Pinellas schools face possible closures as district holds final public meetings Wednesday

More Pinellas County schools could close or consolidate by next year, and Wednesday, July 15, is the last scheduled chance for families to speak up before district leaders finalize their recommendations.

Three meetings set for Wednesday night

Three Planning for Progress community meetings are set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at:

• Dunedin High School
• Pinellas Park High School
• St. Petersburg High School

District leaders plan to present population trends, future enrollment projections, school building utilization data and facility planning information, according to the district newsroom. The district says it will use the feedback to shape recommendations for the school board this fall. No specific fall vote date has been announced.

Schools already closed

The board isn't starting from scratch. In January 2026, Pinellas County Schools voted to close Cross Bayou Elementary in Pinellas Park and Disston Academy in St. Petersburg. The board also approved combining Bay Point Elementary and Bay Point Middle into a single K-8 school and expanding Oldsmar Elementary into a K-8 configuration. Those decisions are finalized, according to the district's Planning for Progress page, updated July 9.

The next round could bring additional closures and consolidations districtwide.

Why it's happening

Superintendent Kevin Hendrick has attributed the changes to shrinking student numbers and state policy shifts.

"The need for these changes comes largely from a declining school-aged population and enrollment across the district, as well as legislative changes regarding school building use," Hendrick said.

The district has not released specific enrollment decline figures or a list of schools under consideration for the next round. No Clearwater-area school has been named as a candidate.

How to stay informed

Families who cannot attend Wednesday's meetings can check the district's Planning for Progress page at pcsb.org for updates. No remote feedback option, such as an online form or email address, was identified in district materials as of July 15.

The fall school board recommendations will mark the next major milestone in the multiyear planning effort.