Clearwater High School - Home of the Tornadoes

Address: 1951 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33765

Phone: (727) 298-1620

Fax: (727) 469-5981

Pinellas County Schools Administration: (727) 588-6000

Principal: Eric Krause

School Hours: 7:25 AM  - 1:55 PM

About:                         

Clearwater High School was one of the first high schools in Pinellas County. The school opened its doors in 1906 to a ninth-grade class consisting of three people. It moved to its current location in 1954. Clearwater's current enrollment is more than 1,700 students. We are about to wrap up a $56 - million rebuild and renovation project and are excited to share the new school with the community of Clearwater.

Clearwater High's motto is "Tradition, Honor, Pride" and the school is backed by a loyal and committed community. The community has raised the money to build its fine facilities at the swimming pool and the football stadium. The Rolling Stones made an appearance in Clearwater on June 5, 1965 to help raise money to build the pool. Alumni of Clearwater High are presidents of many local businesses and politicians, and many Clearwater High graduates have returned to teach at the high school they love. Clearwater High remains a school where pride runs deep and academic and athletic achievement is the rule rather than the exception.

Clearwater High's focus is on school safety and highest student achievement. We offer honors, the prestigious AICE program in partnership with Cambridge University, Advanced Placement, and Dual Enrollment courses through St. Petersburg College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. CHS also has a nationally recognized Marine Corps ROTC, school newspaper, yearbook and fine arts program. The guidance department is the only one in Pinellas County to offer curriculum-based seminars for all grades. 

The Career Academy for International Culture and Commerce (CAICC) is a Center of Excellence that allows students to prepare for work in the international business community (see the CAICC page for detailed information about the program). As mentioned above, Clearwater also offers the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) which is an international Diploma that students can earn via an advanced academic curriculum. The qualifications within the AICE Diploma framework have a currency with strong levels of international recognition and students that earn an AICE diploma qualify for the highest level of Florida Bright Futures regardless of ACT or SAT test scores. 

Starting in the 2012-2013 school year Clearwater began a wall to wall academy program. These academies will function as Small Leaning Communities and will be centered on key interest areas of our Clearwater High students.  This “academy environment” will offer each student more personalized attention, recognition and care from teachers, staff, and peers. Integral to this “Academy Methodology“ is the interest and career-themed approach designed to engage all students with learning that is rigorous and relevant – preparing them for college-level or post-high school work through the context of their interests. This initiative will also offer our students numerous varied industry certifications and thereby endow them with real-world career skills.

These forward thinking initiatives also brough along other changes, such as, our BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) program, our CASA program and partnership with Embry-Riddle University, and the Freedom Ambassadors Program. We are continuously looking for ways to challenge and empower our students to prepare them for the 21st century!

Clearwater's Mission: The mission of Clearwater High School is to build relationships with our students that allow us to provide a rigorous and relevant educational experience that allows for college and career experiences, that truly prepares them for post‐secondary life.

Clearwater's Vision: 100% Student Success – At Clearwater High School that means all students graduate career and college ready.