Pinellas County Schools is the public school district serving Pinellas County, Florida. The district is based in Largo. With over 104,000 students served in more than 140 schools and centers, the district is the 7th-largest in Florida and 26th-largest in the nation.[2] In addition to neighborhood schools, the district offers 70 application programs, including magnet, fundamental and career academy programs.[3] It includes the entire county.[4]
| Pinellas County Schools | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
301 Fourth Street Southwest
Largo , Florida, 33770United States | |
| District information | |
| Type | Public |
| Grades | PreK–12[1] |
| NCES District ID | 1201560 [1] |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 96,068 (2020–2021)[1] |
| Teachers | 6,829.44 (on an FTE basis)[1] |
| Staff | 6,858.36 (on an FTE basis)[1] |
| Student–teacher ratio | 14.07:1[1] |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
History
editThe district was created upon Pinellas County's split from Hillsborough County in 1912. Dixie M. Hollins was the county's first superintendent of schools.
Like other school districts in Florida and elsewhere in the United States, Pinellas County has had to deal with issues of desegregation, court-ordered busing, and school choice. In 2000, the district received "unitary" (desegregated) status from the court assigned to monitor integration issues, and from 2003 to 2007 operated a "controlled choice" program which set minimum and maximum percentages of black pupils in individual schools.[5]
In 2007 the "Choice" program was replaced with a "close-to-home' school program, where students go to the school that is nearest to their residence. The Tampa Bay Times was the biggest proponent of resegregation. In multiple editorials in 2007, the Tampa Bay Times, formerly the St. Petersburg Times, urged the school district to abandon integration efforts in favor of "close to home" schools.[6][7][8][9][10]
From 2007 and by 2015 student performance and behavior at five elementary schools in a mostly black area of St. Petersburg sharply declined.
In March 2009, Pinellas County Schools announced that all schools would close one hour early every Wednesday starting with the 2009–10 school year. The district said that this schedule change was to provide teachers with more planning period time. After much controversy, the school district voted in September 2012 to discontinue early release Wednesdays beginning with the 2013–14 school year.
Superintendents
edit- Dixie M. Hollins (1912–1920)
- Robert S. Blanton (1920–1928)
- George M. Lynch (1928–1935)
- George M. Hoffman (1935–1936)
- Green V. Fuguitt (1936–1948)
- Floyd T. Christian (1948–1965)
- Paul D. Bauder (1965–1966)
- James F. Gollattscheck (1966–1967)
- Thomas B. Southard (1967–1971)
- Nicholas G. Mangin (1971–1972)
- Gus Sakkis (1972–1981)
- Dr. Scott N. Rose (1981–1991)
- Dr. J. Howard Hinesley (1991–2004)
- Dr. Clayton M. Wilcox (2004–2008)[11]
- Dr. Julie M. Janssen (2008–2011)[12]
- Dr. John A. Stewart (2011–2012)
- Dr. Michael A. Grego (2012–2022)
- Kevin Hendrick (2022–present)
School Board
editSchool board members:[13]
- Lisa N. Cane, Chairperson – At-Large District #2 (2018–present)
- Laura Hine, Vice Chairperson – At-Large District #1 (2020–present)
- Dawn M. Peters – At-Large District #3 (2022–present)
- Eileen M. Long – Single Member District #4 (2016–present)
- Carol J. Cook - Single Member District #5 (2000–present)
- Stephanie Meyer – Single Member District #6 (2022–present)
- Caprice Edmond – Single Member District #7 (2020–present)
Districts 1–3 are at-large districts, elected by the voters of the entire school district. Districts 4–7 are single-member districts, voted on only by the voters who reside in the member district. The members from single-member districts are also required to reside within the district from which he or she is elected.[14]
Schools in Pinellas County
editThe district covers a total of 142 institutions: 76 elementary schools, 22 middle schools, 17 high schools, 6 alternative & exception education schools, 9 adult/vocational schools, 16 centers, and 14 charter schools. With more than 17,000 teachers, administrators and support staff, the district is also Pinellas County's largest employer. Additionally, over 20,000 people serve as volunteers.[15]
High schools
editMiddle schools
edit
|
|
Elementary schools
edit
|
|
Alternative and exceptional education schools
edit
|
|
Career technical and adult education
edit
|
|
Charter schools
edit
|
|
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for PINELLAS". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
- ^ "Home." (Archive) Pinellas County Schools. Retrieved on August 28, 2011. "301 Fourth St. SW Largo, FL 33770"
- ^ "Choices Abound District Application Programs Guide 2016 - 2017" (PDF). Pinellas County Schools.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Pinellas County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 1, 2022. - Text list
- ^ McManus, Tracey (April 29, 2020). "Clearwater civil rights icon Tal Rutledge: 'He wasn't afraid to speak out.'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ "School integration is not the answer". Tampa Bay Times. October 11, 2007.
- ^ "Home school plan deserves support". Tampa Bay Times. July 1, 2007.
- ^ "More on classes; less on buses". Tampa Bay Times. September 15, 2007.
- ^ "Leave school choice mistakes behind". Tampa Bay Times. October 7, 2007.
- ^ "Don't stop now on school plan". Tampa Bay Times. October 23, 2007.
- ^ "School superintendent tenders resignation". TBNweekly. April 16, 2008.
- ^ Pettiford, Trevor (September 2, 2011). "Janssen leaves post with memories, few regrets". Bay News 9. Retrieved September 7, 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "School Board / School Board".
- ^ "2011-2012 School Board Members". Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
- ^ "Pinellas County Schools / Homepage". Pinellas County Schools. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ Solochek, Jeffrey S. (June 3, 2021). "Pinellas middle school students suspended over Pride flag clash". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Schools and Programs List / All Schools and Programs List". Pinellas County Schools. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.