Most students are assigned to a school near home. However, in certain areas of the county, elementary students are transported to schools other than their neighborhood schools for between two and six years. Some middle and high school students also are assigned to schools away from their neighborhoods to accomplish desegregation or to attend magnet programs. Pinellas County Schools follows a 1971 U.S. District Court order on desegregation. Because not all neighborhoods are naturally integrated, we must transport some students to desegregate the schools.
Overcrowded conditions created by growth also cause rezoning of students.
Allowing all parents or guardians to select a school for their children could lead to racial imbalance and overcrowding problems in certain schools while others would be underused. However, Pinellas County Schools offers a number of options for our students based on individual needs. We have fundamental schools, magnet and choice school programs, and special schools for students who are unsuccessful in traditional school settings. The majority of requests for these reasons are approved. However, a student's enrollment cannot adversely affect overcrowding or the racial balance at the chosen school.