Hillsborough High School (Tampa, Florida)
Hillsborough High School is the oldest high school in Hillsborough County, Florida. It is also one of the oldest high schools in the South of the United States. As of about 1990,IB program was added in Hillsborough (hhsib.org)and in King High School.
Hillsborough High School was established in 1885 on Franklin St., in a very small building. General class size was 19 students with 1 teacher. After several relocations, Hillsborough moved to its current location (5000 North Central Avenue, 33603) in 1927. Hillsborough's exterior is known to be one of the most beautiful and historic in the Seminole Heights region of Tampa, Florida. It's capacity was said to be able to hold over 2,000 students.
Throughout many graduating classes, full of students who have turned into politics, writers, artists and other successes, the school's halls hold many memories and many moments of said and done history and history in the making.Although Hillsborough is currently a suffering D school, like most schools, it goes through its up and down moments.
Renovation
In the 1980's, the Alumni Building, commonly referred to as the 400 Hall, was added to the school. In around 1995, another addition was made, the 500 Building/English Hall, in which most 10th grade homerooms and English classes are at this time.
The school is now going through renovations to make the building look like it did in 1960 and before. However, this has caused students to have to learn in portable classrooms. Renovation is said to be entering Phase 3 and is supposed to be complete by the end of the 2006 term. Major improvements from the renovation include removing the tiles, and restoring the wood floors throughout all of the original building, restoring the ceilings to their original "towering" height (in all classrooms, hallways, and the cafeteria), building a new gym, fully refurbishing all music rooms, and installing centralized air-conditioning in all rooms, as well as re-wiring (behind the walls). Other minor changes include new desks, shelving (or lack of), for teachers, refurbished restrooms, and finally, recoated hallway floors.
HISTORY, TRADITION, PRIDE
Hillsborough High School, one of the south's oldest high schools and the oldest high school in the county, is full of history, tradition, and pride. While its entity as a school probably dates closer to 1880, a room over a Franklin Street livery stable in 1885 is recognized as the first location of this famous school. After several moves, the present building was opened in 1927.
Beginning with the first teacher, who also served as principal, and the first graduating class of four students in 1886, the students, faculty and administrators of Hillsborough High School have established a framework of history, tradition, spirit, and pride that sets HHS students apart from students of other schools. One of the oldest traditions is the wearing of red and black, the school's colors, every Friday to show spirit and unity. Hillsborough has illustrious alumni with records of service as State Attorneys, Senators, Judges, State Representatives, Mayors of Tampa, professional athletes, educators, School Board Members, actors, authors, lecturers, sports announcers, entrepreneurs, and County Commissioners and Council Members.
Hillsborough produced the first high school newspaper in Florida in 1889 and the first yearbook in 1911. In 1913 and 1914, Hillsborough's basketball and baseball teams defeated teams from the University of Florida and Southern College. In 1929, Hillsborough won the high school national football championship.
The Alma Mater, the "Red and Black," was written in 1923. Students purchased the Tower Clock in 1949 to honor Hillsborough's casualties in World War II. The names of Hillsborough students who were killed were placed on a plaque under the tower. The Terrier Creed was written in 1954; it received much publicity as the only one of its kind in the South. The bronze terrier that guards the trophy case was originally placed in the courtyard. The sacred "H" on the patio was dedicated in 1974 in honor of Mr. Hamilton, an assistant principal. Various groups provided the stained glass windows in the auditorium in 1963.
Mission Statement
We will prepare all students for the world they will encounter after high school.
Dual Enrollment
Hillsborough Community College and Hillsborough County Schools offer everyone the opportunity to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Students who meet the entrance requirements are eligible. Hillsborough High School allows its students to take College Reading, Career Decision Making, Psychology of Personal Growth, Astronomy, Criminal Law, Anthropology, Intro Black Studies, Meteorology, Humanities, and Freshman English at Hillsborough Community College.
International Baccalaureate
This is a rigorous pre-university course of study that meets the needs of the highly motivated and academically talented high school student. It provides students with the intellectual, social, and cultural preparation necessary for the adult world. Students must meet the entrance requirements and maintain standards to be eligible to participate in the program. 80% of all IB students earned their IB diplomas in 2004.
Honors Program
Hillsborough High School was ranked 27th in Newsweek when the magazine did an article on the top 100 Advanced Placement Programs. The following advanced placement and/or honors courses are provided: Calculus, Algebra I, Algebra II, Analytical Geometry, Trigonometry, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Anatomy/Physiology, English Literature and Composition, Spanish, French, Latin, German, AP Art, American History, European History, World History, Economics, American Government, Accounting, and Word Processing.
Current Renovation
The current renovation of Hillsborough High School will focus in Area 100 (the original buildings). Portables have been placed in front of the school as temporary replacements for classrooms under construction. The construction consists of restoration, replacement, renovations, upgrading, intallation and electrical renovations. The construction should be finished by the summer of 2006.
Extracurricular Activities and sports
Notable alumni
Senior Pranks
1990- taking the "chief's head" of rival school (Chamberlain) and throwing it into the Hillsborough River
2001- Switching License plates among cars in the teacher parking lot.
2006- Freeing hundreds of live mice into the auditorium, half painted red, half painted black.
2005-2006 School Year Administration
Principals
Principal: Dr. William Orr (2004-present)
- Tom Rao (200?-2004)
- Linda Kipley (19??-200?)
Assistant Principals
- Assistant Principal for Administration: Ms. Bertha Baker
- Assistant Principal for Curriculum: Mr. George Fekete
- Assistant Principal for Magnet Curriculum: Ms. Donna Scheirer
Assistant Principals for Student Affairs
- Assistant Principal for Student Affairs: Ms. Tee Solomon
- Assistant Principal for Student Affairs: Mr. Quasar Givens
- Assistant Principal for Student Affairs: Mr. Dwight Wood
Features near Hillsborough High
- 1 Block West of the school there is an amazing bread shop that services a large section of Tampa with cuban bread.(Mauricio Faedo's)
- The Hillsborough River is a nearby natural beauty, that is an asset to the city.
Awards
In 2005, Newsweek magazine ranked Hillsborough as the number 10 school in the nation, causing many to question its ranking technique. Hillsborough has also won numerous sporting awards in Football, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country Running, Track and Field, Debate, Rowing, Orchestra, and Band, among others.