Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, Pinellas County Schools will require student athletes to pay $50 per sport to participate in middle and high school athletics. A $200 per-family cap will limit the maximum annual cost for households with multiple student athletes.
Athletic director Marc Allison cited rising costs for officials, transportation, uniforms, and equipment as driving factors behind the new policy. The district also plans to use the additional revenue to upgrade facilities and expand its sports offerings, including adding middle school soccer and volleyball, high school boys varsity volleyball, and high school girls competitive cheer.
The fees align Pinellas with neighboring districts that have had similar policies for years. Pasco County charges $80 for a first sport and $50 for a second, while Hernando County charges $50 and $30, respectively.
District officials say fee waivers will be available for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, though the specifics of that financial assistance have not yet been finalized. The existing accident insurance fee, which Pinellas families have paid for more than a decade, will remain separate and is not covered by the new participation fee.
The district’s current primary operating cost for athletics, not counting the proposed expansion, stands at $5.2 million — a figure that has grown significantly in recent years.
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