Hillsborough County Back To School Guide 2021-22

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — The 2021-22 school year is just around the corner, and Patch has put together the information every parent with a school-age child needs to know.

The Hillsborough County School District is the seventh-largest school district in the nation, encompassing 250 schools with 223,305 students.

Niche, the national website that ranks primary schools, colleges and universities, gives the Hillsborough school district an overall grade of B.

• Academics - B
• Teachers - C
• Clubs and activities - B+
• Diversity - A+
• College Prep - A
• Health and safety - C+

Niche's 2021 Best School Survey ranked Hillsborough County No. 1 out of 69 for the most diverse school districts in Florida; No. 6 of 69 for best school district for athletes in Florida; and No. 24 of 69 for best school district in Florida.

Coronavirus Protocols

Students will find things a lot more relaxed this school year as the district restores some normalcy to the school day after last year's strict coronavirus protocols.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order preventing Florida's school districts from mandating that students wear face masks. Schools that don't adhere to his order risk losing state funding.

In light of this, the Hillsborough County School District is making masks optional this school year, however, students age 11 and under who are not eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine will be encouraged to wear masks. The school district will provide free masks to students.

“As of right now, masks are optional,” Superintendent Addison Davis said, adding that the policy could change if the district sees a surge in positive cases. "We’ll continue to watch that process. If there is a spike in any way, shape or form, then we’ll come back to reconsider if adjustments need to be made, especially for those who don’t have the ability to be vaccinated.”

The district is encouraging students age 12 and up to get a coronavirus vaccination before returning to school Aug. 10.

The school district will continue its more stringent cleaning and disinfectant practices for classrooms, auditoriums, cafeterias and buses including encouraging students to wash their hands often and use hand sanitizer. While students won't be allowed to crowd into hallways between classes, the rigid 6-foot social distancing guidelines will be relaxed.

Additionally, the school district has lifted restrictions on extracurricular activities, sports programs and school concerts and theater productions, and is permitting full-capacity crowds at sporting events and school functions.

Schools will still use the plexiglass shields and other safety equipment in the school cafeterias.

The school district will continue to offer school-based home instruction, but will no longer require teachers to instruct students at home and in the classroom simultaneously. Parents also will have the option of enrolling their students in Hillsborough Virtual School, an option offered long before the pandemic.

To make it easier to do contact tracing in case a student tests positive for the coronavirus, students will continue to have assigned seating in classrooms, the cafeteria and on the buses.

Click here for the protocols used if a student or staff member is exposed to the coronavirus after receiving the vaccination.

Coronavirus protocols for visitors is available here.

Protocols if a student is confirmed to have the coronavirus are here.

Protocols if a staff member is confirmed to have the coronavirus are here.

School Calendar

• Students’ First Day of School - Aug. 10, 2021
• Labor Day Holiday/Non-Student Day - Sept. 6, 2021
• End of First Grading Period - Oct. 8, 2021
• *Veterans Day/Non-Student Day - Nov, 11, 2021
• *Fall Break/Non-Student Days - Nov. 22 – 26, 2021
• Students Return to School - Nov. 29, 2021
• End of Second Grading Period (End of First Semester) - Dec. 17, 2021
• Winter Break/Non-Student Days - Dec- 20 to Dec. 31, 2021
• Non-Student Day - Jan. 3, 2022
• Students Return to School - Jan. 4, 2022
• Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday/Non-Student Day- Jan. 17, 2022
• Non-Student Day - Feb. 18, 2022
• Presidents’ Day/Non-Student Day - Feb. 21, 2022
• Non-Student Day - March 7, 2022
• End of Third Grading Period - March 11, 2022
• Spring Break/Non-Student Days - March 14-18, 2022
• Non-Student Day - March 21, 2022
• Students Return to School - March 22, 2022
• Non-Student Day - April 15, 2022
• Last Day of School/End of Fourth Grading Period (End of Second Semester) - May 27, 2022

* Hurricane Day(s) if needed: Nov. 11, 22-24 and 26, 2021
Student Early Release Days - Students are released one hour early every Monday.
On the last day of school, May 27, 2022, students are released 2 1/2 hours early.

Bell Times, Testing, Report Cards

Every student must have a student release and emergency information card on file. Click here to fill out a card.

For each school's start and end times, click here.

All parents should set up a Spot parent portal account here. This is where parents receive important school information, messages from teachers and student assignment details.

Test results and report cards are available on a separate site. Click here to register.

Registering New Students

For parents who are new to the Hillsborough County School District and wish to register their children, the district requires:

• a report card or a copy of a transcript from the last school attended;
• at least two documents verifying a parent or guardian’s address. This may include a property tax receipt or proof of a homestead exemption; a current electric bill; a contract for purchase of a home; a warranty deed or a lease agreement.
• proof of the student’s birth date;
• records showing proof of proper immunization.

For parents who are enrolling in a Hillsborough school from a private school or school outside Florida, the district requires:

• proof of physical examination by a licensed health care provider or the county’s health department within the last 12 months;
• a report card or transcript from the last school attended;
• at least two documents verifying a parent or guardian’s address. This may include a property tax receipt or proof of a homestead exemption, a current electric bill, a contract for purchase of a home, a warranty deed or a lease agreement.
• proof of the student’s birth date from one of the following sources: a birth certificate; a baptismal certificate or Bible record accompanied by parents’ sworn affidavit; an insurance policy on the child that has been in force at least two years; a passport or certificate of arrival in the United States; a school record from showing the date of birth; or a parent’s sworn affidavit accompanied by a certificate of examination by a health officer or doctor.
• records showing proof of proper immunization.

Click here for a registration checklist.

The requirements for immunization are based on a child’s grade. For a detailed list of required and recommended immunizations, visit hillsboroughschools.org/immunizations.

School Options

All students must attend the school in the boundary area in which their parents or guardians live or have a Homeless Affidavit, unless they have changed their assignment through the Hillsborough Choice Options. To find your child's assigned school, click here.

There are three application periods during the year for a student to apply for choice or magnet schools. Click here for choice and magnet school information.

Student also have the option to attend Hillsborough Virtual School. For more information, click here.

Additionally, parents have the option of sending their children to one of the 54 charter schools in the county free of charge.

• Charter schools are independent public schools operated by a nonprofit organization.
• They hire their own teachers, design their own academic program and control their own finances.
• They have their own board of directors that make decisions for the school.
• Some charter schools choose to hire a management company to support school functions.
• The Charter Schools Office, at the direction of the superintendent and the Hillsborough County School Board, provides direct oversight of local charter schools. Click herefor more information.

The Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Department provides support and services to students with disabilities who are eligible for special education services.

Hillsborough County Public Schools serve more than 30,000 students with disabilities, ages birth through 21, in more than 250 schools.

Eligible students are provided services based on their Individual Education Plan, drawn up based on the student's unique needs. The ESE Department provides the student with individualized services, special classes and accommodations for disabilities.

Before- And After-School Programs

The schools will continue to provide affordable before- and after-school supervised programs for students with working parents at 148 elementary and middle schools.

Both programs offer supervision and enrichment activities for children, kindergarten through eighth grade, along with a daily snack. Activities include homework assistance, academic enrichment, art, crafts, and games, outside games and field trips.

All staff members, which include district-certified teachers, retired personnel, college students and high school students participating in on-the-job training, are screened and fingerprinted through the school district’s human resources department. All students are only released to authorized persons indicated on the registration form.

The after-school programs are available from student dismissal to 6 p.m. on school days and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on non-school days. The before-school program (in participating schools) is open from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on school days.