Hillsborough student enrollment soon may rank above that of the Aloha State.
By MELANIE AVE
Published August 28, 2003
TAMPA - Nestled right between Hawaii and Detroit, you'll find Hillsborough County, showing off its rank as the nation's 10th largest school district.
A lowly 11th no more, according to American School & University, a trade magazine based in Overland Park, Kan. New rankings are expected next month, but local school officials believe Hillsborough will hang on to the big No. 10 for at least another year.
But what about after that? Watch out blue Hawaii. "We will pass them," insists Hillsborough deputy superintendent Randy Poindexter.
If that trend holds true, apparently not even an entire state can compete with Hillsborough, as it grows by about 5,000 students a year.
Two weeks ago, the fifth day of the school year, the district had already grown by 6,400 students over last, for a total enrollment of 175,000. By next week, enrollment is expected to top 180,000.
Poindexter has been heard touting the 10th ranking in recent weeks, at School Board and parent meetings.
Hillsborough's debut in the top 10 is all but official among the district's top brass.
"We were 12th then 11th then 10th," Poindexter said. "We grew three ranks in three years."
Poindexter said Hillsborough passed Detroit last year and Dallas the year before, two urban districts losing enrollment.
If Hillsborough trumps Hawaii, next in line is Philadelphia, another shrinking urban district, Poindexter said.
"I told the superintendent by the year 2007, I think we'll break 200,000," he said. "At that point we will probably be eighth."
The largest school district in the nation is New York City, with 1-million students, followed by Los Angeles at 720,000.
Joining Hillsborough in the top 10 are two south Florida counties; Miami-Dade at fourth and Broward County, fifth. (Pinellas ranks at 21st and Pasco 49th.)
Of course with growth comes the need for schools.
Hillsborough County has been deep into a growth mode for the last five years, building schools as fast as it can, primarily in the north and southeast.
Last year, nine new schools opened. Eight opened this August. Seven more are opening next year.
A poster child for the burgeoning district is Bevis Elementary School in southern Hillsborough, which opened in 2000. Each year since, it has added 350 students. With 1,000 students now enrolled, it is considered too crowded and ready for relief.
A second school is being built in the area to absorb some of the overflow.
As for the future, growth, growth and more growth seems all but certain.
Watch out Hawaii.
"Housing construction is way up," Poindexter said. "People are buying homes left and right. Everything I read says it's going to continue for the next 20 years."
But just in case you're not too sure about this No. 10 business, you can relax knowing another ranking system exists.
The National Center for Education Statistics considers Hillsborough as the nation's 11th largest school district. The big difference between the two lists? American School & University magazine does not include Puerto Rico. The federal agency does.
Still, some, including School Board member Jack Lamb, theorize that Hillsborough could be even higher than either list states.
"When you think about about it, we're really No. 9 in terms of school districts," Lamb said. "Hawaii is a state system."
