Walker Middle Magnet named one of 50 National Gold Ribbon Schools for service-learning
Youth Service America picked the Hillsborough school for its 2026 list based on a national survey of student service and community work.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY - Walker Middle Magnet School is one of 50 K-12 schools nationwide named 2026 National Gold Ribbon Schools in Service-Learning by Youth Service America, Hillsborough County Public Schools announced Tuesday, Nov. 10.
The national nonprofit selected schools based on a survey of how widespread and how strong their youth service and community work is, according to the district. The criteria included how many students take part in service-learning, the opportunities schools offer, teacher training and classroom integration, student voice and leadership, and use of recognized service-learning practices.
“Service-learning takes what happens in the classroom and connects it to the real world,” Superintendent Van Ayres said in the release.
Youth Service America's published list of 2026 honorees includes Walker Middle Magnet, listed in Odessa, as the only Hillsborough County Public Schools campus.
Source: Hillsborough County Public Schools release on Walker Middle Magnet's Gold Ribbon (Nov. 10, 2026; opened Nov. 11); Youth Service America honoree list (opened Nov. 11).