Last verified: October 2026
How do Pinellas families pay for Catholic school?
Most start with the Florida Private School Scholarship, which every Catholic school in the Pinellas file accepts, and then ask the school about income-based financial assistance.
The Diocese of St. Petersburg's schools office says school and diocesan assistance exists for families who qualify by income, and it sends families to the individual school for details. Parishioner rates and sibling pricing, where a school offers them, come on top.
How many Catholic schools are in the Pinellas file?
14 schools in the Pinellas district list a Catholic affiliation, every one of them flagged for FTC/FES-EO, together reporting 4,527 students.
They include parish elementaries such as St. Jude Cathedral, St. Paul, St. Raphael, Holy Family, Sacred Heart, Blessed Sacrament, St. Cecelia, Espiritu Santo and Our Lady of Lourdes, and two high schools: St. Petersburg Catholic and Clearwater Central Catholic.
What the state award does and doesn't do at a Catholic school
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Usable at every Pinellas Catholic school in the file | Yes, all carry the flag | — |
| Covers parish-member pricing differences | — | Parish rates are set by the school |
| Replaces the school's aid application | — | Aid is a separate request |