St. Petersburg Collegiate High Schools will open a new campus in Fall 2022 for grades 9-12 at the college’s downtown St. Petersburg location. Students will graduate with a high school diploma, an associate degree, and at least two industry certifications that prepare them for high-wage, in-demand STEM careers – with no cost for books, fees, or tuition.
ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg College’s award-winning St. Petersburg Collegiate High Schools (SPCHS) will open a new campus in Fall 2022 for grades 9-12 at the college’s downtown St. Petersburg location. Parents interested in learning about what SPCHS offers are invited to RSVP at stpe.co/infosession22 to join one of three upcoming information sessions:
SPC Midtown Center
- Monday, April 18, 6-7 p.m.
- 1300 22ndStreet S, St. Petersburg, Room MTJC-141
Online Session
- Tuesday, April 19, 6-7 p.m.
SPC Downtown Center
- Monday, April 25, 6-7 p.m.
- 244 Second Avenue N, St. Petersburg, Room DC-210
SPCHS opened its first charter in 2004 at SPC’s St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, then added a North County option in Tarpon Springs in 2019. The new campus, like the others, will allow students to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously, but Starla Metz, SPC’s associate vice president of Accelerated Programs, said the new campus would be slightly different than the others.
“The goal at the new campus is to prepare students to successfully enter the workforce in high-demand, high-wage STEM careers,” Metz said.
SPCHS-Downtown students will graduate with a high school diploma, an associate degree, and at least two industry certifications that prepare them for high-wage, in-demand STEM careers – with no cost for books, fees, or tuition. Currently, the only campus open to high school freshmen, Metz said young students would receive lots of support. They will begin in a grade-level cohort, taking predominantly high school courses, learning college success skills, and taking college computer courses. After-school tutoring will be offered to ensure their success.
“The technical level of college reading is high, and at that age, they haven’t really developed habits like studying and reading for college. We’ll take that first year to shore up their skills and give them a rock-solid foundation, no matter where they are,” Metz said.
SPCHS-Gibbs Campus Junior Selah Williams said that though she wasn’t sure what to expect, her experience at the school has been a great one.
“I didn’t know if I’d get the high school experience I wanted or how much support I’d be offered,” Selah said. “But as soon as I met everyone, I fit right in and felt super comfortable. You still get that high school feel, but with so much support.”
Learn more about SPCHS and its admission requirements at spchs.spcollege.edu.