St. Petersburg Collegiate STEM High School (SPCSHS) at SPC’s Downtown Center outperformed all Pinellas County High schools in key performance areas for the 2023-2024 academic year.
The Florida Department of Education released its annual report of school grades and in a stunning display of academic prowess and commitment to educational excellence, the two-year-old SPCSHS emerged as a top-performing high school in five key categories including English Language Achievement, English Language Arts Learning Gains, Math, and Science Achievement.
Founding Principal, Dr. Raquel Hairston’s passion for STEM and dedication to education, inspired her team and set the foundation for the school’s rapid rise.
However, the road was not without obstacles. The school’s growing pains were marked by significant turnover in critical shortage areas, including math and science teachers. This turnover could have derailed the school’s progress, but Dr. Hairston, her leadership team, and teachers faced these challenges head-on.
“It was very challenging to keep the focus on learning,” said Dr. Hairston. “We were able to pivot, make strategic decisions, and implement change management strategies. We evaluated existing resources and personnel to see how we could maintain momentum and keep the focus on learning. I appreciate working with a fantastic team of faculty and staff including a dynamic Assistant Principal, Mr. Bulmer, who all helped to make this year so successful.”
As SPCSHS continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to its mission of providing a world-class STEM education, shaping the next generation of learners, leaders and innovators.
The State of Florida School Recognition Program provides public recognition and financial awards to schools that have sustained high student performance or schools that demonstrate substantial improvement in student performance. It also provides an easily understandable way for parents and the public to measure the performance of a school.
To learn more about what St. Petersburg Collegiate STEM High School offers, please visit spchs.spcollege.edu.
