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Hillsborough schools report record 88% graduation rate; new CFO announced
Summary
Superintendent Ayers told the board the district achieved an 88% graduation rate for the most recent year, the highest in district history outside COVID waiver years. The board also learned the district will welcome Jamie Lewis as chief financial officer on Jan. 21.
Superintendent Ayers told the Hillsborough County School Board on Jan. 14 that the district reached an 88% graduation rate for the most recent year, a 1.8 percentage-point increase from the prior year and the highest rate the district has recorded outside of COVID-era benchmark waivers.
"We had an 88% graduation rate," Superintendent Ayers said during his updates, adding that state testing benchmarks had been more rigorous this year and that the increase reflected coordinated work across teachers, staff and families. "This milestone is a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of our educators, students, families, and staff, as well as the steadfast support and leadership of our school board."
Ayers credited a range of board-approved programs and interventions for the improvement, including Chalk Talk (SAT/ACT curriculum supports), FEV high-dose tutoring for at-risk readers, Edgenuity credit-recovery courses, PENDA interactive science supports, expanded AVID programming, annual summer learning programs, and strengthened college-and-career partnerships.
Board members also noted subgroup gains. Member Gray said the district saw increases for English-language learners (up 3.1 percentage points), Hispanic students (up 2.2 points) and Black students (up 1.8 points); he credited sustained, systemwide efforts for the gains.
In personnel news, Ayers announced Jamie Lewis will join the district as chief financial officer on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Lewis was described in the superintendent’s remarks as a finance and operations executive with experience in higher education; his start date and academic credentials (B.A. in accounting and an MBA from Saint Leo University) were provided.
The superintendent also highlighted individual student and staff recognitions in recent weeks, including a presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching received by an IB teacher at Strawberry Crest High School and an NROTC scholarship awarded to a senior at Steinbrenner High School.
Board members welcomed the news and said the rate increase was a visible sign of progress as the district pursues its long-term graduation goals.
