History of Team Success

In 1997, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office opened the Police Athletic League Academy Charter School with a separate board of directors and 100 students, under the umbrella of the Police Athletic League. By 1999, approximately 200 students were attending this alternative school, located on the same grounds as the Police Athletic League Activity Center.  That same year the PAL Academy opened a second charter school in the same building, the Opportunity Charter School, focusing on drop-out prevention.

In 2009, the schools and the Police Athletic League, Inc. separated, and the schools became independent, governed by one brand-new Board of Directors. In June 2010, the PAL Academy Charter Schools changed its name to Team Success- A School of Excellence, Inc. At that time, and in order to focus on students in grades K-8^th, the Board of Directors decided not to submit a renewal application for the Opportunity Charter School to its sponsor, the Manatee County School District.

Since the restructuring of the school, there has been a marked continuous improvement in the academic achievement levels of the students at Team Success. The change in school climate also brought positive changes in student behavior, which in turn positively affected students’ academic performance. The accomplishments of the students are evident in the FSA scores. Based on the FSA results, Team Success received the distinction of high performing, pursuant to section 1002.331 of the Florida Statutes, in 2018.  Ever since then, Team Success has been the only high performing  “A’” rated Title 1 Charter School in Manatee County.

In 2016, Team Success applied to the Manatee County School District to add students in grades 9-12^th grade, by adding one new grade a year.  The request was approved, and the first 9^th grade students were roaming the school’s halls in 2017. Four years later, in 2021, Team Success had its first graduating class, with a 100% graduation rate.

Since Team Success’ incorporation in 2010, the enrollment has been increasing steadily with about 150 students a year. Currently, Team Success has approximately 1200 students in grades K-12^th grade enrolled. To accommodate the steady growth, community demand  for high quality education for underserved minority students, and providing more opportunities for these students, Team Success will open a satellite campus a few miles south of the original campus. Team Success will remain one school under one charter, serving grades K-5 students in the north campus and 6^th-12^th students on the south campus.