These are big fish and providing a habitat for big fish is expensive so while your heart is in the right place, a big tank like a 55 gal represents a considerable outlay of money for the tank, stand, light, filter, heater and everything else. A 55gal is not the same thing as if you had five 10gal tanks... but it's pretty darn close to having five of them in terms of the cost of equipment etc. Better ask your parents how they stand on this because if you don't have a tank already, you are talking a budget of several hundred dollars to buy and set up a 55g tank. Even more money for a larger tank. What is the school's intention towards keeping the fish over the summer? If they are expecting to kill the fish or let them suffer first through neglect and then die... that deserves a letter to your local newspaper and to the dean of your school saying how the school never should have acquired animals if they weren't prepared to provide for them. If your parents are okay with this - you could arrange to take care of the fish in exchange for some recompense like academic credit (in biology in any case) but that might mean returning the fish at the end of the summer. BTW What tank are they in now and if possible could you arrange for the tank and filter/light/heater to be kept at your house over the summer? Parents are excellent for things like this and usually can be taken advantaged of mercilessly if you casually drop the words 'academic credit' and that you'd probably get better marks and such nonsense that all delusional but loving parents all drool over! Then >>> bring everything and the fish home and ask us a million questions and you'll end being more than just capable of feeding and cleaning... you'll actually learn everything you'd want to know about the hobby and probably more than you ever wanted to know to be honest about it. Maybe if the school is expecting to execute the fish you and they could work out a deal on you buying the tank and equipment since they can't expect to keep killing fish every summer etc. ASK THE PARENTS - we all like to pretend that we matter to our children and go around bragging to other parents saying things like "My kid asked me! No really they did. It was the first time... I hope I didn't overreact... I tried a hug but that was pushing things I know... What was it about? I dunno some stupid fish named Oscar who cares? I was asked something... I feel lightheaded... maybe I should sit down for a moment..." Yes the above was overly sarcastic but speaking for all parents everywhere kid... too bad!!! Lol...just ask and offer some alternative choices. The one thing on your side is that you can and should tell them that you know a few pros who are willing to teach lots of great stuff! No one could say that you won't know how to take care of fish... because we sure as hell do and we'll show you how. Believe me ...there are a lot of people on this site who are happy to answer any and all of your questions or explain things i detail and all the rest.