South Tampa Public and Private Schools for Homebuyers

South Tampa homebuyers should research both public schools and private options. Plant, Robinson, Coleman and Wilson belong in the public-school conversation; Academy of the Holy Names, St. John’s and St. Mary’s belong in the private-school conversation. Berkeley Prep, Tampa Prep and Jesuit are additional Tampa options to evaluate from a South Tampa home, but their campuses are not all in South Tampa. Public-school assignment depends on the address and applicable district rules. Private-school attendance depends on admission and enrollment, not buying a nearby house.

I would not want you choosing a house around a school assumption that falls apart later. Whether you are looking in Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, Davis Islands, Harbour Island or farther south on the peninsula, separate three questions: Where is the school? What does it offer? And can your student actually attend?

Private schools in and around South Tampa

If private school is part of your plan, put it in the home search from the beginning. Tuition, admission timing and the daily drive belong in the same conversation as the house budget. A higher price does not automatically mean a better fit, and a school’s reputation does not tell you whether there is an opening for your student.

Academy of the Holy Names

Academy of the Holy Names, at 3319 Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa, is a Catholic school serving boys and girls from pre-K through grade 8 and young women in grades 9–12. It is a relevant option to research when comparing homes around Bayshore and the surrounding peninsula, without assuming a particular commute time.

Its 2026–27 tuition schedule lists base tuition of $20,060 for pre-K, $21,880 for K–4, $23,540 for grades 5–8 and $27,725 for grades 9–12. These are not all-in totals: enrollment, new-student, technology and other applicable charges need a grade-specific review. Confirm the total directly with admissions before building a budget around it.

St. John’s Episcopal Parish Day School

St. John’s is a coeducational Episcopal school from K4 through grade 8, with separate campuses for K4–K5, grades 1–4 and grades 5–8. Its listed locations are South Rome Avenue, South Orleans Avenue and South Plant Avenue in the Hyde Park and near-downtown area. For siblings, check which campus each child would attend rather than measuring one school drive.

The 2026–27 tuition page lists $21,195 for K5 through grade 8 before scholarships, with an application fee and a family-level Legacy Growth Fee also described. Its K4 figures differ between the page’s table and tuition letter, so ask the school to confirm that figure rather than relying on a quoted number here.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School

St. Mary’s serves pre-K through grade 8 at 2101 South Hubert Avenue in South Tampa. Its official admissions FAQ lists 2026–27 tuition of $21,550 for all grade levels, plus grade-level fees and other applicable expenses. Ask about the complete cost, entry requirements and current openings for the grade you need.

Berkeley Preparatory School

Berkeley Preparatory School is a coeducational Episcopal school from pre-K through grade 12 at 4811 Kelly Road. This is not a South Tampa campus. If Berkeley is on your list, evaluate the trip from each actual home instead of treating it like a neighborhood school.

Published 2026–27 tuition is $24,180 for pre-K/kindergarten, $28,220 for grades 1–5, $33,370 for grades 6–8 and $37,040 for grades 9–12. Books, uniforms, lunches, transportation and other expenses are excluded. Review the school’s linked admissions process and tuition-assistance information separately from the home purchase.

Tampa Preparatory School

Tampa Prep serves grades 6–12. Its campus is at 727 West Cass Street, near downtown, rather than on the South Tampa peninsula. Its 2026–27 tuition page lists $32,512 for grades 6–8 and $34,340 for grades 9–12, plus additional fees and expenses. Confirm admission requirements, grade availability and the full cost through the school before making a school-dependent moving decision.

Jesuit High School

Jesuit High School is a Catholic school for boys in grades 9–12 at 4701 North Himes Avenue, outside South Tampa. Its 2026–27 tuition information lists $23,920, with applicable registration, materials and device charges also requiring review. Admissions is a separate process; purchasing a South Tampa home does not secure a place.

How private-school plans should affect a home search

Start with the intended entry year, application timeline and grade availability. Then test the actual morning and afternoon route, including after-school activities and any second campus. Ask each school about transportation, extended care, required fees and its own financial-aid or scholarship policies. Do not assume a state scholarship is accepted by every private school or that assistance has been awarded.

The tuition figures above are published 2026–27 rates reviewed November 13, 2026, not quotes for a later school year or promises of net cost. These six schools are research options, not a ranking or a complete list. Compare academic offerings, support, school culture and practical logistics against your own priorities. Admissions decisions and student records belong directly with the school.

Public elementary schools to include in your research

These are starting points, not a ranking or a complete list. The links go to official school websites. Campus locations help you plan visits; they are not attendance boundaries.

• Gorrie Elementary School is on West De Leon Street. Its site provides enrollment, calendar and school-improvement-plan links.
• Mitchell Elementary School is on South Bungalow Park Avenue. Review the school’s current information rather than assuming an older program announcement still applies.
• Mabry Elementary School is on Estrella Street. Its site describes art, music and HOST before- and after-school programming; ask about current availability and registration separately.
• Grady Elementary School is on Morrison Avenue. The official site includes enrollment information and school-community resources.
• Roosevelt Elementary School is on South Ferdinand Avenue. Use its official calendar and enrollment links when planning a move.
• Ballast Point Elementary School is on Ballast Point Boulevard. Its website is the place to begin checking current school information and enrollment steps.

Instead of asking only which school is “best,” write down what you need to learn. That might be before-school care, a specific support service, the daily schedule or how a midyear transfer works. Ask each school the same questions so you can compare actual answers.

Coleman Wilson and Madison middle schools

Coleman Middle School, on South Manhattan Avenue, describes advanced coursework and electives on its official site. If a particular course matters, confirm prerequisites, grade eligibility and availability with the school. A program description is not a promise of a place in a particular class.

Wilson Middle School, on Swann Avenue, provides official enrollment, bus-route, calendar and school-improvement-plan links. Madison Middle School is another public middle school to research in this part of Tampa. Confirm the current campus location and attendance assignment directly before planning a school commute.

Do not assume that attending a named elementary school automatically settles the middle-school question for your new address. Check each school level separately, especially if your student will change grades soon after the move.

Plant High and Robinson High are different research paths

Plant High School, on South Himes Avenue, describes AP and honors coursework along with music and performing arts. Ask about the actual courses and scheduling process relevant to your student, not just the number of offerings on a website.

Robinson High School, on South Lois Avenue, identifies International Baccalaureate and Cambridge AICE programs on its site. If your search is driven by a specific program, ask the school and district which admission process applies. Do not treat a home’s location as program acceptance.

These are not interchangeable questions: “Is this my attendance-area high school?” and “Can I enter this particular program?” Get an answer to both when both matter.

Verify the address instead of relying on the neighborhood label

The district’s official tools page links to Find Your Neighborhood School and Hillsborough Choice Options. Start there rather than with an old map or a listing portal’s school panel.

For each home on your shortlist, record the full address, intended move date, school year being checked and the assignment shown for each relevant grade level. If the result is unclear, ask the district to confirm it. For a new construction home, use the actual property location rather than a nearby model home.

If you plan to move for a future school year, ask which information is final for that year. A saved screenshot can document what you checked; it cannot guarantee that boundaries or programs will never change.

Keep school research connected to the rest of the purchase

Once you have the school information, test the everyday logistics. Check the trip at the times you would actually travel, ask about transportation eligibility and confirm any before- or after-school arrangements directly. Distance alone does not tell you how the day will work.

Then keep evaluating the house itself: condition, insurance, flood considerations, ownership costs and your budget still matter. I can help you compare properties and organize the questions that need district confirmation. The school system, not a real estate listing, determines enrollment and assignment.

Questions South Tampa buyers ask

Does buying near a private school guarantee admission?

No. A nearby home may change the commute, but private-school admission and enrollment must be arranged with the school. Confirm acceptance, costs and timing before assuming a home purchase solves the school decision.

Does every South Tampa home qualify for Plant High School?

Do not make that assumption. “South Tampa” is not an address-specific school assignment. Use the district’s school locator for the exact property and confirm the relevant school year.

Can I assume a home near Coleman or Gorrie is assigned there?

No. A campus location and an attendance boundary are different things. Check the home’s assignment, even when the school is nearby or named in the listing.

Does buying near Robinson guarantee admission to IB?

No program acceptance should be assumed from proximity. Robinson identifies IB on its website; contact the school and Hillsborough Choice Options to verify the applicable admission process and current requirements.

Can a school rating make the buying decision for me?

A rating does not answer every question about courses, services, scheduling or the daily routine. Review the underlying information and speak with the school about your priorities. This guide does not rank schools or predict student outcomes.

Planning a South Tampa move

Contact Bello Home Team with the addresses you are considering and your intended moving window. We can compare the homes and identify the school-assignment questions to resolve before you commit. Please send student records or sensitive information directly to the school district, not through a general real estate inquiry.