Steinbrenner High School in Lutz is one of five Hillsborough County high schools designated as a 2025-26 Florida School of Excellence by the Florida State Board of Education.

The state board approved the designation Wednesday, Oct. 14, recognizing 38 Hillsborough County public schools, according to a district announcement released Thursday, Oct. 15. The honor recognizes schools whose sustained academic performance places them among the highest-performing in Florida.

Steinbrenner joined Bloomingdale, Newsome, Plant and Sickles high schools on the list. The other 33 schools include 21 elementary schools, eight middle schools and four K-8 campuses.

Academic performance sets Steinbrenner apart

Under Florida law, a school qualifies for the designation when its school-grade performance ranks at or above the 80th percentile among schools serving the same grade levels for at least two of the previous three school years.

Steinbrenner's academic record reflects strong performance compared with statewide averages.

The school had 2,396 students in 2025 and a reported graduation rate of 96%, compared with the 88% state average listed by Public School Review.

The same source reports that 69% of Steinbrenner students achieved proficiency in math and 67% in reading, compared with statewide averages of 52% in both subjects. Those proficiency figures are based on 2023 testing data.

The Schools of Excellence program, established in 2017, provides qualifying schools with additional administrative flexibility, including certain provisions related to class-size compliance and instructional operations.

The designation is intended to give high-performing schools greater flexibility to maintain academic standards and serve their students.

Three neighboring Lutz schools earn recognition

Superintendent Van Ayres credited students, educators and families across the district for the recognition.

"This achievement belongs to our students, teachers, support staff, school leaders, and families who work together to create outstanding learning environments for our students," Ayres said in the district's announcement.

Steinbrenner High opened Aug. 25, 2009, and was named for the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a Tampa resident.

The school, at 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, shares its immediate campus area with two other schools that received the designation.

McKitrick Elementary School and Martinez Middle School, both adjacent to Steinbrenner, also earned recognition as Florida Schools of Excellence.

Their inclusion means all three neighboring campuses received the state designation for the 2025-26 school year.