Schools in Clearwater
Pinellas County Schools -- the district serving Clearwater -- earned an 'A' district rating from the Florida Department of Education for the third year in a row heading into the 2026 school year, with 92% of its schools individually graded A or B and zero D or F schools. That is a genuinely strong district-wide performance record, though it's a countywide figure that spans all of Pinellas, not a Clearwater-only statistic.
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Learn moreDistrict-Wide Rating
Pinellas County Schools was recognized as an 'A' district by the Florida Department of Education for the third consecutive year heading into the 2026 school year, per FOX 13 Tampa Bay reporting, even amid declining enrollment and some recent school closures districtwide. Florida Department of Education assessment results show the district outperformed the state average in every tested subject area.
Individual School Grades
Of Pinellas County's individually graded schools, 92 earned an A, 27 earned a B, and 10 earned a C -- meaning 92% of schools earned an A or B grade, with no schools receiving a D or F. This is a district-wide figure covering all of Pinellas County, including but not limited to schools within Clearwater city limits specifically -- individual Clearwater-area school grades will vary school by school, and prospective buyers should check the specific assigned school for any address rather than relying on the district-wide average.
What This Means for Home-Buying Decisions
Because Florida school assignment is generally attendance-zone-based, a strong district-wide rating doesn't guarantee every individual Clearwater school carries the same grade -- the 10 C-graded schools countywide are real, even if the district overall performs well. Anyone prioritizing schools in a home search should verify the specific assigned elementary, middle, and high school for a given address against the Florida Department of Education's current grade data rather than relying on the district's overall 'A' rating alone.
Key takeaways
- Pinellas County Schools earned an 'A' district rating for the third consecutive year heading into 2026 (Florida DOE, via FOX 13 Tampa Bay), outperforming the state average in every tested subject.
- 92% of Pinellas County schools earned an A or B grade (92 A, 27 B, 10 C) with zero D or F schools countywide.
- This is a Pinellas County-wide figure, not Clearwater-specific -- verify the individual assigned school for any address rather than relying on the district average alone.
- Florida school assignment is generally attendance-zone-based, so school quality can be a meaningful factor in choosing a specific Clearwater neighborhood -- see the best-areas topic page.
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