Eight of Eleven New Tampa Public Schools Earn "A" Grades from Florida DOE

NEW TAMPA, FL — New Tampa's public schools turned in a strong showing in this year's Florida Department of Education school grades, with eight of the area's eleven Hillsborough County public schools earning an "A."

The Standouts 

Tampa Palms Elementary was among the notable improvements, climbing from a "B" in 2025 to an "A" this year.

Room to Grow 

Not every school in the area matched that pace. Turner-Bartels K-8 School dropped from an "A" in 2025 to a "B" this year. Wharton High also earned a "B," an improvement after receiving a "C" in both 2024 and 2025. Freedom High received a "C" for a second consecutive year.

The Bigger Picture 

The strong showing for New Tampa schools mirrors a milestone for the district as a whole: Hillsborough County Public Schools earned its first "A" district grade from the Florida DOE in more than a decade, following back-to-back "B" grades the two years prior. Statewide, 51% of schools earned an A this year, with Pasco County Schools also improving from a B to an A.

Why It Matters for Wesley Chapel 

While Wesley Chapel itself sits in Pasco County, many families in the area's easternmost neighborhoods, along with those commuting or considering New Tampa schools, watch these grades closely given how closely the two communities' school zones border each other.

📍 New Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL 

📅 2025-26 school grades released by the Florida Department of Education 

🌐 hillsboroughschools.org for full school-by-school results