Serving 1,422 students in grades 9-12, King High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Florida for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 34% (which is lower than the Florida state average of 52%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 40% (which is lower than the Florida state average of 52%).
The student:teacher ratio of 21:1 is higher than the Florida state level of 17:1.
Minority enrollment is 86% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Florida state average of 65% (majority Hispanic and Black).
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- School Type: Magnet School
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,422 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 21:1
- Minority Enrollment: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 86% (Btm 50% in FL)
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50%
- Math Proficiency: 34% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 40% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: 55-59% (Top 30%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
King High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Florida for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
School Overview
King High School's student population of 1,422 students has declined by 22% over five school years.
The teacher population of 67 teachers has declined by 27% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Total Students
1,422 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
67 teachers
Students by Grade
School Rankings
King High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 3,704 schools in Florida (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of King High School is 0.70, which is equal to the diversity score at state average of 0.70. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#2864 out of 3704 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
52%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
52%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
55-59%
52%
Student : Teacher Ratio
21:1
17:1
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
12%
3%
Hispanic
22%
37%
Black
47%
21%
White
14%
35%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
5%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
86%
87%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
59%
49%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
4%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education
School Notes
- C. Leon King High School opened in 1960. The school was named in honor of C. Leon King, a distinguished and respected member of the Hillsborough County Board of Public Instruction for 18 years. It is located at 6815 North 56th Street, Tampa, FL 33610.
- King High School is a traditional/hybrid magnet. It has one of the three International Baccalaureate programs in Hillsborough County, Florida. The IB program of King began in July, 1993. Eighty-nine percent of IB seniors earned the IB Diploma in 2006--one of the highest rates in the United States.King High School is a traditional/hybrid magnet. It has one of the three International Baccalaureate programs in Hillsborough County, Florida. The IB program of King began in July, 1993. Eighty-nine percent of IB seniors earned the IB Diploma in 2006--one of the highest rates in the United States.
- Attendance rate in 2005 was 92%, and the Class of 2007 includes 24 National Merit semifinalists.
- Facts of interest: The King High School orchestral program has experienced great success in the last few years, and received a superior rating this year under a new director. The King Orchestra has maintained their status as the county's top orchestra program and was one of few schools in the state to receive straight superiors at State MPA.
- The King High School Marching Lions have received straight superior ratings at Florida Bandmasters Association Marching Festival for 33 consecutive years, most recently on November 4, 2006 with the theme Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
- The King High School National Honor Society is the largest chapter in the State of Florida.
- Attractor programs include Culinary Arts, Teaching Academy, and King's relationship with the University of South Florida as a Professional Development School.
- Students raised $104,132 for Relay For Life surpasing their initial goal of $96,000. Relay For Life is a night of festivities and fundraising to benefit cancer research and patients. King was the first high school in the nation to raise over $100,000. In 2005, King students raised $81,000.
- King High School's Boys Swimming team won the 2005 academic award for all of Hillsborough County Swim Teams with an average GPA of 3.539.
- The King High Football team went winless in 2005 with a record of 0 - 11.
- The King High Football team broke their 18 game losing streak by beating Gaither 11 - 15 on September 1, 2006.
- The King High Football team won their second home game, 21-14 against Brandon High School on September 15, 2006.
- Justin Rodgers took over as Director of WKHS in August 2006, following a year of success under Garrison Hamilton.Justin Rodgers took over as Director of WKHS in August 2006, following a year of success under Garrison Hamilton.
- In its first year, the Mock Trial Club was very successful, winning the two preliminary rounds at the FLREA district competition in at the Edgecomb courthouse in downtown Tampa. They placed second overall in their district, with two "Best Attorney" and one "Best Witness" award for the three rounds they participated in, including the final against Riverview High School.
- The 2005-2006 C. Leon King High School Prom King and Queen were Marshall Cone, a senior in the IB Program, and Amy Dawson, also of the IB program,respectively.
- King High School is home to one of the best Junior State of America chapters in the Southeast, consistently winning awards for superior public speaking and debating.
- The 2006 IB Senior Class achieved an 89% pass rate for the IB Diploma.
- On September 28th 2006, The senior class won the homecoming float competition. The dance took place on September 28th. The homecoming king was Senior Treece Lynch and queen Lamecha Mingo.
- In the news: It has been recognized by Newsweek Magazine as being among the top 10% of all high schools in America, coming in at number 73. Its sister school, Hillsborough High School, is number 21.
- The only native Rhode Islander to graduate from King High School is Lt. Carlton Arruda, North Kingstown Police Department in Rhode Island. Lt. Arruda, a 32 year police veteran, graduated from King High in 1968 and returned to his home state shortly after graduation.
- King High Speech and Debate team does very well. At the "Winter Springs" invitational, every student that participated broke to an elimination round, and Laura Kaufman got first place in the state of Florida for International Extemporaneous Speaking. A week later, at the Yale Invitational, Stephanie Buchman broke to quarterfinals in Original Oratory and Mohammad Gardezi broke to quarterfinals in Mixed Extemporaneous Speaking.
- Ydeixi Soto and Brett Owens also won Homecoming Prince and Princess on September 30, 2006.
- Notable Alumni: Tim Crews; Derek Bell; Gary Koch; Calvin Pickering; Olympic Gold medalist 2nd baseman Ty Griffin; David Stamps; Seth Zalkin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is King High School's ranking?
King High School is ranked #2864 out of 3,704 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Florida.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
34% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 52% FL state average), while 40% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 52% FL state average).
What is the graduation rate of King High School?
The graduation rate of King High School is 86%, which is lower than the Florida state average of 87%.
How many students attend King High School?
1,422 students attend King High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
47% of King High School students are Black, 22% of students are Hispanic, 14% of students are White, 12% of students are Asian, and 5% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student:teacher ratio of King High School?
King High School has a student ration of 21:1, which is higher than the Florida state average of 17:1.
What grades does King High School offer ?
King High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12
What school district is King High School part of?
King High School is part of Hillsborough School District.
School Calendar
View the King High School yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:
Event
Date
Fall Break/Non-Student Days *
November 25, 2024 (Monday)
Spring Break/Non-Student Days
March 17, 2025 (Monday)
Seniors' Last Day
May 21, 2025 (Wednesday)
Last Day of School/End of 4th Grading Period (end of 2nd Semester)
May 30, 2025 (Friday)
Students' First Day of School
August 11, 2025 (Monday)
School Reviews
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