The Hillsborough County School District is recognized as the nation's most successfully desegregated metropolitan school district in the United States. Basic statistics show that the pupil population has grown to 115,000; pupil and faculty composition is approximately 80% white and 20% black; 56,000 pupils are transported daily, 25,000 for purposes of desegregation only; and the instructional program is operated with a minimum of disruption with good parental and community support. Successful desegregation and transformation of a dual school system to a unitary one is due to a variety of reasons, such as: that the Board of Education is not divided; that tampa has a Latin community that may have been more ready to share equal facilities with black community; that a white superintendent, respected black desegregation leaders, and black school administrator form an effective team; that a desegregation plan is developed through community involvement with committees composed of large numbers of people from all walks of life and all areas of the community; that pre-planning and anticipation of needs of difficulties -- especially busing needs -- takes place; that there was support from the news media; and that there was an absence of emotionality and sensationalism about the issue. Most white parents accept integration as required by law and do not attempt to thwart it. Black parents are strongly in favor of integrated schools but express dissatisfaction over the large amount of busing required of their children. (Author/AM)