History & Mission

In 1970, a group of parents recognized the need for a Jewish Day School in Tampa and decided to do something about it.  Thanks to their hard work, Hillel School began its life with 30 students in grades 1-4, housed at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in South Tampa. 

The school developed a stellar reputation over the years.  As enrollment increased so did the need for additional space.  In 1984 the school moved to the South Tampa campus of the Jewish Community Center.  By 1992, Hillel was open to Kindergarten through 8^th grade, and the need for farther greater expansion was clear.  A beautiful, ten acre lot was identified as the perfect location for Hillel, and a campus in North Tampa was purchased.  With additions constructed in 1999 and 2003, Hillel school is able to provide for over 200 students in grades transitional kindergarten through 8^th.

Hillel's mission is to provide a superior education that encourages a love of learning and a strong Jewish identity. To that end, Hillel students are encouraged to attain the highest possible level of personal achievement. 

We foster a respect for self, school and community, and prepare students to be active and knowledgeable members of their societies.  Our students have a sense of pride in their heritage and identity, cultivated by moral, cultural, and religious development.  Hillel graduates' strong academic ability is well known and they are sought after by the finest high schools in the Tampa Bay area.