Pinellas County Schools holds its North County magnet and fundamental fair at Dunedin High School on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Clearwater and Palm Harbor families can compare programs and talk with school representatives from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Representatives from schools across the district will be on hand to answer questions and share enrollment information, according to the district. The fairs are not the application window. They are a chance to explore options before applications open in January.

Two more fairs follow the Dunedin event. The All County Fair runs Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Pinellas Park High School. The South County Fair is Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Gibbs High School.

Magnet vs. fundamental

The district says magnet programs are built around students' individual interests and talents. Fundamental schools emphasize structured academics, parent involvement and student responsibility.

Both program types draw students from across Pinellas County. Each fair gathers representatives from multiple campuses in one location.

Application timeline

Families interested in the 2027-28 school year can apply during the initial application period, Jan. 5–15, 2027. The acceptance period runs Feb. 10–19, 2027. The district stresses that families who submit an application must log back into the system during the acceptance window to review and accept any invitations they receive.

Discovery Nights

Beyond the fairs, individual schools host Discovery Nights throughout the fall. These events give families a chance to visit specific campuses, meet teachers and administrators, and see programs up close. The full Discovery Nights schedule is available on the district's website.

Applications open Jan. 5, 2027, at pcsb.org/magnet.