Become a Dolphin
Sign Up for a School Tour!
We offer tours to families interested in attending Hillsborough Elementary. There's so much to explore and we'd love the chance to meet you in person!
Tours are available in English and Spanish.
Please choose from one of the following dates:
- November 7 @ 8:15 am
- November 19 @ 5:00 pm
- December 5 @ 8:15 am
- December 10 @ 5:00 pm
- January 23 @ 8:15 am
- January 31 @ 11:00 am
- February 6 @ 8:15 am
- February 11 @ 5:00 pm
We are so glad that you are considering Hillsborough Elementary School for your family.
We truly believe that HES is a special place where students, families and staff share a feeling of safety and belonging. At HES, we foster a culture of mutual respect and understanding, hold high expectations for all of our students, recognize and teach the whole child, inspire joy for learning through authentic and engaging instruction and prepare students to be productive and resourceful leaders in a diverse world.
We believe in being honest and compassionate; accepting responsibility for our actions; respect not only ourselves but others and their property, working together as a team and always striving to do our best!
Hillsborough Elementary is a School of Choice and the only school that operates on a year-round calendar in Orange County Schools. We are a single-track year-round school with a balanced calendar.What is a balanced calendar? With a balanced calendar, students receive the same amount of instructional time as students on the traditional calendar, however, the days are distributed in a way that provides families and staff a more balanced lifestyle - promoting better mental health and higher academic performance.
Here's how the balanced calendar works:
Students start school in mid-July with four multi-week breaks or intersessions: three weeks for fall, winter and spring breaks; five week break for the summer. By providing students with these break, they are able to take time throughout the year to rest and recharge, leading to better retention of the material and improved academic performance.
The Application Process
Students must be five (5) years old on or before August 31 in order to be eligible to enter Kindergarten in any Orange County School.
The application window for the 2026-27 school year will be open from January 12, 2026 until March 25, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Parents will be notified of lottery results on April 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, you will find some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). If you have additional questions or need more information, please contact us.
- What are the benefits of year-round school?
- Do you offer transportation?
- What is an intersession?
- What does my student do during intersessions? Are there childcare options?
- Is there an afterschool program offered at HES?
- When does kindergarten orientation take place?
- When does school start?