Pinellas County students return to school later this month to find renovated classrooms, or possibly even new surroundings as they graduate to the next level. In 1894 and 1911, St. Petersburg students walked into two brand new schools. Located on 5th Street North between 1st and 2nd Avenues, the Graded School opened in 1894 to multiple grade levels. As our student population grew, a high school was needed, and in 1911 St. Petersburg High School opened its doors at 150 5th Street, adjacent to the Graded School. It wouldn’t be long for the city to outgrow that campus and a new St. Pete High would open around the corner on Mirror Lake Drive in 1919. The 1911 building later became St. Petersburg Junior College.
These historical images of St. Petersburg, and many more, are available in the Museum’s archives. For more information, visit HistoryStPete.org.
