New School Option Comes to Westchase Area

Come August, a new school will open in the Westchase area.

Henderson Hammock Charter School will open in August. The charter school was approved by the Hillsborough County School District in December 2011.

Construction is now underway at the corner of Linebaugh Avenue and Henderson Road.

Enrollment is open, said school spokesperson Colleen Reynolds.

Henderson Hammock Charter School is managed by Charter Schools USA, a Ft. Lauderdale company with 33 campuses in Florida, two in Georgia and two in Louisiana. They also manage three schools in Indiana considered "turnaround schools," according to Reynolds.

The Lineabaugh location will ultimately serve grades K-8. But for the 2012-2013 school year, applications will only be accepted in grade levels K-6. Seventh-eight grade will be offered in the coming years.

Once complete the Linebaugh location will be 63,900 square feet with a capacity to serve 1,415 students on 16.5 acres. The school site will have an athletic field, basketball court and tot lot.

Henderson Hammock will focus on a comprehensive curriculum, with an emphasis on character development.

"Every part of the curriculum has something to do with it (character development)," Reynolds said. "In other words if they’re learning about Abraham Lincoln, they're learning about courage."

Like all Hillsborough County Schools, Henderson Hammock will adhere to FCAT testing and is a public school open to all students.

Interested parents must attend an information session before submitting an application, Reynolds said.

Learn more about Henderson Hammock during an information session on Wednesday, April 11 at 6pm, Woodmont Charter School, 10402 N 56th St. in Temple Terrace, FL 33617.