Pinellas, Polk and Hernando students return to classes

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pinellas County students are returning to class on Tuesday.

It’s the first day of school also in Polk and Hernando counties.

In Pinellas County, the state’s ninth-largest school district, school officials spent the summer soliciting feedback to see how best to move forward with closing and consolidating schools. After closing Cross Bayou Elementary and Disston Academy for good in May, the district is now looking at what schools could close at the end of the 2026-2027 school year. 

Meanwhile, Polk County schools is looking at a challenging landscape for hiring and retaining teachers. The district is looking at about 500 instructional vacancies as school starts.  

Hernando County Schools is celebrating the completion of a brand-new building.

A joint building facility has been built between Weeki Wachee High School and Winding Waters K-8. Students from both schools will attend classes at the new facility at the start of the new school year.

For important information about Back-to-School, explore Bay News 9’s school links.