Pinellas County Schools
Pinellas County Schools is the eighth-largest district in the state of Florida and the 27th out of more than 16,000 districts in the United States. There are almost 7,500 full-time and part-time instructional personnel and 6,000 support services and administrative personnel. This makes Pinellas County Schools the largest employer in our county. The district has approximately 600 buses that run more than 500 routes daily, transporting about 1/3 of the students twice per day.
There are many choices based on students' interests, talents and abilities, including 70 application programs opportunities in elementary, middle and high schools. There are dozens of career-focused programs, such as culinary arts, criminal justice, pre-medical, journalism, marine-based, and many others. Award-winning arts and music programs prepare students to be well-rounded citizens. STEM magnet or career programs is offered at all grade levels. Fundamental Schools, charter schools, Montessori education, virtual school, choice programs, academy programs, exceptional education, and industry certification programs –all of these fall under the Pinellas County Schools umbrella in addition to the traditional neighborhood schools.
Major Types of Pinellas County Schools:
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74 Elementary Schools |
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3 Elementary/Middle Schools (K-8) |
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21 Middle Schools |
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18 High Schools |
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5 Exceptional Schools |
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19 Charter Schools |
Helpful Links
Countywide, downloadable map of 140+ schools
2017-2018 PCS Facts at a Glance Brochure
More Helpful Information:
Application Period
If you are not looking to have your child enrolled in your zoned neighborhood school, the application period for district choice programs is conducted in early-to-mid January, with notifications delivered a few weeks after. You should conduct all of your tours, and attend any magnet fairs prior to the deadline. Many programs have limited seats, and a lottery system and a waitlist are used for many of the most popular programs. You have until mid-February to accept your invitations.
Special Needs
If you are the parent of a student with a disability or have special needs, please visit Pinellas County Schools Exceptional Student Education site of Pinellas County Schools.
College Bound Advanced
Gifted education, International Baccalaureate curriculum, Cambridge Program, Advanced Placement and Honors Courses are offered at specific schools, some even starting in elementary school.
Dual Enrollment at PTC and SPC
High school students attending Pinellas Technical College (PTC) and St. Petersburg College (SPC) have the opportunity to be dually enrolled in post-secondary courses tuition-free.
Career and Technical Education
Not every career requires a college degree and not every student will be choosing to attend college. High-skilled, high-wage careers are in demand, and for those students who do not choose a college education after high school, Pinellas County Schools supports and encourages the pursuit of industry certifications via Career Academies in all high schools, as well as at Pinellas Technical High School at Seminole and both campuses of Pinellas Technical College in Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Examples of certification areas include: nursing assistant, biomedical, culinary, child care, automotive, digital arts, engineering, robotics and veterinary science, among others. Here is a list of certifications by high school.
Pinellas Virtual School vs. Florida Virtual School
If you have an independent thinker who is responsible enough to take classes online, both Pinellas County Schools and the state of Florida have their own virtual education program – Pinellas Virtual School and Florida Virtual School. This is an opportunity to make up classes, get ahead, explore electives, and fulfill graduation requirements. Very different programs, however, so do your homework when selecting which option is best for your child.
Enterprise Village/ Finance Park
Thanks to a generous and active business-community partnership via the Pinellas Education Foundation, since the mid-1980s Pinellas County is fortunate to be home to two unique programs that have been franchised nationwide by Jr. Achievement. Enterprise Village is a self-contained economic education program for 5th graders that provides a hands-on learning experience for students. Finance Park is a reality-based, hands-on personal finance simulation for 8th-grade students. Both programs are multi-week curriculums and culminate in a field trip.
PRIVATE SCHOOL INFO
There are dozens of private school opportunities in Pinellas County. Here is a locator map of the private schools.
