Pinellas Public Schools is a county-wide system comprised of traditional public schools as well as several types of specialty schools. Seven fundamental elementary and middle schools emphasize parental involvement, daily homework assignments, and strict discipline. Magnet schools are special schools with programs geared toward academically and artistically talented students. Career academies offer high school instruction in academic subjects based on such industries or occupations as veterinary science, automobiles, architecture, and business technology. The district also has five charter schools, one in the city of St. Petersburg, that operate under a contractual agreement with the local school board.
The following is a summary of data regarding Pinellas County public schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.
Total enrollment: more than 113,000
Number of facilities
elementary schools: 88
junior high/middle schools: 28
senior high schools: 22
other: 6 exceptional schools; 6 adult schools
Student/teacher ratio: 29:1
Teacher salaries
minimum: $31,100
maximum: $55,900
Funding per pupil: $5,895
More than one hundred private and parochial schools serve the county.
Public Schools Information: Pinellas County Schools, 301 4th St. SW, Largo, FL 33770; telephone (727)586-1818
Eckerd College, Florida's only private national liberal arts college, offers work-study and overseas programs and bachelor's degrees. The highly regarded Stetson University College of Law, known as Florida's first law school, maintains its campus in St. Petersburg. The University of South Florida (USF), with a campus in St. Petersburg, is known for the Knight Oceanographic Research Center and its programs in marine science, accounting, management information science, medicine, and psychology. The St. Petersburg College, formerly the state's oldest 2-year college, is now a 4-year college enrolling 28,000 students, and is one of the nation's leaders in number of associate degrees awarded. St. Petersburg is also home to the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, a journalism school that also owns the Times Publishing Company, publisher of the St. Petersburg Times.
The St. Petersburg Public Library System contains nearly a half million general subject titles, plus special collections of Florida history, genealogy, more than one thousand periodical subscriptions, and back issues of local newspapers. In addition to the Main Library, there are 5 branches throughout the city, and the resources of 14 municipalities participating in the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative are available to residents. Special libraries and collections include the St. Petersburg Museum of History archives and the Florida State Department of Natural Resources marine research library. The University of South Florida (USF) is home to the Knight Oceanographic Research Center, which is a collaborative effort of Florida public and private universities and conducts research in such fields as ocean currents, endangered species, beach erosion, water quality, tourism, and shipping. The U.S. Center for Coastal Geology and Regional Studies is located on the USF campus. The Tampa Bay Research Institute, which studies viruses and molecular genetics, is also located in the city.
Public Library Information: St. Petersburg Public Library System, 280 5th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701; telephone (727)893-7736