There are choice attendance area schools and countywide schools. Here's what that means.
By DONNA WINCHESTER, Times staff writer
Published August 29, 2004
[Times photo: Willie J. Allen Jr.]
To support American Heart Month in February, a group of Cross Bayou Elementary students competed on a jump rope challenge course as part of Jump Rope for Heart. The school’s yearly competition raises money and awareness for heart-healthy living.
THE BASICS: There are two main types of public schools in Pinellas County, choice attendance area schools and countywide schools.
CHOICE ATTENDANCE AREA SCHOOLS: The district is divided into four attendance areas for elementary schools, three for middle schools, and one - the entire county - for high schools. In the past, students attended a "zoned" school, usually the one closest to home. Under the controlled choice method of student assignment, students can choose from among several schools within their attendance area. District officials encouraged choice attendance area schools to differentiate themselves by developing special programs called "attractors" to entice parents to choose one school over another. The "attractors" also are meant to encourage parents to send their children to schools outside their neighborhoods, which often are segregated, to ensure diversity.
COUNTYWIDE SCHOOLS: Magnet and fundamental schools are open to all children from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. Space is limited, so students must apply for spots. Students are either offered seats or put on waiting lists. The district's 16 magnet schools - four at the elementary level, two at the middle school level and 10 at the high school level - feature intensive study in specialized areas, such as communication or the arts. The district's seven countywide fundamental schools - five at the elementary level and two at the middle school level - emphasize student responsibility, parental involvement, daily homework and discipline. Children can be asked to leave a fundamental school if their parents fail to attend regularly scheduled meetings and parent-teacher conferences. Additionally, five high schools have career academy programs, which are open to all children, but to which they must apply. Career academies give students a chance to learn more about a field they would like to explore while they complete their graduation requirements.
OTHER SCHOOLS: The district offers several specialized programs for students. Five charter schools - four for elementary students and one for high school students - are operated by nonprofit organizations. Four elementary partnership schools are run with the help of area employers. Five exceptional student education centers cater to the needs of mentally, physically and emotionally disabled children. Two intermediate schools offer dropout prevention programs for fifth- through eighth-graders. Four short-term reassignment schools serve children in grades 6 through 12 who have disciplinary issues, and one long-term alternative school serves children in grades 9 through 12 who are behind in credits and may or may not have disciplinary issues. The district's department of workforce development operates nine schools that offer vocational, technical and adult education.
