EDUCATION PIPELINE
The Early Learning Coalition recognizes that 90% of a child’s brain development occurs before age five. Getting children ages three and four into pre-kindergarten programs is a top priority. All four-year-olds in Florida are eligible to receive a voucher for three hours per weekday of Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) at public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, licensed child care centers, accredited faith-based centers and licensed family child care homes. Families can extend the care to full-day by paying the provider’s fee. Since 2021, Pinellas County Schools (PCS) has opted to use American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to support free full-day VPK programs in schools with high percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The public school impacts are visible. Pinellas County third grade reading proficiency exceeds that of the state by 10 percentage points and outperforms nearly every Florida county in post-pandemic math academic recovery.
The District has seen a 120% growth in A-rated schools over the past three school years. Within the Tampa Bay region, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk represent the largest number of school districts by number of schools. Hillsborough has achieved A's for 33% of their schools, 11% of Polk schools are A-rated and 57% of Pinellas County schools are A-rated.
Downtown employs approximately 40,000 workers and has experienced notable growth that outpaces the city and significantly outpaces county, state and national growth trends.
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Downtown St. Pete had numerous wins on the office front in 2025, bucking national industry-wide uncertainty stemming from the economy, rise of AI and its potential impacts on jobs, interest rates and stock market volatility.
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Downtown’s retail mix appeals to locals as well as visitors, integrates independent retailers with chains and reflects a mix of longtime tenants as well as new operators.
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Development activity over the past decade has significantly increased Downtown's housing stock, shifting it from primarily being a condo market to a more diversified housing mix that includes townhomes, rentals and an increasingly incentivized stream of workforce and affordable units.
The Early Learning Coalition recognizes that 90% of a child’s brain development occurs before age five. Getting children ages three and four into pre-kindergarten programs is a top priority. All four-year-olds in Florida are eligible to receive a voucher for three hours per weekday of Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) at public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, licensed child care centers, accredited faith-based centers and licensed family child care homes. Families can extend the care to full-day by paying the provider’s fee. Since 2021, Pinellas County Schools (PCS) has opted to use American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to support free full-day VPK programs in schools with high percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
The public school impacts are visible. Pinellas County third grade reading proficiency exceeds that of the state by 10 percentage points and outperforms nearly every Florida county in post-pandemic math academic recovery.
The District has seen a 120% growth in A-rated schools over the past three school years. Within the Tampa Bay region, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk represent the largest number of school districts by number of schools. Hillsborough has achieved A's for 33% of their schools, 11% of Polk schools are A-rated and 57% of Pinellas County schools are A-rated.
Downtown employs approximately 40,000 workers and has experienced notable growth that outpaces the city and significantly outpaces county, state and national growth trends.
LEARN MOREDowntown St. Pete had numerous wins on the office front in 2025, bucking national industry-wide uncertainty stemming from the economy, rise of AI and its potential impacts on jobs, interest rates and stock market volatility.
LEARN MOREDowntown’s retail mix appeals to locals as well as visitors, integrates independent retailers with chains and reflects a mix of longtime tenants as well as new operators.
LEARN MOREDevelopment activity over the past decade has significantly increased Downtown's housing stock, shifting it from primarily being a condo market to a more diversified housing mix that includes townhomes, rentals and an increasingly incentivized stream of workforce and affordable units.
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