Put on your scrubs and take the pulse of student success at Sligh Middle Magnet in Old Seminole Heights. Our Medical Studies and Explorations program prepares students for one of the fastest growing career fields in the country. With more than 200 students, this award-winning, Nationally Certified magnet program has tripled in popularity, creating a culture of future health professionals who sport scrubs four days a week. Our Scholar Quest high school credit courses and Electives engage all students with Career and Technical Education, Family and Consumer Science and our AVID college readiness program. Sligh supports our students with free after-school tutoring, enrichment programs and student clubs. Our Sixth Grade Structure helps students feel at home in their new learning environment with a family-oriented sense of community, created by our caring and dedicated staff—who are the heartbeat of our school.

Sligh Middle School began as Sligh Avenue Junior High School in 1949.  Originally designed to accommodate only six hundred students, the facility has undergone several additions and renovations over the past five decades in order to accommodate the school's growth. In 1968, when enrollment exceeded 1200 students, the school went on an extended day schedule.

Sligh became a seventh-grade center in 1971 as a result of the District’s plan to achieve racial integration. While some traditional junior high activities were dropped, new innovations were implemented, such as team teaching and intramural programs. The school mascot was changed from the Sligh Red Devil to the Sligh Cougar in order to represent an updated image.  The school colors continued to be red and white.

Ken Otero, formerly the Chief of Staff for Hillsborough County Schools, became Sligh’s principal in 1989. He supervised a major renovation that transformed the school into a modern facility.  A renewed focus on student activities encouraged the initiation of student clubs and participation in academic competitions.  Sligh students excelled in Brain Bowl, Odyssey of the Mind, Math League, and student publications.

From 1993 to 1996, the school principal was Vince Aguero.  He and Juanita Underwood, 1997-2006 principal, paved the way for Sligh to convert to a middle school in 1997.  The Magnet program for health occupations was also added at that time.

Since becoming a magnet, Sligh has received multiple Magnet Schools of America awards, two Florida Performance Recognition Awards, several Golden School Awards, the Coordinated School Health Program grant, the United, Smoke-Free, and Fit for Life Grant, Nike Jordan Fundamentals Grant, the “I Can” grant, the Expeditionary Learning Grant, the Tampa Bay Reads Grant, two Learn and Serve Grants, the School Excellence Grant, technology grants from JPMorgan Chase and Classroom, Inc., and numerous awards and scholarships for faculty and students.  More than thirty community partners have contributed to the success of our school programs.

Sligh’s Odyssey of the Mind teams have advanced fifteen times to the State Finals since 1990.  Our Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) won first place awards at the State Conference eight years in a row.  Our Career Development Poster contestant won the state competition, and numerous Sligh students received “Take Stock in Children” scholarships.  Other student awards have included the “I Can” scholarships, the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce “Scholar/Athletes of the Year,” SWAT Team of the Year, Step Team district champions, the Duke University Talent Identification Program, and Potential Key Scholars.  In 2004, a magnet student won first place in the State Science Fair.

A new gymnasium and additional renovations were completed in 2007.  In addition, campus beautification has included outdoor classrooms, landscaping and nature murals that blend the building in with its environment.  In 2008, the Advanced Course Scholars program was added to Sligh's Magnet in order to prepare bright students to take Advanced Placement courses that will contribute to college success.  The Academy of Health and Wellness Magnet continues to attract students from all over the district to a program that not only prepares students for the fastest growing career field in the nation, but also teaches them the lifelong skills needed to support their own health and wellness.