# Countryside High School

28°01′24″N 82°42′41″W﻿ / ﻿28.023285°N 82.711387°W﻿ / 28.023285; -82.711387
Countryside High School, also known as CHS, is a public high school located in Clearwater, Florida. Established in 1980, it is a part of the Pinellas County Schools system, and is one of the larger schools in Pinellas County. It draws students from Dunedin, suburban east Clearwater, Safety Harbor, and Oldsmar.
Countryside High School is one of the largest and most prestigious schools in the Pinellas County School system.

## History

The school's first graduating class in 1980 finished before the school was completed and held classes and graduation at Dunedin High School.
Countryside High School's Battle of the Books Team took First Place in the Battle of the Books for three years running, beginning in 2010.
In 2022 a resurfaced outside facade and a new mall floor design were built.

## Academics

The school offers numerous advanced academic programs and recognition, including foreign languages and technology honor societies along with ISTEM (institute of science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and CCT (Center for Computer Technologies). The Winter guard is the Scholastic Class A Florida Federation of Color guard Circuit (FFCC) state champions and the scholastic class A Winter Guard International bronze medalists in 2006.
The school won the first high school "Battle of the Books" competition in 2006, repeating the feat again in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015.
The school newspaper, Paw Print, has received an All Florida Rating from the Florida Scholastic Press Association; a Superior from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association and an International Second Place Award from Quill and Scroll.
The UPC Morning Show (Upper Pinellas County) televised newscast began in 1987, and has since grown to an award-winning, student-produced daily 8-minute news show. Both the Paw Print newspaper and the UPC Morning Show can be seen online.

## Student life
### Clubs

CHS offers a variety of clubs (over 25) for student development involvement.

### Theater

Countryside has a notable Drama program winning many statewide awards. It has consistently been one of the highest performing schools in Florida.
In 2007–2008, the musical Honk, an adaptation of the Ugly Duckling, was selected to be performed as a Mainstage show at the Florida State Thespian Festival on May 1, 2008. It was one of six chosen from a group of 35 shows in Florida. Other shows done by CHS include Li'l Abner. The Foreigner, West Side Story, and Steel Magnolias.
In 2011–2012, their production of Return to the Forbidden Planet was also selected to be performed as a Mainstage show.
In 2015–2016, their one act A... My Name Is Alice received a superior rating and was selected to represent their district and perform at the Florida State Thespian Festival
Thespian Troupe 900 is responsible for many outdoor performances among the combined rock band, choir, and musical theater groups on campus.

### Sports

Countryside won the 1985 4A FHSAA State Meet. Countryside won the 2006 State Championship for class 6A boys soccer.
The school offers many sports for boys and girls, including football, basketball, track, and many others.

### Marching band

* 2006 Plaformed at the NFL Experience Fan Fest for the presentation of the Lombardi Trophy.
* 2009 Field show Grand Champions at the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Performed with the ced 4th in the Class 3A Florida Marching Band Coalition's State Championships at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida.
* 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic field show Grand Champions and 1st runner-up in the parade competition for the 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, Texas. Performed with the mass band performance at Pre-Game and Halftime.
* 2009 Invited to play at the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida where they permass band for Pre-Game and Halftime.
* 2010 Placed 4th and received the Best Visual Performance in the Class 1A Florida Marching Band Coalition's State Championships at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, florida.

## Notable alumni

* Bobby Finke, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming and 1500m freestyle world record holder.
* AJ Andrews, softball player
* David Blue, actor
* Keith Boykin, author and broadcaster
* Vic Carrapazza, Major League Baseball umpire
* Andrew DeClercq, 1991 graduate, who played in the National Basketball Association for Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic
* Jared Frayer, 2012 Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Matt Geiger, 1987 graduate, who played in the National Basketball Association for Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers
* Ira Heiden, actor who appeared in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Illegally Yours, and a small recurring role on the TV hit Alias
* Agim Kaba, actor
* Melanie Margalis, Olympic swimmer
* Jeff Mitchell, played center for the Carolina Panthers and won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens
* Tyler Moore, University of Florida offensive tackle
* Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, psychotherapist and author
* George Tsamis, former professional baseball player who pitched for the Minnesota Twins. He is currently manager of the St. Paul Saints, a professional independent minor league team from Minnesota.
* Eliot Schrefer, author
* Mike Love, Buffalo Bills DE
* Adam Lowitt, comedian
* Austin "The UPC Guy" McGee, Business Owner "Totally Ice Cream"