Pinellas County Schools kicked off the new school year holding onto its “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education — the third consecutive year the district has earned that mark. District-wide, 92% of Pinellas schools scored an A or B this year, with every remaining school landing a C.
One standout: Melrose Elementary in St. Petersburg posted its first-ever A grade, a milestone for the roughly 300-student school. Principal Dr. Carmen Harris framed it as a starting point rather than a peak for the school going forward.
The achievement comes against a demographic headwind the district has been managing for years. Superintendent Kevin Hendrick pointed to a steep drop in local births — Pinellas used to see about 10,000 hospital births a year, but that number fell below 7,000 last year for the first time. That decline is part of what’s driven recent consolidation decisions, including the closures of Cross Bayou Elementary and Disston Academy.
The district also rolled out new rules around e-bikes this year, requiring students to follow the same municipal laws that apply off-campus — helmets where required, no riding models that aren’t legally allowed, and bikes parked in designated spots rather than left on sidewalks. It’s part of the same broader push toward updated technology policy that also includes this year’s restrictions on smart glasses recording other students on campus.
Source: FOX 13 News, reporting by Heather Healy.