Recently, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) and the Florida Department of Education released its 2019-2020 graduation rates. HCPS reached a graduation rate of 88.8%, the highest in district history! Despite the inherent challenges the pandemic brought upon Hillsborough County students, including remote learning in the Spring, the students were able to achieve at high levels while becoming full-option graduates.
HCPS demonstrated an increase from the previous year, climbing from a graduation rate of 86.2% in 2018-2019. Over the last five years, the district’s graduation rate has risen nearly 10 percentage points as educators strive to close achievement gaps, providing an environment where more learners than ever receive post-secondary opportunities.
“I am incredibly proud of our students along with our teachers, school counselors, support professionals, school-based leaders, and parents who have made this new milestone a reality for Hillsborough County Public Schools. These tireless efforts resulted in increased graduation rates amidst one of the most difficult academic years in history. We share this success with our community, who will reap the benefits from our graduates who are choosing to attend universities, technical colleges, entering the workforce or military. Hillsborough County Public Schools is committed to providing a world-class education and works diligently to prepare students for life,” said Superintendent Addison Davis.
HCPS continues to narrow the achievement gap demonstrating key upward trends in subgroup data points, including African-American, Hispanic, White, Multiracial, At-Risk, SWD (Students With Disabilities), ELL (English Language Learners), and economically disadvantaged students. This data demonstrates educators are excelling at preparing all learners for graduation by continually pushing cognitive demands to meet grade-level expectations.
Over the past five years, the graduation rates for the population of ELLs and SWD students have risen over 20%, a remarkable achievement for our learners. The county’s Hispanic student graduation rate has continued to climb, reaching an all-time-high of 88%. Similarly, the Black student population has seen tremendous gains over the past five years, rising nearly 13% to 82.3%.
