1. Why should I choose St. Petersburg Collegiate High School?
The purpose of SPCHS is to provide an opportunity for qualified high school students to accelerate their education by earning college credits toward an Associate in Arts degree while completing high school graduation requirements.

2. In what grades can students enroll?
Students can enroll in 10^th and 11^th grades.

3. How much college credit can students earn in high school?
The number of college credits will vary due to the specialization courses required in the field of study selected by the student. Most programs are a minimum of 60 credits for an Associate in Arts degree.

4. Will the students also graduate from high school?
Yes. They will graduate from St. Petersburg Collegiate High School after meeting Florida state high school requirements of 24 credits. Students wishing to participate in the 18 credit option should not apply.

5. What are the requirements for admission?

• Must be a Pinellas County resident
   
• Must be eligible to begin grade 10 and 11
   
• Must submit an application between January 1^st and March 1^st
   
• Proof of attendance at one of the Collegiate High School Orientations
   
• For 10^th grade applicants, the following are preferred requirements:

• High School GPA of 2.5 or higher
   
• Passing 8^th grade FCAT scores
   
• CPT scores: (College Placement Test)
   
  • Minimum of 60 on Reading
     
  • Minimum of 60 on Sentence Skills
     
  • Minimum of 65 on the Arithmetic Test
     
  • Minimum of 60 on the Elementary Algebra Test

• 10^th grade students wishing to apply that do not meet the above requirements must schedule an appointment with a Collegiate High School staff member
   
• Students applying for grade 11 must submit the following items with their application: (as required by Dual Credit Legislation)

• Current high school transcript
   
• Minimum unweighted high school GPA of 3.0
   
• Minimum CPT scores of:
   
  • Reading – 83
     
  • Sentence Skills – 83
     
  • Elementary Algebra – 72
     
  • College Level math - 41

6. Where is the school located?

St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus
Fifth Avenue and 66^th St. N, St. Petersburg

7. What is the capacity of SPCHS?

• Anticipated enrollment will be 175 students in grades 10-12.
• If more applications are received than openings, a lottery will be conducted.

8. When will I know if I have been accepted?
Students will receive either an invitation letter or a notification of waitlist status by March 15, 2009.

9. If not accepted, can I apply again for the next grade level?
Yes, applications will be taken each year for open positions in grade levels 10 and 11.

10. What program will students follow?
Students will enter SPCHS in one of two categories:

• Pre-collegiate status – for students entering in grade 10
• Collegiate (Dual Credit) status – for students entering in grade 11

11. What is pre-collegiate status?
Students entering the 10^th grade are placed in the pre-collegiate program. Their classes will be taught by certified high school teachers on the St. Petersburg /Gibbs College Campus. Their course of study will be based on course progressions initiated during their ninth grade year. Credits earned during this year will meet Florida high school graduation requirements.

12. What is collegiate status?
Students who have passed the College Placement Test or SAT/ACT and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher are placed in the Collegiate program. Collegiate-status students will take college courses offered at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus. These courses will meet Florida high school graduation requirements and course requirements for the AA degree.

13. What is a typical school day?

• Students are required to attend 25 instructional hours a week.
• In this program the daily hours of instruction vary in length.
• Juniors and Seniors follow their college class schedule and must attend a mandatory weekly meeting.
• Sophomores are in high school classes between 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• Attendance is taken daily to maintain accurate records to report to the state Department of Education.

14. What is the school calendar year?

• 180 school days
• For the 2009-2010 school year, we are exploring an alternative calendar that will closely follow the college sessions.

15. When can students apply?
The application period is January 1^st – March 1^st.

16. What is the application process?
Parents and students must attend an orientation meeting and complete all application materials. See question number 5 for details. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

17. How will students be chosen?
Students will be chosen through a blind random lottery.

18. When will the lottery be conducted?
During the month of March after all applications are received and verified to ensure completion.

19. When will I be notified if I am accepted?
Applicants will receive information from the Collegiate High School no later than March 15^th. See question number 8.

20. What is the cost to attend?
There is no cost for application, tuition, course fees or textbooks. The program is subsidized through state education funds.

21. Can students who have participated in Dual Credit courses apply for SPCHS?
Yes, if they have met the application requirements.

22. Who are the instructors?

• In the pre-collegiate program, students will be taught high school courses by state certified high school teachers
• In the collegiate program, students will be taught by college faculty with doctorates and masters degrees. (SPCHS students will attend college classes along with other SPC college students)

23. Where will high school classes take place?
The Collegiate High School facilities includes a large portable classroom building, which houses the offices of the Collegiate High School staff, student computer lab and study area, and four additional relocatable classrooms for instruction of high school level classes.

24. Can high school students participate in SPC activities and student organizations?

• Yes. They are eligible to join some student clubs, but may want to create their own student organizations.
• The college will not organize extracurricular activities for the Collegiate High School students, but parents are encouraged through PTSA to assist with extracurricular activities.
• Students are not allowed to try out for SPC athletic teams; however, they are encouraged to participate in the campus intramural activities.
• Students may be able to participate in high school athletic teams at a high school assigned by Pinellas County Schools, schedule permitting.

25. How was SPCHS established? 

View the SPCHS Charter pdf

26. Whom should we contact for more information about the Collegiate High School?

View the faculty and staff contact information

Fax# 727-341-4226