School Search: Thousands in Pinellas turn to Catholic schools

Catholic schools make up the second-largest school network outside the public school system with 15 schools in Pinellas, but they welcome students of all faiths.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg says it has 48 schools and early childhood centers with more than 12,000 students in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Over the next three months, many campuses will offer tours or list open houses on their websites for the 2018-19 school year.

Many Catholic schools also participate in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships for families that qualify financially. In addition, they accept McKay and Gardiner scholarships, state programs for students with special needs. (See story, Page 5.) Information on financial aid is available at dosp.org/schools.

Here are the Catholic schools in Pinellas County:

Clearwater Central Catholic High School

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

St. Petersburg Catholic High School

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

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; cathedralofstjude.org; (727) 347-8622

Espiritu Santo Catholic School

2405A Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor; early childhood 3-4,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 4, VPK, K-8; myoll.com; (727) 733-3776

Sacred Heart Catholic School

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

St. Cecelia Catholic School

1350 Court St., Clearwater; early childhood 3, VPK, preK-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 and 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. Raphael Catholic School

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