/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FMFASV4KCNGFDIUHLWV4BUGGYQ.JPG "A Hernando County school bus is ready to make its daily routes.")
BACK TO SCHOOL 2021 | Click to scroll down for more
Hillsborough County
Florida’s third-largest school district
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PBP2P7TNWBGPBDMNMCFO2UL264.jpg "The entrance to the Hillsborough County school district's Instructional Service Center at 2920 N 40th St. in Tampa.")
Students: 218,943
Teachers: 14,135
Support staff: 9,502
Administrators: 988
Average teacher salary: $54,025
Budget: $3.2 billion
Schools: 135 elementary, 9 K-8, 43 middle, 28 high, 55 charter
Pinellas County
Florida’s eighth-largest school district
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VM4HXVUOLFHMVBGBV4RUV676SQ.png "Pinellas County School Board chairperson Carol Cook sits at the dais during a board meeting.")
Students: 96,068
Teachers: 6,604
Support staff: 4,744
Administrators: 484
Average teacher salary: $52,187
Budget: $1.67 billion
Schools: 76 elementary, 2 K-8, 19 middle, 17 high, 20 charter
Pasco County
Florida’s 10th-largest school district
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GMO4UAETXBDINBZNR4BUL2ADMA.jpg "Pasco County school superintendent Kurt Browning, right, speaks with School Board member Colleen Beaudoin before a meeting.")
Students: 77,109
Teachers: 4,951
Support staff: 4,651
Administrators: 384
Average teacher salary: $46,650
Budget: $1.52 billion
Schools: 50 elementary, 1 K-8, 16 middle, 14 high, 15 charter
Hernando County
Florida’s 29th-largest school district
![Hernando County school district headquarters. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times (2018)]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//gbLWM3WbMmyXpSoGqGjDQgNq1Gs=/620x0/filters:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/I37OC5WIIUI6TGNIIBWI6S7HAY.jpg "Hernando County school district headquarters. [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times (2018)]")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SFA5GAXLCZAUJOIDJCKMUZVQ7Q.JPG "Follow what’s happening in Tampa Bay schools")
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Explore all your optionsStudents: 22,621
Teachers: 1,548
Support staff: 1,205
Administrators: 103
Average teacher salary: $49,759
Budget: $305 million
Schools: 10 elementary, 3 K-8, 4 middle, 5 high, 3 charter
More back-to-school coverage
A NEW START: Masks will be voluntary and activities will return, but the pandemic is still with us.
GETTING A SHOT: Most area school districts send a strong message to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
LESSONS LEARNED: The pandemic forced schools to take a more digital approach. Some of it will stay.
HOW WE’RE FEELING: Tampa Bay parents and kids talk about the school year ahead.
DISCOUNT DAYS: This year’s back-to-school tax “holiday” lasts 10 days.
MEET THE PRINCIPALS: Many area schools will start the year with new leaders.
GETTING READY: From supply giveaways to festivals, a look at back-to-school events around the area.
SIGNING UP: Registering a child for school for the first time can involve many steps. What you need to know.
MARK THE DATE: Highlights of the 2021-22 school year in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/8e7b85c0-5b8f-4eec-a4bd-913a30a492f8.png "Thomas C. Tobin - Editor, Education and Clearwater")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/_jy6pN6VrKCFvEO-F4NH3NdBZ3Y=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/56THQYJPF5EO7HCS3376ISW2VU.jpg "A Florida school raised tuition because of vouchers. Will more follow?")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/hs7jVlXiHplksMngytCmhwLvvYA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NIMA2KV3VZA2HBGMQFFUJC6AP4.jpg "Florida school districts are losing superintendents. It’s tough out there.")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/MS7GjkdPSquGhUpIjIPvebNF2BI=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/AQSRBJYF2NBYZJ363LRPVEO4CU.jpg "Florida’s new voucher law allows private schools to boost revenue")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/qKdPiHZkmTGIk9tpojZcfZevTFg=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/J2TM3SFPBH47AKDPXQ74XTMK2U.jpg "Book banning isn’t a ‘culture war’ | Column")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/ksfOmy0i4iD7N3o4Ldw16Tze9Dc=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5KI54TSD5C3TWOOPE54GEJ2F2A.jpg "The 1 question SEC football coaches want answered about future schedules")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TPBFSKKVG4ANQDVPD3XPFLOVHI.jpg "Superintendent turnover creates ‘brain drain’ for Florida schools")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3WJB6SZFMZHFHAUBE5GOFBCZ2I.jpg "7 moments from that rowdy Hernando school board meeting this week")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GDY2G3C3RJAQ3IMM2XZLNYGXEQ.jpg "2 Florida universities get prestigious national honor")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/C3PNVXWFSBLXFI47TDNDHUDJTA.jpg "Pinellas eighth grader wins 2023 National Spelling Bee. ‘It feels surreal.’")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RTGVK4ZGHNF47ME4DORFS6ANDA.JPG "New College of Florida replaces its quirky mascot with another — a tree")