Hillsborough County Public Schools leaders said the district is on the cusp of an A rating and described measurable gains in student proficiency and attendance at a public briefing ahead of the school year.

Superintendent Van Ayers said the district was “one point away from an A-rated school district,” noting 98% of schools received an A, B or C this year, up from 84% two years ago. He said results will include a graduation-rate figure to be released in December that the district expects will be the highest in its history.

Why it matters: School grades, graduation rates and literacy measures are primary indicators used by the state and by parents to assess district performance and to guide resource allocation.

Officials highlighted literacy growth across grade levels, saying every cohort from grades 3 through 10 had proficiency above 50% for the first time in five years and that grades 3–5 outpaced the statewide average with a 3% increase in proficiency. “Reading proficiency has been a top priority for the school district,” Van Ayers said.

Principals Jeff Cooley of Kenley Elementary and Skyler Geier of Mendenhall Elementary described school-level practices behind improvements. Geier said weekly one-on-one lunchtime meetings with students helped English‑language learners set and track academic goals. Cooley said consistent, districtwide practices and teacher-led interventions produced gains, and noted “we are so proud, but we are not finished.”

Attendance remains a focus. Superintendent Van Ayers said roughly 218,000 students will return next week and the district is aiming to improve daily attendance; principal Emma Morgan described a school program, “NBA,” that rewards students with 95% or better monthly attendance and has helped lift that school’s rate to 93%.

Officials said chronic vacancies have declined: the district reported over 600 classroom vacancies and 150 bus driver vacancies about this time last year and said vacancies are now down by roughly 200 instructional positions and about 100 bus driver vacancies, with an estimated 2.6% teacher vacancy rate remaining. The superintendent credited the millage referendum for helping recruitment and retention.

No votes or policy changes were taken at the event; the remarks summarized data and local programs ahead of the school year.