The Impact
8 years of facility investment and what it’s meant for Hillsborough students.
A Milestone Year
Stronger Schools Support Stronger Student Outcomes
This July, Hillsborough County Public Schools earned an A district grade from the Florida Department of Education, its first A rating since 2014. The grade followed a year of record student achievement, including the highest graduation rate in district history and a rising college and career acceleration rate, meaning more students are graduating ready for what comes next.
Our facilities work and our academic work are connected. The Half-Penny Promise doesn’t pay for teachers, curriculum, or academic programs. What it does is provide the physical environment where successful teaching and learning take place.
A
HCPS district grade, first time since 2014
127/214
Traditional schools earned an A or B this year
90.9%
Record graduation rate
71%
Record AP pass rate
Why It Matters
Why Facilities Matter to Learning
In 2017, the school year before voters approved the Half-Penny Promise, about 44% of Hillsborough schools earned an A or B. In 2026, that number is 60%.
A-Rated Schools
70
74
B-Rated Schools
44
53
Year Over Year
D/F-Rated Schools
35
2
Since the Half-Penny Era Began
National research supports the connection. Studies have found that basic infrastructure improvements, particularly HVAC and environmental upgrades, can improve student achievement. Excessive classroom heat has been shown to hurt learning, and reliable air conditioning can significantly reduce that effect. In Florida, that makes A/C more than a comfort issue: it’s part of an environment where students can focus and learn. Research has also linked poor HVAC, leaking roofs, deferred maintenance, and poor indoor air quality to higher absenteeism and lower academic performance.
Students cannot do their best work in overheated classrooms, under leaking roofs, or with constant facility disruptions. Teachers drive student achievement. The Half-Penny Promise helps make that achievement.
The Bottom Line
Two Investments, One Goal
As Hillsborough has invested in its people, instruction, and academic programs, the Half-Penny Promise has allowed the district to simultaneously address decades of deferred maintenance and aging infrastructure. Both efforts support the same goal: giving students the best possible opportunity to succeed.
On November 3, vote yes on Referendum 3 to keep that work going.
