A $3.6 million air conditioning replacement is underway at Apollo Beach K-8 School, with the district aiming to finish before students return Monday, Aug. 10. The project is one of dozens of summer construction efforts across Hillsborough County Public Schools, funded through the voter-approved half-cent sales tax and state capital dollars.

The school at 501 Apollo Beach Blvd. served 794 students in grades pre-K through eight as of the 2024-25 school year, according to federal enrollment data. That number is expected to grow as the campus adds grade levels. Principal Lindsey Nelson's school has earned an A grade from the Florida Department of Education for five consecutive years.

The AC project is part of a broader summer push that includes air conditioning replacements at Alafia Elementary ($7.1 million), Armwood High School ($11.5 million), Stowers Elementary ($4.3 million) and Turkey Creek Middle School ($8.9 million), according to an Osprey Observer report published July 10. Drainage repairs and media center refreshes are also underway at other campuses.

Half-cent tax funds the work

Hillsborough County voters approved the half-cent sales tax in November 2018 to pay for facility improvements including AC upgrades, roof replacements, safety enhancements and technology. As of May 31, the tax had generated more than $1.33 billion, with more than $1.29 billion already invested in school improvement projects districtwide, according to HCPS. More than $704 million of that total has gone to local businesses.

A citizen oversight committee monitors how the money is spent. The school board voted unanimously in May 2026 to pursue renewing the half-cent tax before its current authorization expires, according to the Tampa Bay Times. A ballot date has not been set.

New schools follow rooftops

The investment comes as southern Hillsborough County continues to grow. HCPS celebrated a topping-off ceremony for a new middle school in the Wimauma area, scheduled to open in August 2027, to help accommodate that growth.

Apollo Beach K-8 itself is still expanding. The school board voted 6-1 to transition the former elementary school into a K-8, adding one grade level per year. Seventh grade was added in 2025-26, and eighth grade is expected for 2026-27.

Families preparing for the new school year can take advantage of Florida's Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which runs July 20 through Aug. 20, covering qualifying school supplies.