Students should report directly to their 1st period class. Be on the lookout for a postcard with the room number of your student's first period class will go out this week. A picture of the front of the card is below so you know what to look for. Additionally, room locators can be found at the gym, the auditorium and the main entrance along with school personnel there to assist students as needed. See the important information section for bus information.

Student Parking and Hangtags

Parking hangtags will go on sale starting August 9th. Hangtags must be purchased in cash only and will be available for pick-up in the Student Affairs Office between the hours of 8:00 am – 3:00 pm following a 24-hour processing time. Student hangtags can be suspended/revoked if parking policies are violated.

Requirements

•$20 fee

•Valid FL driver’s license

•Valid registration

•Current insurance

•No school debt

School Bus Transportation

The safety of students is the number one priority of the Hillsborough County Public Schools Transportation Department. Students living two or more miles from the assigned school and exceptional education students with specialized transportation need to qualify for transportation services according to state statute. Students living within two miles may qualify for transportation due to hazardous walking conditions as defined by the State of Florida. Students who are eligible for pupil transportation services are assigned to a specific bus and bus stop.

Students must use the bus stop of record that coincides with their residence. Students are not authorized to ride other buses. Parent notes authorizing a student to ride a different bus are not accepted. Requests due to a family hardship or an emergency must be submitted to a school administrator for approval by the principal and the General Director of Transportation or designee. If a student boards an unauthorized bus or attempts to board at an unauthorized bus stop, the driver will notify a school administrator who will contact the parent. If the student continues boarding an unauthorized bus or continues use of an unauthorized bus stop, a disciplinary referral will be submitted to the school administration.

Your student’s bus stop location, times, and numbers will be available at the following website: Edulog WebQuery. It is very important for students and parents to know their bus stop, bus route, bus number, and the bus driver’s name. Students are advised to be at their bus stop at least 10 minutes prior to their predicted pick-up time. Buses will load and unload in the front of the school. Proper bus conduct is mandatory as it ensures the safety of your child and other students being transported. If you have a child receiving specialized bus services, your bus driver will be contacting you in August with specific bus stop locations, times, and bus numbers.

Questions regarding bus related issues should be directed to Jeremy Porter, at (813) 872-5241 Ext 233.

Parent Contact Information

It is essential that we have current information regarding your family’s address and phone numbers. All address and phone number changes must be submitted in writing with a parent’s signature. All address changes also must include current proof of address, such as an electric bill, lease agreement, or driver’s license with the new address. Student demographic change forms are available in the school office.

Emergency Cards

•Distributed during first period 1st week of school.

•Fill out in full with current info.

•Correct emergency contact needed in case parent/guardian cannot be reached.

•Signature required.

•Please inform us of special circumstances.

•Please include the names of all parties allowed to sign your student out.

When completing the emergency card, please make sure your child's entire legal name is on the card. If not, then add their middle name, suffix (i.e., Jr/Sr), or whatever part of their name is not included. It must be the same information that appears on their birth certificate.

Healthy Student Program

Jefferson High School offers a unique advantage to help keep students in school through the Healthy Student Program. In the packet of papers that come home on the first day of school, you should see an application for our Healthy Student Program. The application requires basic medical information, history, and a parent or guardian's signature. This is not an insurance application. The Healthy Student Program extends several benefits to our students: There is a full-time licensed Registered Nurse assigned to our school each day to assess your student’s health concerns. There is a modest array of over-the-counter medications for everyday complaints, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), burn cream, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, cough drops, throat lozenges, and the like; with a few exceptions, please note that students are not allowed to bring any medication to school. This could save you a trip to school or save the student a trip home.

If you have any questions, feel free to call our school nurse, Elizabeth Rodriguez, RN at 813-872-5241 ext 243. We have a full-time RN and LPN on our campus to best serve the health needs of all our students. Parents have the right to decline clinic services for their student. If you are interested in declining nursing services, please contact our clinic at 813-872-5241 ext 243, for information on the opt-out form.

Breakfast/Lunch

For the 2025-2026 school year, Jefferson High School is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision program, which allows JHS to offer free breakfast and lunch for ALL students.

Lockers

The locker rental fee is $5.00. Lockers can be purchased during lunch on 8/12, 8/13, & 8/14. School lockers are subject to search by school personnel as outlined by district policy.

AHERA Notification

In accordance with the Asbestos Hazards Emergency Response Act (AHERA), we are required to notify parents, guardians and staff of the availability of the asbestos management plans and the response actions we are taking to maintain our school. 

A copy of Jefferson High’s management plan is on file in the main office.  The Management Plan is available for inspection by employees, parents and the public, at no charge during regular school hours.  Copies of the plan can be made for a nominal price per copy.

The plan is also available for review by employees; without cost or restriction, before work begins. Information provided in the management plan includes the recent facility survey, response actions planned or taken, and post periodic surveillance and re-inspections activities.

Student Code of Conduct               

The Student Code of Conduct (Student Handbook) can be found at http://hillsboroughschools.org/conduct. This contains district policies and information on Student Rights and Responsibilities, Code of Student Conduct, Attendance Policy, Curriculum, and General Policies and Procedures. There may be occasions when the administration will make changes to the code of conduct.

Attendance

Every School Day Counts!

The educational program offered by this District is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in the schools during the days and hours that the school is in session. School attendance shall be the responsibility of parents/legal guardians and students. Absences shall be reported to the school attendance office by the parent/legal guardian on the day the absence occurred.

If the absences are excused, all educational requirements for the course shall be met before a passing grade and/or credit is assigned. A student whose absence has been excused shall be permitted to make up the work missed, provided that the student makes arrangements with teachers within three days of the student's return to school. It is the student's responsibility to make these arrangements. Students shall submit make-up work within the deadlines set by the teachers. Students on school business shall be counted present and required to make up work missed.

Reporting Student Absence

All absences need to be reported by calling the attendance line at 813-872-5241 ext. 1. Parents/Guardians will receive an automated call for all absences, regardless of whether it is excused or unexcused.

Unexcused Absences

Unexcused absences shall not be grounds for suspension from school, but may result in disciplinary action.

Unexcused absences include absences that:

• Are caused by truancy of the student

• Are caused by an out-of-school suspension

Tardy Policy

Students are expected to be in the classroom and ready for class when the bell rings. When students are punctual, it maximizes their learning opportunity and prevents interruptions to teacher instruction.

This tardy policy is in place to cultivate the best learning environment for all students.

TARDY- as outlined in the HCPS Student Code of Conduct

• Tardy to class - A student is considered tardy to class if they arrive to the classroom after the tardy bell for that class rings.

• Excused Tardy - A student’s tardiness shall be excused when the reason given is acceptable to the principal or designee.

• Unexcused Tardy – any tardy not included above.

The teacher will record a tardy in FOCUS when taking attendance. Tardies are counted on a cumulative basis per grading period (9 weeks).

Progressive Discipline for Unexcused Tardies

1st – 4th Tardies - Automated Parent Notification via email, phone call or text message

5th Tardy - 1 Day Lunch Detention, Parent Notification

6th – 7th Tardies - 2 Days Lunch Detention, Parent Notification

8th – 9th Tardies - 1 Day ISS (disobedience/insubordination), Parent Notification

10th -11th Tardies - 2 Days ISS (disobedience/insubordination), Parent Conference

12th + Tardy - ATOSS (disobedience/insubordination)

*Additional tardiness will result in further disciplinary action. Also, failure to comply with assigned discipline will result in discipline at the discretion of the Administration.

Skipping Policy

Students should report to every period on time. If a student arrives 15 minutes after the beginning of class without permission, then the student is considered skipping. If a student is on campus, they are expected to attend their assigned class period. When students attend every class every day, they have a greater likelihood of academic success. This skipping policy is in place to deter students from skipping class.

SKIPPING CLASS – as outlined in the HCPS Student Code of Conduct

• If the student does not report to their assigned class but has been marked present throughout the school day, or if the student reports 15 minutes or later to their assigned class. When students purposely leave an assigned area, such as the cafeteria, during their designated lunch period and enter a restricted or unsupervised area, such as the parking lot or athletic field.

The teacher will write a skipping referral for students who are present in school but absent from their class.

Progressive Discipline for Skipping

1st Time Skipping - Parent Contact

2nd Time Skipping - 1 Day of ISS & Parent Contact

3rd Time Skipping - 1 Day ATOSS, Warning Letter, Parent Conference, Student Services/MTSS Referral

4th Time Skipping - 2 Days ATOSS

5th Time SKipping - 3 Days ATOSS

*Additional skipping referrals will result in further disciplinary action. Also, failure to comply with assigned discipline will result in discipline at the discretion of the Administration.

Restroom Policy

To maintain safety, students are expected to use the restroom for its intended purposes (use the restroom facility/wash hands). Students should not be loitering, vaping, hanging out with friends, eating in the restrooms, or vandalizing/ destroying property. Only 1 person in a restroom stall at a time. Only toilet paper should be flushed down the toilets. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in discipline by the administration on a case-by-case basis.

Passes

Students must sign out in class using the digital pass system. Students must have hall passes visible while out of the classroom. Students are expected to report directly to the requested location and return to class promptly. Pass privileges can be sanctioned at any time. Students cannot obtain a pass out of class in the first 10 minutes or the last 10 minutes of class.  

Student Drivers Policy

Students arriving at school in the morning must get out of their cars and enter the building immediately.  There will be no loitering in the parking lot. No student is allowed in an automobile or the parking lot during school hours without a pass signed by an administrator.

Any student who uses their vehicle to leave school without properly signing out or improperly transporting other students off campus (especially during lunch) will lose their driving privileges for up to 9 weeks, and ALL parties will receive disciplinary consequences.

Student drivers with excessive tardiness to 1st period will have their hang tag suspended for the remainder of the 9 weeks or a 9-week period for failing to report to class (Period 1), on time, each day.

Failure to comply with all parking and driving policies may result in disciplinary action and/or having driving privileges revoked.

Students receiving a citation (ticket) from law enforcement in proximity to Jefferson High School between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:45 PM are subject to having their driving privileges suspended.

Excessive absences (15 abs/90 days) may result in sanctions from the DMV (i.e., license withheld, suspended, or revoked).

Sign-in & Sign-out Policy

When a student signs out they must appear in Student Affairs Office to sign-out before leaving campus to avoid sanctions for skipping. No sign-outs after 3:00 pm on regular full days / 2:00 pm on early release days.

Delays should be anticipated if a student is at lunch during a requested sign-out.  All students with sign-outs MUST physically appear to sign-out through SAO or discipline will be assigned. Any student, including 18 years or older, who must leave school during school hours, are required to have confirmed parental permission.

Students cannot be signed out during Pep Rallies.

Discipline Policy

Students are expected to behave appropriately at school and comply with policies and procedures. Students will receive appropriate disciplinary consequences when in violation. See the District Student Code of Conduct regarding student discipline.

Deliveries (Food, Balloons, Flowers, etc.)                                                   

 In the event of an emergency, only individuals on the emergency contact list can deliver food or other items to the Student Affairs Office for student pick-up. This activity will not be accepted as a daily event. Food delivered by Uber Eats, Door Dash, etc., is prohibited and will not be delivered to the student.

Cafeteria Rules

Breakfast is free to all students and will be served from 7:55-8:25 AM. Lunch is free to all students will be served to students during a 56 minute lunch period. Students are to remain orderly in cafeteria lines and clean-up after themselves after eating. Discipline will be assigned to students who do not follow the rules of the cafeteria (i.e., throwing food, leaving trash, etc.). Discipline will be assigned to students who do not clean up after themselves and are otherwise unruly in the cafeteria, bus, and auditorium areas. Students MUST report to the cafeteria during their assigned lunch period. Roaming the campus is not permissible. No student should be in the parking lot, gym, restroom, or library without a pass.

Personal Property

The school is not responsible for the damage to or theft of personal property belonging to students. This includes electronic devices, automobiles parked in the student parking lots, bicycles, personal property kept in school lockers, etc. STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO LEAVE VALUABLE PROPERTY AT HOME. Students should report thefts to the School Resource Deputy (SRD) immediately.

BULLYING/HARASSMENT      

Bullying and harassment are not tolerated. Bullying is defined as a repeated/purposeful written or verbal expression (incl. electronic), gesture or act intended to coerce, intimidate or cause physical, mental or emotional harm to any student. Students should promptly report incidents of bullying to any teacher, school counselor, administrator and or School Resource Deputy (SRD) immediately. Bullying can also be reported at www.hillsboroughschools.org/bullyprevention. Digital Citizenship (cyberbullying) policies will be monitored and enforced.

Electronics Policy

Students will have the privilege of using electronics, including headphones/ear buds (1 ear needs to be free to hear surroundings) before and after school, and during lunch. Wireless Devices, including cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and headphones, are not permitted to be worn during class or during transitions between classes, except before school or during lunch. Wireless devices may be used for instruction at the teacher's discretion. Should this privilege be abused, Admin reserves the right to revoke this privilege at any time.

Wireless devices may not be used in classrooms, in the media center, or on the school bus unless approved. Our policy for the return of earbuds/ headphones that are confiscated is as follows:

Violation #1 - Verbal Warning, Parent Contact

Violation #2 - Referral - 1 Day of ISS, Parent Contact

Violation #3 - Referral - 2 Days of ISS, Parent Conference

Violation #4 - Referral - 1 Day of ATOSS

Violation #5 - Insubordination Referral – Consequence as outlined in Student Code of Conduct.

Prohibited Items

Hats, wireless devices, gang-related items, laser lights, noisemakers, water guns, Nerf guns, confetti toys, any toys that resemble a weapon, handballs, basketballs, Bluetooth speakers, skateboards, etc., are not permitted in school. Items will be confiscated, and the student will be referred to SAO for disciplinary action. Parents will need to pick up confiscated items in SAO by the end of each semester, or items will be donated to charity at the end of the year.

School Hours/ After-Hour Activities        

Students may be on campus from 7:55 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Due to safety concerns. Students should NOT be dropped off before school opening.  School/class hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 PM. Students should not be on campus when classes are not in session unless they are involved in a school-sponsored activity and are under the supervision of a faculty/staff member (including classrooms and the locker room).

Students are reminded that when attending school functions in the evening or on weekends, care should be taken that parents and/or guardians are prompt and punctual in providing departure transportation after the event.

Students picked up late from evening activities will be prevented or sanctioned from attending future events.

Revocation Of Choice, Choice Hardship, or Magnet Assignment

Students attending Jefferson High School on Choice/Hardship Assignment must provide their own transportation to and from school. Choice/ Hardship and Magnet students must adhere to all school policies, maintain appropriate behavior, attendance, digital citizenship, and civility procedures, or face revocation of their School Choice Approval or Magnet placement.