Newsweek Names St. Petersburg Collegiate High School as a Top STEM High School
We are excited that STEM.org and Newsweek recently ranked their top 5000 STEM schools in the Unites States, and St. Petersburg Collegiate was ranked in the top 4000. The organization evaluated over 31,500 high schools during this study. See the link for more information.
PERT Schedule for SPCHS Applicants Set
The following dates have been set for potential SPCHS applicants to take the PERT test as part of their application process.
Here is the schedule for applicants to take the PERT at either the Clearwater, Tarpon, or St. Petersburg/Gibbs campuses:
Campus, Date, Times, Location
- SPC Tarpon Springs Campus, Wednesday, January 8th, Student Check-In 3:30pm, Testing 4:00pm-7:30pm, NuTech 461/462
- SPC Tarpon Springs Campus, Wednesday, January 15th, Student Check-In 3:30pm, Testing 4:00pm-7:30pm, NuTech 461/462
- SPC Clearwater Campus, Thursday, January 23rd, Student Check-in 3:30pm, Testing 4:00pm-8:00pm, ES 207
- SPC Gibbs Campus, Thursday, January 23rd, Student Check-in 3:30pm, Testing 4:00pm-8:00pm, TE 228
- SPC Clearwater Campus, Thursday, January 30th, Student Check-in 3:30pm, Testing 4:00pm-8:00pm, ES 207
- SPC Gibbs Campus, Thursday, January 30th, Student Check-in 3:30pm, Testing 4:00pm-8:00pm, TE 228
- SPC Clearwater Campus, Monday, February 3rd, Student Check-in 3:30pm, Testing 4:00pm-8:00pm, ES 207
- SPC Gibbs Campus, Monday, February 3rd, Student Check-in 3:30pm, Testing 4:00pm-8:00pm, TE 228
NICHE recognizes St. Petersburg Collegiate- St. Petersburg/Gibbs as a 2020 Best School
We are thrilled to announce that we have been recognized as a 2020 Best School by NICHE. This year, St. Petersburg Collegiate High- St. Petersburg/Gibbs campus ranked as #1 Best Public High School in the Tampa Bay area by NICHE. This ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, and high school ratings.
While we’ve always known that SPCHS is a wonderful place to learn and grow, we’re so proud of our students and staff at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs campus during the 2018-2019 school year for earning this national distinction.
SPCHS is named 2019 School of Excellence
Congratulations to SPCHS on being named a 2019 School of Excellence by the
Florida Department of Education. Schools are classified as Schools of Excellence if
the school’s percentage of possible points earned in its school grade calculation is in
the 80th percentile or higher for schools comprised of the same grade groupings for
at least two of the last three years.
Christina Colon, SPCHS Senior, Named a National Hispanic Scholar
Congratulations to Christina Colon, St. Petersburg Collegiate High School senior, who has been named a National Hispanic Scholar.
Each year the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) recognizes about 5,000 academically outstanding high school students from the more than 400,000 Hispanic and Latino juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT®.
The College Board’s NHRP program is an academic honor that can be included on college applications. It’s not a scholarship, but colleges do use this program to identify academically exceptional Hispanic/Latino students. Click to learn more about the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
St. Petersburg Collegiate High School hosts Blue Ribbon celebration 2/1/2018 Marilyn Shaw
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, St. Petersburg Collegiate High School celebrated its 2017 National Blue Ribbon Award. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy De
Vos recognized SPCHS as an Exemplary High Performing School for 2017 at an awards ceremony in November. The award recognizes the school for being among the state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.
At the celebration, St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus Provost Jamelle Conner opened the program by welcoming more than 75 parents, students and community leaders. SPCHS Principal Starla Metz thanked attendees and shared information about Blue Ribbon Award. SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams offered remarks and acknowledged the great accomplishments of the students.
“I’m privileged to have an opportunity to work with you,” said Williams. “We’re so proud of you, and we look forward to seeing the work you’ll be doing in the future.”
SPCHS Alum Jessica Baugher said she felt supported and encouraged throughout her time at the school.
“You’re never left alone, which is an amazing part about this program,” said Baugher. “And through my years at St. Petersburg Collegiate High School, I’ve had endless opportunities for leadership.
SPCHS Senior Desmond Douglas said he has grown through the support he has found at SPCHS. “It takes a village to raise a child, but also a collegiate student,” said Douglas.
“One thing I learned is that the students love to learn and the teachers love to teach. Gaining a higher level of responsibility and independence is what I’ve gained the most from this program.”
Closing the program, Catherine Kennedy, AVP of Academic Affairs and Partnership, read the proclamation from the City of St. Petersburg designating January 31, 2018 as SPCHS National Blue Ribbon Day.
Since 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program award recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.
The honorary schools are recognized in one of two performance categories: Exemplary High Performing Schools and/or Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates.
Since 2004, SPCHS has earned an “A” rating each year from the state of Florida. In 2016, Newsweek named them the 55th best high school in America – only one of 10 in Florida to make the list, SPCHS held the second ranking in the state.
This story first appeared the the SPC Blue and White.
SPCHS Students Named National Merit Finalists
Congratulations to Krystal White and Zachary Hart, SPCHS seniors, who have been named National Merit Scholar Finalists for 2017.
According to the National Merit Scholarship Press Release, “Over 1.6 million juniors in 22,000 high schools entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship program when they took the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) which served as an initial screen of program entrants. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalist had to fulfill requirements to advance to Finalist standing. By the conclusion of the 2017 competition, 7,500 Finalists have been chosen to receive National Merit Scholarships totaling over 32 million dollars.” To learn more about the National Merit Scholarship Program please click this link: http://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=405
SPCHS is proud of Krystal White and Zachary Hart for this distinguished honor! Also worthy of congratulations are SPCHS seniors, Allison Di Vito, Jaelen Knight, Taylor Paulk, and Ganna Voytseshko, who received a letter of commendation.
TAYLOR BALLARD 2017 PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT
Since the inception of the SPCHS Leadership Program, students have been encouraged to develop a civic-minded spirit and get involved in their communities. One SPCHS senior, Taylor Ballard, has made a significant contribution impacting her fellow teens and patients through her service as a member of the Hospice Teen Leadership Board and as a Hospice volunteer.
Taylor’s service qualified her for The 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards' “President’s Volunteer Service Award.” Taylor was selected from a talented and dedicated group of volunteers to be considered for state-level recognition in The 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. While Taylor was not selected for one of the state-level honors this year, she was recognized for her community service.
In their recognition letter, John Strangfeld, Chairman & CEO, Prudential Financial, and JoAnn Bartoletti, Executive Director of NASSP, stated “[How] impressed [they] were with the commitment and energy [Taylor] displayed in [her] volunteer activities.”
Although not honored at the state-level, Taylor impressed the Award judges and, in acknowledgment of her volunteer activities (based on the number of volunteer hours indicated in her application last fall), Taylor will receive the “President’s Volunteer Service Award!” The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation sent Taylor’s Award certificate, along with a letter from the president, to SPCHS which was presented to Taylor at the SPCHS Junior and Senior Awards Program on May 5.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards byline is Honoring Outstanding Community Service by Young Americans. At SPCHS, we are so proud that our students are providing an exemplary example of this commitment. The award letter included the following quote:
“Especially at this time in our nation’s history, Americans of all ages need to think more about how we, as individual citizens, can make a positive difference in our communities. Young volunteers like yourself (Taylor) are inspiring examples to all of us, and are one of the brightest hopes for a better tomorrow.”
We could not agree more. Congratulations, Taylor!
SPCHS Seniors Named to the 2017 All-Florida Academic Team
Congratulations to Stephen Lee Delong and Natalie Moyer, SPCHS seniors, who were recently named to The Florida College System 2017 All-Florida Academic Team representing St. Petersburg College. Natalie and Stephen Lee were nominated by St. Petersburg College to the All-USA Academic Team competition sponsored by USA Today and the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, according to The Florida College System announcement. Selection for this prestigious honor is based on the students’ academic achievement, leadership and service to their communities. Natalie Moyer (pictured below on the left) and Stephen Lee Delong (pictured below on the right) were two of 127 students in the state who were recognized at an awards ceremony in Tallahassee, Florida on April 7, 2017.
SPCHS RECIPIENT OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT HALL OF FAME “OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD”
By Connie Langhorst and Starla Metz
SPCHS students and staff were on hand to accept the prestigious Junior Achievement “2017 Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award” that was presented to SPCHS at the recent Junior Achievement Hall of Fame event. The celebration took place at Busch Garden’s Tampa Bay, Dragon Fire Grill on Thursday, March 2. See the video played at the event honoring SPCHS students.
At SPCHS, we are proud of our ten-year partnership with Junior Achievement (JA). The “Outstanding Achievement Award” presented to SPCHS honors our students for their volunteer contributions in support of financial literacy education.
During the 2015-16 school year, JA participating SPCHS students volunteered at 15 Pinellas County Schools, taught 96 classes and assisted 1,799 students with Financial Literacy Education. In total, our students contributed a total of 480 hours of community service to Pinellas County Schools.
At SPCHS, JA has changed from being an adult-led to a student-led program. As an example of a student project, SPCHS students created and implemented a recycling program two years ago that saves Junior Achievement money each year. The good work initiated by this SPCHS project, and others, has been replicated, as a “how to succeed”model, at other Junior Achievement-affiliated high schools.
We are proud of our four seniors who serve as JA Co-Presidents
: Meg Fister and Rebekah Wyant, shown in the photo on the left, and Aaliyah Miller and Desiree Stefanik featured in the photo below.
One of the co-presidents, Aaliyah Miller, accepted the award on behalf of SPCHS, and shared these comments:
I look forward to passing the baton on to the next group of students who are coming into the program. I have done my part, so it should be much easier for them. It was a nice experience in recognition of our hard work and for our high school to be recognized by major businesses, such as Bank of America and HSN. It was an honor to have our work recognized by these businesses and to be rewarded for our work in this way.
Bailey Willis, an SPCHS junior and JA member, attended the event and had this to say about the experience:
“It was an honor to be invited to be a part of this event and to see how the seniors do things.”
Baily Willis and Desmond Douglas
Julie Brecher, Vice President of Development for Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, Inc., acknowledged our students in a follow up letter to SPCHS Principal Starla Metz:
Congratulations again. I hope you all enjoyed your evening, it was such an honor to award you and the students with the 2017 Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award last night at the Hall of Fame, I hope you enjoyed the evening. It has been a pleasure working with you and thank you for all you do!
JA's Legacy Award recipients and presenting sponsors for the Hall of Fame Awards included: HSN, PWC, SKYES, BUSCH GARDENS, OUTBACK, and TAMPA BAY TIMES.
Pictures and video are compliments of Junior Achievement.