Catholic schools are a choice for many Pinellas families

Pinellas County is home to 15 Catholic schools in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, part of a larger group of nearly 50 schools and early childhood centers with more than 12,000 students across the Tampa Bay area.

Next to the public school system, Catholic schools make up the region's second-largest network of schools, but they welcome students of all faiths. Over the next three months, many campuses will begin offering tours in preparation for the 2019–20 school year. The information will be available on their websites.

Also, many Catholic schools participate in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, a state program that provides tuition for families who qualify financially. In addition, they accept McKay and Gardiner scholarships, which are state programs for students with special needs. Information on financial aid is available at dosp.org/schools.

Here is a list of Catholic schools in Pinellas:

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

11501 66th Ave. N, Seminole; early childhood 4, VPK, K-8; blessedsacramentcatholicschool.com; (727) 391-4060

Cathedral School of St. Jude

600 58th St. N, St. Petersburg; early childhood 2-4, VPK, K-8; cathedralschoolofstjude.org; (727) 347-8622

Clearwater Central Catholic High School

2750 Haines Bayshore Road; 9-12 coed; ccchs.org; (727) 531-1449

Espiritu Santo Catholic School

2405A Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor; early childhood 3,VPK, K-8; escschool.org; (727) 812-4650

Guardian Angels Catholic School

2270 Evans Road, Clearwater; VPK, K-8; gacsfl.com; (727) 799-6724

Holy Family Catholic School

250 78th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg; early childhood center for ages 2-3, VPK, K-8; holyfamilycatholicschool.com; (727) 526-8194

Morning Star Catholic School

4661 80th Ave. N, Pinellas Park; special education; morningstarschool.org; (727) 544-6036

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School

730 San Salvador Drive, Dunedin; early childhood 3-4, VPK, K-8; myoll.com; (727) 733-3776

Sacred Heart Catholic School

7951 46th Way N, Pinellas Park; early childhood 3-4, K-8; sacredheartpinellaspark.org; (727) 544-1106

St. Cecelia Catholic School

1350 Court St., Clearwater; early childhood 3, VPK, K-8; st-cecelia.org; (727) 461-1200

St. John Vianney Catholic School

500 84th Ave., St. Pete Beach; early childhood 4, VPK, K-8; sjvcs.org; (727) 360-1113

St. Patrick Catholic School

1501 Trotter Road, Largo; early childhood 3-4, K-8; stpatrickcatholic.org; (727) 581-4865

St. Paul Catholic School

1900 12th St. N, St. Petersburg; early childhood 3-4, K-8; stpaul1930.org; (727) 823-6144

St. Petersburg Catholic High School

6333 Ninth Ave. N, St. Petersburg; 9-12 coed; spchs.org; (727) 344-4065

St. Raphael Catholic School

1376 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg; early childhood 4, VPK, K-8; straphaelschool.net; (727) 821-9663