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Jacobson Culinary Arts

The Case for a Culinary Arts Academy to Benefit the Students of Pinellas County Schools

As the nation’s largest private sector employer, the restaurant and foodservice industry is the cornerstone of the American economy. In fact, there are more than 878,000 restaurants in the United States, employing 12 million people, and the industry is constantly growing. It is estimated that from 2004 to 2012 the number of restaurant and foodservice jobs will increase by 1.5 million, 70,000 of which will be management-level positions.

The Need for a Culinary Arts Academy

With more than 300 students currently, Tarpon Springs High School has set an ambitious goal to increase student enrollment in the Family and Consumer Science Department to 500 students to meet student demand. A student population this large would outstrip the capabilities of the existing, antiquated facility, making the construction of a new, state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Academy a necessity. This academy would be able to reach beyond Tarpon Springs High School and service all students in Pinellas County.

What Students will Learn

The ProStart program is designed to teach high school students the management skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. When students meet academic standards, and complete a checklist of competencies, they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce.

Learn more about the Jacobson Culinary Arts Academy