Students Can Earn High School Diploma, Associate's Degree At Same Time

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — If you are a Pinellas County resident and have a rising sophomore or junior, there are still several opportunities coming up to learn about St. Petersburg Collegiate High Schools’ award-winning programs, which offer students the opportunity to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate in arts degree – all at no cost to the family.

Located at SPC’s Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campuses, SPCHS has consistently won state and national awards, including being named the No. 1 charter high school in Florida by Niche and also named a School of Excellence by the state of Florida.

Starla Metz, vice president of Accelerated Programs at SPC, said she believes the secret to SPCHS’s success is the school’s small size, along with a rigorous and individualized curriculum.

“We really work hard to build a relationship with each student and create a family-like culture that allows us to expertly guide our students in preparing for their college majors and career pathways,” Metz said.

Abby Everingham’s son, Aiden, transferred to SPCHS this year. She said the program has been challenging, but Aiden has been offered plenty of support.

“The teachers are engaged and committed to creating a learning environment, so he’s so much more engaged than last year,” Everingham said. “The kids all know each other, and the school holds events and makes a great effort to create a family atmosphere.”

SPCHS provides a variety of clubs, school-sponsored extracurricular activities and a leadership program so students can enjoy a well-rounded high school experience.

“Our students graduate with their associate degree two years early, so they need to have the confidence and soft skills to be successful in continuing their education and entering the work force,” Metz said. “We want them to understand that great leaders serve and understand the joy that comes from helping others and making a difference.”

Designated an “A” school each year since opening in 2004, SPCHS boasts a consistent high school graduation rate of 100 percent, and an average AA graduation rate of 95 percent for the past 12 years. Metz said those graduates often go on to success in their career fields and give thanks to SPCHS for preparing them.

“Over and over again, I hear from our alums who credit SPCHS and the strong academic foundations and experiences they received at SPC for their success,” Metz said.

Applicants with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 and qualifying PERT scores are selected for admission through a random lottery.

Student and parent attendance at one of the information webinars is required for application. The application deadline is 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 7. Junior applicants must meet all entrance criteria by the application deadline.

Students may choose either a virtual or in-person information session. See session options and times and register here.

Visit the website at spchs.spcollege.edu.