Hillsborough County Public Schools posted a record 92.8% graduation rate across its traditional high schools, according to the district's 2025-2026 Impact Report released Friday, Oct. 2.

The district also reported a record 71% college and career acceleration rate, or CCA, a measure of students completing advanced coursework or earning industry certifications before graduation.

Both figures are the highest recorded by the district.

District earns first A in more than a decade

The milestones cap a year of academic gains for Hillsborough County Public Schools.

The Florida Department of Education awarded HCPS its first A district grade in more than a decade on July 1.

Of 214 traditional schools that received state grades, 127 earned an A or B. The number of A-rated schools increased to 74 from 70, while B-rated schools increased to 53 from 44.

For the first time in district history, every school in its Transformation Network, a group that includes historically low-performing campuses, earned an A, B or C.

Superintendent Van Ayres credited employees across the district for the results.

"Behind every number in this report is a student who worked hard and a team of dedicated employees who helped make that success possible, from teachers and school leaders to support professionals, bus drivers, cafeteria teams, safety personnel, and district staff," Ayres said in the report's release.

Steinbrenner reflects broader gains

For Lutz and Odessa families, Steinbrenner High School has also posted strong academic measures.

Steinbrenner recorded a 97.2% graduation rate for the 2024-2025 school year, as WFLA reported.

The school also appeared in the 2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, released Aug. 18. Hillsborough County Public Schools said all of its eligible high schools received recognition in the rankings, with nine placing among Florida's top 200 public high schools.

The district's traditional high school graduation rate increased from 90.9% for the previous graduating class to 92.8%, a gain of 1.9 percentage points.

The 2025-2026 Impact Report also highlighted continued gains in reading and math proficiency among students in grades 3 through 8.