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Hillsborough tallies up the most crowded, most empty schools

The five-year facilities work plan shows some middle schools continue to operate half-empty,
 
Wilson Middle School in South Tampa was the most crowded school in the Hillsborough County district with 668 students, according to a district report. [HCPS]
Wilson Middle School in South Tampa was the most crowded school in the Hillsborough County district with 668 students, according to a district report. [HCPS]
Published July 24, 2019

As required, the Hillsborough County School District prepared a tentative five-year plan for school improvements.

With money rolling in from the new half-cent sales surtax, the plan is not as hypothetical as it used to be.

Robinson High School will see a 300-student classroom addition. in 2020-21, Tampa Heights Elementary (formerly Robert E. Lee) will be rebuilt following the devastating fire of 2017.

A new high school is expected to open in August 2020 at Balm Road and US Highway 301. Also next year, the district plans a 500-student middle school at the high school site and a 1,000-student elementary school in the Belmont section of south Hillsborough.

The document includes the full list of referendum-financed projects, budgeting conservatively at $120 million a year in receipts. About half the money is going to air conditioning replacements and overhauls.

Utilization rates are also included, based on 2018-19 enrollment:

These schools were filled beyond capacity:

Wilson Middle (114 percent), Gorrie Elementary (110), Coleman Middle (109), Mitchell and Miles Elementary and Bloomingdale High (105); Mabry Elementary (104); Ballast Point Elementary, Barrington Middle and Blake High (103); Shields Middle, Lennard and Steinbrenner High (102); Shore Elementary, Newsome and Plant High (101 percent). Keep in mind that they vary in size; Wilson was built for 587 students, and had 668 students last year. The clear pattern: High schools are crowded, as are popular schools in South Tampa and in the fast-growing suburbs around Ruskin.

Here are the schools with extra space:

Lockhart Elementary at 44 percent (built for 997 students but enrolling 439); Just Elementary and McLane Middle (45); Greco Middle (48), Sligh Middle (51), Giunta and Smith Middle (53); Morgan Woods and Town & Country Elementary (58); Kingswood Elementary (59), West Tampa and Riverview Elementary, and Dowdell Middle (60), and four middle schools that were at 61 percent capacity: Franklin Boys Preparatory, Memorial, Madison and Rodgers.