One of the biggest reasons families move to Westchase is the schools. And the neighborhood schools genuinely are excellent — I cover the zoned public schools in detail on my Westchase schools page. But here is what a lot of families do not realize when they arrive: the zoned public school is just one of many options available to you in Hillsborough County.
Hillsborough runs one of the largest and most flexible school choice systems in the country. Whether you want a specialized academic program, a faith-based education, an online setup, or something in between, the options are there. The key is understanding how each one works and how the application process runs. Here is the honest breakdown.
Attendance Area Schools (Your Zoned Schools)
These are the standard public schools assigned by the Hillsborough County School Board based on your home address. Westchase and the surrounding Northwest neighborhoods are zoned for top-quality schools at every grade level: Westchase, Lowry, Mary Bryant, and Deer Park elementary schools; Davidsen and Farnell middle schools; and Alonso and Sickles high schools.
Which specific schools serve your home depends on your exact address — and this is the single most important thing to confirm before you buy. Two homes a few streets apart can be zoned differently. Use the Hillsborough County "Find Your Neighborhood School" tool, or just ask me and I will pull the zoning for any Westchase address. Full detail lives on the Westchase schools page.
Choice Schools
Choice Schools let families apply to non-magnet public schools that have open seats, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, or the Hillsborough Virtual K-12 program. There is also a separate "Choice Hardship" path for families with a documented hardship who need a school that is otherwise capped — but those requests are limited, not automatic, and only granted under extreme documented circumstances.
School Choice Attractor Programs
These are focused academies built around a central theme — everything from aerospace engineering to finance. The coursework and projects all flow from that emphasis. To be considered at the middle and high school level, students need to meet proficiency in math or reading on standardized tests. The Elementary Center for Gifted Studies has its own additional entrance criteria.
Magnet Schools
Magnet schools are public elementary, middle, and high schools offering a theme-based curriculum with real-world application. Among Westchase families, the STEM and IB (International Baccalaureate) programs are especially popular — Sickles High, your zoned high school, runs an IB programme. But magnets span a huge range of interests: animal science, architecture, performing arts, and more. Elementary and middle magnet selection is lottery-based; high school magnet applications are criteria-based.
Private Schools
Private options in the area range from traditional and faith-based schools to parochial and specialized special-education schools. Unlike public schools, private schools are governed in many different ways — some by parent-elected boards, some by churches or religious bodies, some by trustees, some as proprietary schools. According to the Florida Department of Education, there are 165 private schools in Hillsborough County serving more than 27,000 students. Families choose private for all kinds of reasons: faith-based instruction, a specialized curriculum, or a smaller, tighter community feel. Researching the teaching philosophy and structure of each is the right first step.
Virtual Schools
Online education has become mainstream. Hillsborough Virtual School (HVS) is a choice option for K-12 students, taught by Hillsborough County teachers. It works best for families comfortable using the computer, email, and phone as the primary channels for learning and communication. HVS also offers co-enrollment — students at a full-time public or private school can take online classes on the side, coordinated through their school guidance counselor. And Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is a separate online option outside the Hillsborough umbrella, useful for supplemental classes or as a full-time path.
Charter Schools
Charter schools are independent public schools run by nonprofit organizations. The distinction: while they are accountable to the Hillsborough County School District, they hire their own teachers, design their own curriculum, and control their own finances, governed by a board of directors. No tuition, but their own application windows.
Home Education
Home education is booming in Hillsborough — at the start of the 2022-23 school year, 10,680 children were in home education here, more than any other district in the country. Florida law defines it as sequentially progressive, parent-directed instruction, and the district offers step-by-step guidance starting with a Letter of Intent to Home Educate. Curriculum paths range from parent-directed to virtual school to correspondence courses to home education co-ops.
One thing many families do not know: home education students who meet the criteria can still participate in extracurriculars at their zoned school — marching band, sports, and more. Locally, there are also homeschool activity programs at the Westchase Recreation Center and the Northwest YMCA.
How to Apply
If you want your zoned public school, you simply register for it. For choice, magnet, Hillsborough Virtual School, and attractor programs, applications happen during set windows — the main one typically runs November through December each year. Private and charter schools each set their own application windows, and most private schools hold an open house in the fall or early spring, so contact them directly.
The Bottom Line for Westchase Families
You have options here — a lot of them. The zoned Westchase schools are a genuine strength of this neighborhood, but they are a floor, not a ceiling. Whatever fits your child, it likely exists within a reasonable distance of 33626.
If you are moving to Westchase and trying to line up the right school situation for your family, reach out. I can confirm your zoning, talk through the tradeoffs, and connect you with families who have gone the magnet, private, or charter route. It is one of the most important parts of choosing a home here, and I am happy to help you get it right. More about how I work at bryancoward.com.
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