Best Schools: How Hillsborough County Ranked On 2022 Niche List

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — The latest school rankings released by the data analysis company Niche offer a look at how K-12 schools in Hillsborough County compare with each other as well as school across the nation.

Niche, which released its eighth annual version of the rankings this week, looks at a variety of criteria in determining a grade for both public and private K-12 schools in Hillsborough County, including academics, teachers and diversity.

Hillsborough County Public Schools received an overall Niche grade of B include B for academics, C for teachers, B+ for clubs and activities, A+ for diversity, A for college prep and C for health and safety.

Of the four Tampa Bay school districts — Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando — Hillsborough was ranked No. 2.

Out of the 69 school districts in Florida, Hillsborough ranked No. 28 overall, No. 1 in diversity and No. 4 in best school districts for athletes.

Across the country, Hillsborough County schools ranked No. 138 out of 11,844 school districts for diversity and No. 259 out of 10,801 for best school districts for athletes.

Here are how the schools in Hillsborough County fared in the rankings.

Hillsborough County public high schools, charter schools and magnet schools rankings:

• Grade A+ — Plant High School (ranked No. 759 in America, No. 30 in Florida, No. 2 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A+ — Strawberry Crest High School (ranked No. 780 in America, No. 32 in Florida, No. 3 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A+ — Steinbrenner High School (ranked No. 918 in America, No. 40 in Florida, No. 4 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A — Sickles High School (ranked No. 53 in Florida, No. 5 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A — Brooke DeBartolo Collegiate High School (ranked No. 67 in Florida, No. 7 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A — Robinson High School (ranked No. 85 in Florida, No. 8 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A — Newsome High School (ranked No. 86 in Florida, No. 9 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A — Bloomingdale High School (ranked No. 99 in Florida, No. 13 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A — Hillsborough Virtual School (ranked No. 127 in Florida)
• Grade A- — Middleton High School (ranked No. 134 in Florida, No. 17 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A- — Hillsborough High School (ranked No. 135 in Florida, No. 18 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A- — Tampa Bay Technical High School (ranked No. 137 in Florida, No. 19 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A- — Riverview High School (ranked No. 148 in Florida, No. 21 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A- — Alonso High School (ranked No. 158 in Florida, No. 24 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A- — Gaither High School (ranked No. 181 in Florida, No. 29 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A- — Bell Creek Academy High School (ranked No. 182 in Florida, No. 30 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A- — King High School (ranked No. 195 in Florida, No. 32 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B+ — Durant High School (ranked N0. 208 in Florida, No. 36 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B+ — Plant City High School (ranked No. 258 in Florida, No. 40 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B+ — Wharton High School (ranked No. 261 in Florida, No. 41 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B — Howard W. Blake High School & Magnet Program (ranked No. 331 in Florida, No. 48 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B — Freedom High School (ranked N0. 355 in Florida, No. 53 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B — Pivot Charter School (6-12) (ranked No. 356 in Florida, No. 54 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B — Leto High School (ranked No. 357 in Florida, No. 55 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B — Jefferson High School (ranked No. 365 in Florida, No. 56 in Tampa Bay)
• Grade B — Florida Connections Academy (K-12) (ranked No. 385 in Florida)
• The following schools are unranked:
• Grade B- — Armwood High School
• Grade B- — Pepin Academy (3-12)
• Grade B- — East Bay High School
• Grade B- — Waters Career Center (PK, K-12)
• Grade B- — SLAM Charter/Middle High School Tampa
• Grade B- — Kid's Community College Preparatory High School
• Grade B- — Brandon High School
• Grade B- — Lennard High School
• Grade C+ — Simmons Career Center (PK, K-12)
• Grade C+ — Chamberlain High School
• Grade C+ — Spoto High School
• Grade C — PACE Center For Girls Tampa (6-12)
• Grade C — South County Career Center (PK, K-12)
• Grade C- — West University Charter High School
• Grade D+ — Seminole Heights Charter High School

Hillsborough County public middle, charter and magnet schools rankings:

• Grade A — Terrace Community Middle School (ranked No. 38 in Florida)
• Grade A — Williams Middle Magnet School (ranked No. 44)
• Grade A- — Walker Middle Magnet School (ranked No. 61)
• Grade A- — Hillsborough Virtual School (ranked No. 73)
• Grade A- — Roland Park Magnet School (ranked No. 79)
• Grade A- — Lutz Preparatory School (ranked No. 80)
• Grade A- — Martinez Middle School (ranked No. 94)
• Grade A- — Bell Creek Academy (ranked No. 96)
• Grade A- — Coleman Middle School (ranked No. 123)
• Grade A- — Farnell Middle School (ranked No. 126)
• Grade A- — Wilson Middle School (ranked No. 132)
• Grade A- — Winthrop Charter School (ranked No. 155)
• Grade A- — Randall Middle School (ranked No. 158)
• Grade A- — Sam Rampello Downtown Partnership School (ranked No. 183)
• Grade B+ — Sunlake Academy of Math & Sciences (ranked No. 226)
• Grade B+ — Horizon Charter School of Tampa (ranked No. 227)
• Grade B+ — Barrington Middle School (ranked No. 264)
• Grade B+ — Benito Middle School (ranked No. 304)
• Grade B+ — Mulrennan Middle School (ranked No. 307)
• Grade B+ — Learning Gate Community School (ranked No. 328)
• Grade B+ — Tinker K-8 School (ranked No. 340)
• Grade B+ — Burns Middle School (ranked No. 343)
• Grade B+ — Liberty Middle School (ranked No. 353)
• Grade B+ — Stewart Middle Magnet School (ranked No. 360)
• Grade B+ — Trinity School for Children (K-8) (ranked No. 374)
• Grade B — Hillsborough Academy of Math & Science (K-8) (ranked No. 384)
• Grade B — Waterset Charter School (K-8) (ranked No. 400)
• Grade B — Progress Village Middle Magnet School (ranked No. 413)
• Grade B — Hill Middle School (ranked No. 417)
• Grade B — Maniscalco Elementary School (PK, K-8) (ranked No. 424)
• Grade B — Lutz Elementary School (PK, K-8) (ranked No. 427)
• Grade B — Channelside Academy of Math & Science (ranked No. 454)
• Grade B — Turner/Bartels K-8 (ranked No. 458)
• Grade B — Kid's Community College Riverview South (K-8) (ranked No. 471)
• Grade B — Davidsen Middle School (ranked No. 474)
• Grade B — Sgt. Paul R. Smith Middle School (ranked No. 488)
• Grade B — Pivot Charter School (6-12) (ranked No. 504)
• Grade B — Ferrell Middle Magnet School (ranked No. 510)
• Grade B — Southshore Charter Academy (K-8) (ranked No. 541)
• Grade B — Florida Connections Academy (K-12) (ranked No. 560)
• Grade B — Literacy Leadership Technology Academy (K-8) (ranked No. 561)
• Grade B- — Redlands Christian Migrant Association Leadership Academy (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Creekside Charter Academy (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Independence Academy (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Orange Grove Middle Magnet School (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Pepin Academy (3-12) (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Rodgers Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Webb Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Waters Career Center (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Tomlin Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Franklin Middle Magnet School (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Avant Garde Academy Westchase (no ranking)
• Grade B- — SLAM Charter Middle/High School Tampa (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Monroe Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Madison Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Mann Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Advantage Academy of Hillsborough (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — New Springs Schools (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Simmons Career Center (PK, K-12) (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Legacy Preparatory Academy (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Pierce Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Turkey Creek Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Buchanan Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Woodmont Charter School (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Marshall Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Shields Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ — Kids Community College Southeast Middle Charter School (no ranking)
• Grade C+ —Bridgeprep Academy of Riverview (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C — Burnett Middle Schools (no ranking)
• Grade C — PACE Center for Girls Tampa (6-12) (no ranking)
• Grade C — Memorial Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C — Pizzo Elementary School (PK, K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C — Young Middle Magnet School (no ranking)
• Grade C — Greco Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C — Dowdell Middle Magnet School (no ranking)
• Grade C — South County Career Center (PK, K-12) (no ranking)
• Grade C — Sligh Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C — McLane Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C — Community Charter School of Excellence (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C — Adams Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C — Van Buren Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C — The Collaboratory Preparatory Academcy (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C — Giunta Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C — Jennings Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade C- — Sulphur Springs Elementary School (PK, K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade C- — Village of Excellence Academy Middle School (no ranking)
• Grade B+ — Plato Academy Tampa Charter School (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade B — Excelsior Prep Charter School (K-8) (no ranking)

Hillsborough County public, magnet and charter elementary schools:

• Grade A- — McKitrick Elementary School (ranked No. 98 in Florida)
• Grade A- — Pride Elementary School (ranked No. 106)
• Grade A- — Bevis Elementary School (ranked No. 110)
• Grade A- — MacFarlane Park Magnet School (ranked No. 113)
• Grade A- — Chiles Elementary School (ranked No. 114)
• Grade A- — Hillsborough Virtual School (ranked No. 122)
• Grade A- — Roland Park Magnet School (ranked No. 134)
• Grade A- — Lutz Preparatory School (K-8) (ranked No. 140)
• Grade A- — Gorrie Elementary School (ranked No. 154)
• Grade A- — Bryant Elementary School (ranked No. 162)
• Grade A- — Schwarzkopf Elementary School (ranked No. 166)
• Grade A- — Westchase Elementary School (ranked No. 175)
• Grade A- — Clark Elementary School (ranked No. 201)
• Grade A- — Roosevelt Elementary School (ranked No. 211)
• Grade A- — Grady Elementary School (ranked No. 218)
• Grade A- — Deer Park Elementary School (ranked No. 221)
• Grade A- — Stowers Elementary School (ranked No. 222)
• Grade A- — Mitchell Elementary School (ranked No. 259)
• Grade A- — Hammond Elementary School (ranked No. 260)
• Grade A- — Valrico Lake Advantage Academy (ranked No. 279)
• Grade A- — Northwest Elementary School (ranked No. 296)
• Grade A- — FishHawk Creek Elementary School (ranked No. 300)
• Grade A- — Winthrop Charter Schook (K-8) (ranked No. 304)
• Grade A- — Alafia Elementary School (ranked No. 313)
• Grade A- — Tampa Palms Elementary School (ranked No. 324)
• Grade A- — Sam Rampello Downtown Partnership School (K-8) (ranked No. 342)
• Grade A- — Mabry Elementary School (ranked No. 349)
• Grade A- — Hunter's Green Elementary School (ranked No. 386)
• Grade A- — Lithia Springs Elementary School (ranked No. 393)
• Grade A- — Ballast Point Elementary School (ranked No. 411)
• Grade B+ — Sunlake Academy of Math & Science (K-8) (ranked No. 426)
• Grade B+ — Horizon Charter School of Tampa (K-8) ranked No. 427)
• Grade B+ — Lincoln Elementary Magnet School (ranked No. 541)
• Grade B+ — Apollo Beach Elementary School (ranked No. 544)
• Grade B+ — Boyette Springs Elementary School (ranked No. 577)
• Grade B+ — Limona Elementary School (ranked No. 608)
• Grade B+ — Cimino Elementary School (ranked No. 622)
• Grade B+ — Learning Gate Community School (K-8) (ranked No. 629)
• Grade B+ — Tinker K-8 School (ranked No. 650)
• Grade B+ — Valrico Elementary School (ranked No. 666)
• Grade B+ — Anderson Elementary School (ranked No. 698)
• Grade B+ — Carrollwood Elementary School (ranked No. 700)
• Grade B+ — Citrus Park Elementary School (ranked No. 701)
• Grade B+ — Lowry Elementary School (ranked No. 721)
• Grade B+ — Trinity School for Children (K-8) (ranked No. 726)
• Grade B+ — Plato Academy Tampa Charter School (K-8) (no ranking)
• Grade B — Hillsborough Academy of Math & Science (K-8) (ranked No. 747)
• Grade B — Heritage Elementary School (ranked No. 761)
• Grade B — Walden Lake Elementary School (ranked No. 769)
• Grade B — Brooker Elementary School (ranked No. 775)
• Grade B — Claywell Elementary School (ranked No. 778)
• Grade B — Waterset Elementary School (ranked No. 782)
• Grade B — Cannella Elementary School (ranked No. 807)
• Grade B — Maniscalco Elementary School (PK, K-8) (ranked No. 824)
• Grade B —Nelson Elementary School (ranked No. 828)
• Grade B — Lutz Elementary School (ranked No. 835)
• Grade B — Essrig Elementary School (ranked No. 858)
• Grade B — Muller Elementary Magnet School (ranked No. 865)
• Grade B — Buckhorn Elementary School (ranked No. 880)
• Grade B — Channelside Academy of Math & Science (K-8) (ranked No. 885)
• Grade B — Turner/Bartels K-8 (ranked No. 894)
• Grade B — Kid's Community College Riverview South (K-8) (ranked No. 924)
• Grade B — Chiaramonte Elementary School (ranked No. 951)
• Grade B — Alexander Elementary School (ranked No. 954)
• Grade B — Lake Magdalene Elementary School (ranked No. 973)
• Grade B — Collins Elementary School (ranked No. 997)
• The following schools are not ranked:
• Grade B — Riverhills Elementary Magnet School
• Grade B — Mintz Elementary School
• Grade B — Southshore Charter School (K-8)
• Grade B — Sessums Elementary School
• Grade B — Florida Connections Academy (K-12)
• Grade B — Literacy Leadership Technology Academy (K-8)
• Grade B- — Westshore Elementary School
• Grade B- — Colson Elementary School
• Grade B- — Dickenson Elementary School
• Grade B- — Doby Elementary School
• Grade B- — Cork Elementary School
• Grade B- — Creekside Charter Academy (K-8)
• Grade B- — Frost Elementary School
• Grade B- — Independence Academy (K-8)
• Grade B- — Knights Elementary School
• Grade B- — Springhead Elementary School
• Grade B- — Pepin Academy (3-12)
• Grade B- — Symmes Elementary School
• Grade B- — Kid's Community College Charter School Southeast Hillsborough
• Grade B- — Egypt Lake Elementary School
• Grade B- — Waters Career Center (PK, K-12)
• Grade B- — Lomac Magnet Elementary School
• Grade B- — Bing Elementary School
• Grade B- — Lanier Elementary School
• Grade B- — West Tampa Elementary School
• Grade B- — Kingswood Elementary School
• Grade B- — Avant Garde Academy Westchase (K-8)
• Grade B- — Lopez Elementary School
• Grade B- — RCMA Wimauma Academy
• Grade B- — Summerfield Crossings Elementary School
• Grade B- — Oak Grove Elementary School
• Grade B- — Shore Elementary Magnet School
• Grade B- — Summerfield Elementary School
• Grade B- — Riverview Elementary School
• Grade B- — Warren Hope Dawson Elementary
• Grade B- — Henderson Hammock Charter School (K-8)
• Grade B- — BridgePrep Academy of Tampa (K-8)
• Grade B- — Cypress Creek Elementary School
• Grade B- — Bellamy Elementary School
• Grade B- — Lewis Elementary School
• Grade B- — East Tampa Academy
• Grade B- — Excelsior Prep Charter School (K-8)
• Grade C+ — Mendenhall Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Pinecrest Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Town & Country Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Seminole Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Patricia Sullivan Metropolitan Ministries Partnership School
• Grade C+ — Trapnell Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Walton Academy
• Grade C+ — Schmidt Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Advantage Academy of Hillsborough (PK, K-8)
• Grade C+ — Dunbar Elementary Magnet School
• Grade C+ — New Springs School (K-8)
• Grade C+ — Robinson Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Simmons Career Center (PK, K-12)
• Grade C+ — Crestwood Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Bailey Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Seffner Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Davis Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Corr Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Woodbridge Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Legacy Preparatory Academy (K-8)
• Grade C+ — Palm River Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Bay Crest Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Yates Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Morgan Wood Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Folsom Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Ippolito Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Woodmont Charter School (K-8)
• Grade C+ — Edison Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Gibsonton Elementary School
• Grade C+ — Bridgeprep Academy of Riverview (K-8)
• Grade C — Wilson Elementary School
• Grade C — Thompson Elementary School
• Grade C — Forest Hills Elementary School
• Grade C — Jackson Elementary School
• Grade C — Lee Elementary Magnet School
• Grade C — Clair-Mel Elementary School
• Grade C — Thonotosassa Elementary School
• Grade C — Burney Elementary School
• Grade C — Lamb Elementary School
• Grade C — Mango Elementary School
• Grade C — Temple Terrace Elementary School
• Grade C — Pizzo Elementary School
• Grade C — Bryan Elementary School
• Grade C — Dover Elementary School
• Grade C — Cleveland Elementary School
• Grade C — McDonald Elementary School
• Grade C — Reddick Elementary School
• Grade C — Miles Elementary School
• Grade C — Ruskin Elementary School
• Grade C — DeSoto Elementary School
• Grade C — Wimauma Elementary School
• Grade C — Witter Elementary School
• Grade C — Mort Elementary School
• Grade C — Washington Elementary School
• Grade C — South County Career Center (PK, K-12)
• Grade C — Twin Lakes Elementary School
• Grade C — Community Charter School of Excellence (K-8)
• Grade C — Shaw Elementary School
• Grade C — Van Buren Elementary School
• Grade C — The Collaboratory Preparatory Academy (K-8)
• Grade C — Graham Elementary School
• Grade C — Foster Elementary School
• Grade C — Oak Park Elementary School
• Grade C — Kenley Elementary School
• Grade C — Lockhart Elementary Magnet School
• Grade C — Broward Elementary School
• Grade C — Sheehy Elementary School
• Grade C — Kimbell Elementary School
• Grade C — Robles Elementary School
• Grade C- — James Elementary School
• Grade C- — Just Elementary School
• Grade C- — Pottery Elementary School
• Grade C- — Village of Excellence Academy
• Grade C- — Sulphur Springs Elementary School

Hillsborough County private schools rankings:

• Grade A+ — Berkeley Preparatory School (No. 1 best private high school in Tampa Bay)
• Grade A+ — Tampa Preparatory School (No. 3)
• Grade A+ — Carrollwood Day School (No. 4)
• Grade A+ — Academy of Holy Names (No. 5)
• Grade A+ — Jesuit High School (No. 7)
• Grade A+ — Lee Academy for Gifted Education (no ranking)
• Grade A — American Youth Academy (No. 10)
• Grade A — Paideia Classical Christian School (No. 11)
• Grade A — Universal Academy of Florida (No. 12)
• Grade A — Tampa Catholic High School (No. 13)
• Grade A — Seffner Christian Academy (No. 18)
• Grade A — Cambridge Christian School (No. 21)
• Grade A — Bayshore Christian School (No. 24)
• Grade A — Hope Christian School (no ranking)
• Grade A — Faith Outreach Academy (no ranking)
• Grade A- — Brandon Academy (no ranking)
• Grade B+— Providence Christian School (No. 32)
• Grade B+— Keystone Prep High School (No. 33)
• Grade B+— Tampa Bay Christian Academy (No. 37)
• Grade B+— Tampa Adventist Academy (No. 38)
• Grade B+— Bible Truth Ministries Academy (no ranking)
• Grade B+— Hillsborough Baptist School (no ranking)
• Grade B — Ruskin Christian School (No. 39)
• Grade B- — Foundation Christian Academy (no ranking)
• Grade B — Town 'N Country Christian Academy (no ranking)
• Grade B — Central Baptist Christian Academy (no ranking)
• Grade B- — Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School (no ranking)

Niche said its 2022 best schools rankings offer a more “personal” view of schools than its rankings in recent years. Significantly less importance was placed on SAT and ACT scores this year, Niche said. Any factor in its methodology that is related to test scores was reduced by one third.

The company combined ratings from students, alumni and parents with quantitative data from the U.S. Department of Education and other sources to evaluate teachers, resources, facility, extracurricular activity opportunities and other factors. Read more about the methodology here.

Across the country, Niche ranked 94,491 public schools, 2,489 private schools and 11,846 school districts to come up with its lists and rankings.

Top 5 Public High Schools:

1. The Davidson Academy in Reno, Nevada
2. The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
3. Massachusetts Academy for Math & Science School
4. Maggie Walker Governor’s School in Virginia
5. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Virginia

Top 5 Private High Schools:

1. Phillips Academy in Massachusetts
2. The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut
3. Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut
4. The College Preparatory School in California
5. Groton School in Massachusetts

Top 5 School Districts:

1. Adlai E. Stevenson High School District in Illinois
2. Glenbrook High School District in Illinois
3. Great Neck Public Schools in New York
4. Community High School District 128 in Illinois
5. Jericho Union Free School District in New York

See the full Niche rankings here