One of the biggest reasons people move to or stay away from a particular area is because of schools. School systems are one of the biggest considerations in real estate. Pinellas County, including Clearwater, has great schools, including magnet schools.
Most schools are location based
In most school systems, where you go to school is based on where you live, not your interests. If you want your child to go to a specific school that is out of your district, there are usually huge hoops to jump through. It’s very possible, especially if the school you desire is at capacity, meaning it has all the students it can hold, that you won’t be able to get that out of district request approved and your child will have to go to the school in your district.
Magnet schools based on interests
Magnet Schools are public schools, but unlike non-magnet schools, enrollment is not based on where you live, but your student’s interests. What makes magnet schools unique is that they have special curricular focus; usually things like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), the arts, and vocational or career paths. Children are always educated in a full range of subjects, but also get to specialize their education to their area of interest. You will most likely have to apply to have your child attend there, and as with non-magnet public schools, there are capacity requirements, but your location isn’t the determining factor in whether you child attends or not.
Pinellas County has 32 elementary, middle and high magnet schools
Specialties include academically talented, medical, criminal justice, International Baccalaureate, STEM, performing arts, as well as others. There are 15 elementary schools, a few of which also have pre-k programs, 7 middle schools, 1 k-8, and 9 high schools. All of these schools have excellent basic programs as well as the specialized magnet programs.
With all those schools to choose from, why not move to Clearwater? Your children can attend schools that cater to their talents and interests. Children who are challenged and interested learn better. And after all isn’t that what we want for our kids?
Want more? Visit the Pinellas County Schools site!