2026

What a home pays for schools

A homesteaded home assessed at $350,000 pays an estimated $1,724 a year in school property taxes in Hillsborough County, at about 5.305 mills. This uses the statewide average for the state-required rate and leaves out debt levies, so your tax bill will differ. Try your own home value.

Wins

Voters approved school funding on November 3, 2026.
Christi Atkinson, Science teacher, Wharton High School, 25 years teaching, was honored: District Teacher of the Year. Honored at the Excellence in Education Awards, January 22, 2026.

Districts like Hillsborough

The five Florida districts most similar in size, child poverty and kindergarten readiness. A fairer comparison than the state average.

District	Reading 2026	Change	Ready for kindergarten
Hillsborough	58%	+4	42%
Broward	65%	+4	43%
Miami-Dade	65%	+5	40%
Palm Beach	62%	+4	45%
Orange	61%	+4	44%
Duval	54%	+4	39%

What you can do in Hillsborough County

If your child is under 5: sign up for free books by mail, and claim free pre-K at age 4 through the Florida Early Learning Family Portal. All four steps
If your child is in school: write the Hillsborough County School Board using a draft built from these numbers.
If you want to help: give through the county's education foundation, fund a teacher's request or tutor a reader. Ways to help

Sources

Reading: Florida Department of Education, spring 2026 FAST English Language Arts results. Spending: FLDOE per-pupil expenditure report, 2024-25. Poverty: Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 via FLHealthCHARTS. Kindergarten readiness: FLDOE, fall 2024. Vacancies: Florida Education Association count, January 8, 2026. English learners: FLDOE, spring 2024. Enrollment: 2026-27 state funding calculation. Full sources and limits.