Hillsborough County Public Schools runs Tampa's public schools and holds an A district grade. No school Monday, Oct. 12. Calendar, enrollment: 813-272-4000.
Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Dates come from the district’s 2026-27 student academic calendar and important student dates, both from Hillsborough County Public Schools.
Tampa’s public schools are run by Hillsborough County Public Schools, a countywide district governed by the elected School Board of Hillsborough County. The city has no school system of its own. The district says it holds an A grade from the Florida Department of Education.
Every public school in Tampa, with its zone and report card: Tampa public schools.
Who to call
- District office: Hillsborough County Public Schools, 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., 813-272-4000
- Enrollment and registration: enrollment checklist
- Which school serves my address: Find Your Neighborhood School
- Magnet and choice programs: Hillsborough Choice Options
- Your own school: call the front office first for bus, schedule and grade questions
2026-27 calendar: the dates that matter
From the district’s board-approved student academic calendar:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 12, 2026 | Non-student day |
| Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 | First-quarter report cards online |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026 | Veterans Day, no school |
| Nov. 23-27, 2026 | Fall break (Thanksgiving week) |
| Friday, Dec. 18, 2026 | End of first semester |
| Dec. 21, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2027 | Winter break |
| Monday, Jan. 4, 2027 | Non-student day; students return Tuesday, Jan. 5 |
| Monday, Jan. 18, 2027 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school |
| Friday, Feb. 12, 2027 | Florida State Fair day, no school |
| Monday, Feb. 15, 2027 | Presidents Day, no school |
| Monday, March 8, 2027 | Strawberry Festival day, no school |
| March 22-26, 2027 | Spring break; Monday, March 29 is also off |
| Friday, April 16, 2027 | Non-student day |
| Thursday, May 20, 2027 | Seniors’ last day |
| Friday, May 28, 2027 | Last day of school (2.5-hour early release) |
Students are released one hour early every Monday. If hurricanes close schools, the district has set Oct. 12, Nov. 11, Nov. 23-25 and Jan. 4 as tentative make-up days, so check before you book travel for those dates. The first grading period ended Oct. 9.
Enrolling a student
Start with the district’s enrollment checklist. The district asks for:
- Two proofs of residency, such as a utility bill or lease
- Proof of the child’s age, such as a birth certificate or passport
- Immunization records
- A school-entry health exam
- Any IEP, 504 plan or records from a previous school
Your address sets your zoned school; check it with Find Your Neighborhood School. Magnet schools and other choice programs have their own application window, listed on the choice options page.
School ratings and report cards
Florida grades every public school and district A through F each year. Look up any Tampa school’s grade, test scores and enrollment on the Florida Department of Education’s school report cards or its school grades page. A grade is one view of a school; visit and ask questions too.
Tampa’s high schools by size
Fifteen district high schools with a Tampa mailing address enroll more than 500 students each, according to the federal Common Core of Data for 2023-24. Some, such as Alonso, Sickles, Gaither and Leto, sit in unincorporated areas with Tampa addresses. Districtwide, the federal count was about 224,000 students across the 317 schools and programs it lists for the district, charters included.
Source: NCES school search, via the Urban Institute’s Education Data Portal. These are federal snapshot figures; check current numbers with the school.
School Board meetings
The School Board of Hillsborough County can act only in a public meeting with a quorum. Board meetings air live on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. on Hillsborough Schools TV (Spectrum channel 635, Frontier channel 32) and stream online with closed captions; an indexed video archive goes back to July 2012. The board elects its chair at an organizational meeting each November.
What this means for you
- No school Monday, Oct. 12; plan child care now for Nov. 11 and Thanksgiving week.
- Mondays end an hour early all year.
- Check your zoned school before you sign a lease or buy.
- Use the state report card, not a ranking site, for a school’s official grade.
Related: Friday night football, moving to Tampa and Tampa population and growth.
Zoned schools by area: see our Tampa neighborhoods guide for the elementary, middle and high schools zoned for 12 Tampa areas.
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Tampa in?
Hillsborough County Public Schools, which runs public schools across the whole county, including Tampa. The district office is at 901 E. Kennedy Blvd.; call 813-272-4000.
When is fall break for Hillsborough County schools?
Fall break is Monday, Nov. 23, to Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, the week of Thanksgiving. Students return Monday, Nov. 30.
When does winter break start for Hillsborough County schools?
Winter break runs Monday, Dec. 21, 2026, to Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. Monday, Jan. 4 is also a non-student day, and students return Tuesday, Jan. 5.
When is the last day of school in Hillsborough County?
Friday, May 28, 2027, a 2.5-hour early release. Seniors’ last day is May 20, 2027.
How do I find which school my child is zoned for in Tampa?
Enter your address in the district’s Find Your Neighborhood School lookup. The district also runs choice and magnet programs with separate applications.
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