How Tampa schools are organized
Public schools across Tampa and unincorporated Hillsborough County, including Temple Terrace, Valrico and Westchase, are part of Hillsborough County Public Schools. The district serves about 206,841 students in 250 schools, making it the third-largest district in Florida and one of the largest in the country.
Addresses in Pasco County, which includes parts of Lutz and Odessa, are served by Pasco County Schools instead. Confirm the county first.
Step 1: check the assigned schools for the exact address
The district's School Zones Locator shows the elementary, middle and high school assigned to a Hillsborough County address. You can also click the map to see nearby application-based magnet and school choice options.
Do this for every home on your shortlist, because boundaries do not follow neighborhood names or ZIP codes. Two homes on either side of a street can be assigned to different schools. Listing descriptions sometimes quote schools that have since changed, so do not rely on them. Boundaries can also be redrawn, so recheck close to your contract date.
Step 2: check state grades and other measures
The Florida Department of Education publishes annual A to F grades for public schools, based on measures such as test achievement and learning gains, and for high schools graduation and acceleration. Look up the current and previous years' grades for each assigned school rather than relying on a single year. A school that moved from one grade to another in a single year may simply reflect a small change in results, while a steady record over several years tells you more.
Also look at the things a single grade does not show: class sizes, the programs offered (International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, career academies), transport, and before- and after-school care. Visit or call the school, and ask the district about capacity if a school is growing fast.
Examples of long-established Tampa high schools
These are examples of how school location and neighborhood fit together, not a ranking:
- H. B. Plant High School is in South Tampa on South Himes Avenue, founded in 1927, with 2,391 students in 2024-25. It was twice named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (1990 and 1997).
- Hillsborough High School is in Seminole Heights on North Central Avenue. Founded in 1882, it is the oldest public high school in the county and one of five district high schools with an International Baccalaureate program.
- Other district high schools serving Tampa-area neighborhoods include Thomas Jefferson, C. Leon King, Robinson, Sickles, Alonso, Freedom, Gaither and Wharton.
Programs such as IB are often application-based, so a home's zoned school and the program you want may not be the same school.
What homes cost in different parts of Tampa
School demand is one of many factors in home prices, so the numbers below are context, not a school premium. Zillow's typical home values for August 2026:
| Area | Typical value | 1-year change |
|---|---|---|
| ZIP 33629 (South Tampa) | $1,036,817 | 0.0% |
| ZIP 33609 (South Tampa) | $608,955 | -1.4% |
| ZIP 33618 (Carrollwood area) | $470,846 | +0.5% |
| ZIP 33647 (New Tampa) | $467,794 | -1.9% |
| Old Seminole Heights | $371,250 | -0.9% |
| Tampa (citywide) | $377,566 | -0.3% |
For more detail, see the Tampa ZIP code guide, the New Tampa guide and the Tampa housing market page.
Questions to settle before you buy for a school
- Which elementary, middle and high school does the School Zones Locator show for this exact address today?
- Are any boundary changes proposed for the next school year?
- If you want a magnet or choice program, what are the application dates, criteria and transport options?
- What are the school's last two or three state grades?
- How long is the drive or bus ride at school times?
A local agent can help you shortlist homes by school zone, but the district's tools are the final word. If you are relocating, the Tampa relocation guide covers timing.
Common questions
How do I find which school a Tampa address is zoned for?+
Use the Hillsborough County Public Schools School Zones Locator. Type in the address to see the assigned elementary, middle and high school, and click the map to view nearby magnet and choice options. Check each home separately, because boundaries do not follow neighborhood names or ZIP codes and can change.
How big is the Tampa school district?+
Tampa is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools, with about 206,841 students in 250 schools. It is the third-largest school district in Florida and one of the largest in the United States. Homes in the Pasco County parts of Lutz and Odessa are served by Pasco County Schools instead.
Which Tampa high schools have an IB program?+
Hillsborough High School in Seminole Heights, founded in 1882, is one of five Hillsborough County public high schools with an International Baccalaureate program. IB and other magnet programs are often application-based, so check the district's current list of programs, entry criteria and deadlines rather than assuming your zoned school offers one.
Where can I see Florida school grades?+
The Florida Department of Education publishes annual A to F grades for public schools, based on measures such as achievement and learning gains, plus graduation and acceleration for high schools. Look at several years for each school your address is zoned for, and visit the school to understand what the grade does not show.
Do Tampa school zones follow ZIP codes or neighborhoods?+
No. Hillsborough County school attendance zones are drawn street by street and do not match ZIP codes or neighborhood names, so homes a short distance apart can be assigned to different schools. Always check the exact address in the district's School Zones Locator, and recheck before closing in case boundaries change.
Sources
- Hillsborough County Public Schools: School zones locator
- Hillsborough County Public Schools: Maps
- Wikipedia: Hillsborough County Public Schools
- Wikipedia: H. B. Plant High School
- Wikipedia: Hillsborough High School (Tampa, Florida)
- Wikipedia: Lutz, Florida
- Zillow Research: Zillow Home Value Index (August 2026 data)