Blake High School (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Plant City: neighborhoods, theater, magnet schools)

[annaegel]

My daughter really wants to go to Blake Magnet School in downtown Tampa. It seems like a really cool place to go to school, but I am little nervous about who she would be going to school with. The neighborhood leaves much to be desired. Anyone know anything about the school? Any problems? What are their positives. She is zoned for Freedom High School in New Tampa. Is that a better choice?

[pliving]

I have worked in a bookstore near the school for over 10 years. Many of the studens from Blake visit the store, and they are such a wonderful group of kids! When I was a teenager, the only magnet school for the arts at the time was Gibbs in St. Petersburg. I was accepted to the school, but my parents would not let me attend because they felt the school was in a dangerous area. Both my parents and I really regret that decision. If your daughter has been accepted to Blake, I would encourage her to go to school there. The arts are so terribly neglected in public schools, and an opportunity to go to a school like Blake should not be passed up. If your daughter is excited about the school, that alone should help you in your decision. I am well aware that the school sits right next to a housing project, but I live just a few miles away from the school in a very nice middle class neighborhood and have never had any problems with crime. I think going to Blake would be an invaluable step in her educational experience, and if she is interested in pursuing the arts in college, Blake would really prepare her for a more successful college career. I say go for it!

[ferret111]

True, it is in a rather dumpy neighborhood, but it really seems to have a good magnet program. Being an arts school, there'll naturally be a large amount of artsy/theater-type kids. There will also be some ghettofabulous kids from the neighborhoods, but everything should balance out. Let her go. I'm sure she'll enjoy it.

[joelibyan]

I knew kids who went there for the arts program and they had no problem whatsoever.

[Tim Tim Tim]

from what I remember, a few years ago we used to play them in football and there stands were always full of quite a few ghetto people, good luck

[TNRyan23]

" ghetto people "

I went to Blake High School for a year in 1999.

Blake High School has a great magnet program but it also serves the community as the neighborhood high school. I lived in Clair-Mel when I went to Blake. It was an okay school but having went there after moving from Durant High School in Plant City it was a bit of an adjustment.

My guess is that if you're cool with a multi-cultural environment then you'll be cool with Blake. If you want your daughter in a lilly white school, You'll want to look into Eastern Hillsborough area.

[annaegel]

Thanks for all the replies. I am cool with her being in a multi-cultural environment. I grew up in NYC and was exposed to all kinds of people. People are people, no matter your skin color, religion or cultural traditions.

She is zoned for Freedom High school and I suppose it would be mostly white middle class kids. My experience is those are the most unfriendly people. The only racially diversity is from the kids that are bused in. Parents seem to look down there noses at them.

After hearing what it would take (commute wise) and what negative things she has heard from our neighbors about Blake, she has decided not to go. I think my daughter is talented artist, but is not sure if she wants to focus her education on that. She is an "A" student and I have heard that she could easily get into the AP classes and would not be mixing in with the local kids so much. One neighbor has told me she knew someone who went there, but withdrew from the school because they were afraid. They felt it was a really scary place. Maybe they were prejudice against the ghetto style. I'm not sure. We still have some time to think about it. She has to finish her 7th grade and decide next year. It would make life easier for me if she went to Freedom High School, but if she really wanted to go, I would do it for her.

[quely]

man blake is lame this bytches name Syrterrek && Timothy go 2gether will thats wat tim says

[Bosco55David]

Generally speaking, the magnet schools are safe bets. Freedom High is a really good school though, from what I hear.