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Schools

Three high schools revel in popularity

Each relies on a variety of programs to attract students, and reputation plays a big role.

By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published January 30, 2005

Now that ninth-graders can apply to any high school in the county, three schools are emerging as clear favorites.

Palm Harbor University High had 605 ninth-grade applicants, St. Petersburg High had 595, and Seminole High had 537 - nearly 100 more than the school in fourth place.

Students who applied should receive letters this week that say whether or not they won the computer lottery for the school they want to attend this August.

Why are these schools chosen so often? Reputation counts a lot, but that can be based as much on perception as on reality.

It's certainly not school grades alone. East Lake High is nowhere near the top of the applicant pile, but it has earned an A from the state the past four years, a feat unequaled by the top three schools.

Trends at the high schools tell an important story to officials who must determine what to do to attract families because parents can apply to any of the 16 high schools in the county. At lower grade levels, the county is divided into attendance areas.

Administrators at the three schools point to high student achievement, parental involvement and extracurricular activities in explaining their schools' popularity. They say that over time, such factors have contributed to the schools' reputations.

"Our student achievement scores, not only on the FCAT but on Advanced Placement tests, are very high," said Harry Brown, principal at Palm Harbor University High. "In addition, having two magnet programs at the school gives us a lot of visibility."

In fact, the application numbers are even more impressive at St. Petersburg High and Palm Harbor University High if applications for separate programs at the schools are counted.

In a different application process, the school's nationally recognized International Baccalaureate program and its Center for Wellness and Medical Professions magnet attracted more than 800 ninth-grade applicants for next year. Their cachet contributes to the school's popularity overall, Brown said.

Adding to the school's popularity, he suspects, is its newness. Built in 1996 and brimming with state-of-the-art technology, the school is physically attractive to parents and students.

Conversely, St. Petersburg High's deep community roots are a major source of its popularity, principal Julie Janssen said. The school was built in 1926, but historical records dating back to 1888 refer to "School No. 83," which evolved into St. Petersburg High School.

"I think the major selling point for St. Pete High is the tradition," Janssen said. "There are many families in St. Petersburg in which every member went to that one school."

Where Palm Harbor has newness, St. Petersburg High has ties to the past, including uncomfortable but historic wooden auditorium seats that can't be changed because of the school's landmark status.

Like Brown, Janssen said the International Baccalaureate program has raised the school's profile, making it attractive to parents whether or not they want their children to attend the rigorous magnet. Varied extracurricular activities, such as award-winning music and drama departments, enhance the school's reputation and contribute to its popularity, Janssen said.

Kathi Bentley, assistant principal at Seminole High, said the school's veteran faculty and strong family and community support make it attractive to parents. She pointed to the school's highly regarded athletic programs and performing arts programs, including a drama department that consistently wins state accolades.

Although Bentley considers a school's FCAT grade important to parents, she does not think Seminole's recent drop from a B to a C deterred anyone from choosing the school.

"I think parents can see that with our growing student body, the challenges are different and that we're doing as much as we can to raise our student achievement levels," she said. "They see a lot of different strategies in place to help students."

Cathy Fleeger, an assistant superintendent in charge of high schools, thinks intangible factors often play a greater role than student achievement, parental involvement and extracurricular activities when it comes to school choice.

A school could rise to the top of a parent's list simply on the impression its name makes, Fleeger said, noting that the three most selected schools bear the names of the cities in which they are located.

"I think with all three of these schools, it's all about perception and marketing and a sense of identity," Fleeger said. "Parents do research on the academics and the extracurriculars, but I think these other factors play a very important part."

Surveys indicate that school location is as important for high school parents as it is for elementary and middle school parents, Fleeger said, which could explain why the three most popular high schools are located in three distinct areas of the county - one north, one central, one south.

Echoing Janssen, Fleeger said schools with close community ties are likely to be more popular with families. Schools such as Seminole, which for years has been the receiving school for students who attended Seminole Elementary School and Seminole Middle School, have won the hearts and minds of families regardless of their academic and extracurricular programs.

"I know just from talking to Realtor friends that when someone moves here and they ask, "Where should I send my child to school?' the Seminole community and the Seminole partnership of schools is often talked about," Fleeger said. "I think the perception of the Seminole community is still affecting school choice."

But such perceptions can change, Fleeger said, recalling days when other schools garnered high praise on the basis of their reputations. In the end, a school's popularity may boil down to its people skills, she said.

"If a parent walks in the door of a school office and sees a smiling face, they're going to have a good impression of that school," Fleeger said. "What they see and what they hear will travel through word of mouth."

Palm Harbor 605

St. Petersburg 595

Seminole 537

Northeast 440

Pinellas Park 402

Countryside 396

Gibbs 380

Clearwater 368

East Lake 350

Osceola 283

Largo 272

Boca Ciega 262

Lakewood 252

Dunedin 249

Dixie Hollins 230

Tarpon Springs 191

Source: Pinellas County Schools

[Last modified January 30, 2005, 00:10:19]