St. Johns County School District: A Closer Look at the Education & School Options

best education and school options in St. Augustine and Jacksonville

If you are considering moving to Florida and have children, you will absolutely want to look at the local school systems available. There are more than 4,000 schools in the entire state of Florida that provide education to over two million students, with some of the best available in the St. Johns and Jacksonville school systems.

In the northeast corner of Florida, prospective and new residents will find the cities of St. Augustine (located in St. Johns County) and Jacksonville (located in Duval County). Below, Beacon Lake offers a closer look at the education systems in each area as you decide where to move to next and what is best for your children.

Why St. Johns County Has the Best Schools in Florida

moving to northeast florida involves considering st augustine and jacksonville school sytems

Safety

Unfortunately, a big concern for parents in any area is the safety of their children while they are at school. However, St Johns County Schools have been focusing on keeping their students as safe as possible.

The county has developed a safety plan for future years that involves having one or more security guards on all St. Johns campuses throughout the school year. And while parents and teachers alike hate to focus on the worst things that could happen, it’s reassuring that all of these campuses will be safer than ever.

 

High Test Scores

If you ask them, no student actually likes taking tests. However, tests are the major metric for how well students have actually learned their material, and St Johns County schools have amazing scores!

A recent Forbes article placed these schools in a “top 10” list of public schools. It’s impressive that St. Johns did so well, as Forbes surveyed 200,000 different schools.

And for the last two years, this county has been the highest performing school district in the state, and their high schoolers were the highest performers on the recent writing portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Overall, Florida is a state that invests quite a bit in student success. And St Johns County Schools make the most of that investment!

 

Low Turnover

Lower student success can often be linked to teacher turnover rates. Students require a consistent learning environment to maximize their educational opportunities, and constantly losing old teachers and gaining new ones disrupts that.

Fortunately, St Johns County Schools has a really low turnover rate. You might not notice this at first, though, because the schools are always hiring.

That is actually due to the constant expansion of these schools and the programs they offer. Students of these schools get the best of both worlds: teacher consistency along with the ability to try new classes and programs whenever they want.

 

High Graduation Rate

Ultimately, graduating high school is the final challenge for students of any school system. Will they make the grade, or will they fall by the wayside?

For St Johns County Schools, this is not a problem at all. In fact, this school system has the highest graduation rate in the entire state!

This is a powerful argument for parents on the fence about where to move. Just as the state invests in education, parents invest in their children.

Why not move somewhere where that investment will definitely pay off?

 

A-Rated School System

The Beacon Lake community is zoned for some of the highest rated schools in the state. In fact, St. Johns County School District was rated #1 Best School District in Florida in 2019! The area also boasts several highly rated higher learning institutions including Flagler College, St. Johns River State College, and the University of St. Augustine for Health Services.

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Where to Live in St. Johns County to be in this School District?

Now, you know all about why you should move here to benefit from St Johns County Schools. However, do you know where you’ll live?

At Beacon Lake, we offer beautiful homes at affordable prices. Come see for yourself how easily you can be living on the coast!

 

More about St. Johns School System (St. Augustine)

St. Johns County High School

The history of St. Augustine dates back to the early 1800s. When it was first created, the county had more square mileage than almost all the states in North America at the time. It is known as the oldest permanent European settlement and retains much of its historical charm to this day.

St. Augustine has a population of roughly 14,000 people and is a popular tourist destination due to its status as the oldest city in the United States. It features a well-known Spanish fortress along with several beaches.

When moving into a new area, it is important to know how the schools perform nationally and within the immediate region. St. Johns County schools rank highly within the state of Florida for many subjects, including:

  • Math
  • English
  • Biology
  • Reading

 

All but two of the 30+ schools in the St. Johns School System received an “A” or “B” rating. St. Johns County also has a higher graduation rate (94.3%) than the average Florida school district (86.9%).

 

What Impacts School Ratings in Florida?

Up to 11 factors contribute to a school’s overall rating. The Florida Department of Education considers four achievement components, four learning gains components, an acceleration component in middle schools, and several components relating to graduation rates and career and college acceleration. Each area could be worth up to 100 points in the school’s overall score. Learning gains focus on mathematics and English language arts, while achievement components focus on those two subjects plus social studies and science.

Middle school acceleration relates to the number of students that passed the high-school-level EOC (End-of-Course) assessment or certification within the education industry. When assessing college and career acceleration, factors include the percentage of graduates who passed acceleration exams or a dual-enrollment course for college credit, as well as the percentage of students who earned an industry certification.

There are over 21,000 students who attend classes in the district. With more than 5,000 teachers, support staff, and administrators; the St. Johns County School District employs more people than any other employer in the area.

Here is the breakdown of the schools in the area:

  • Elementary schools: 18
  • K-8 academies: 6
  • Middle schools: 7
  • High schools: 7
  • Charter schools: 3

 

See the full list of schools in St. Johns County here: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/schools/

 

Highlighted Schools in St. Johns County

According to the St. Johns County School District, Beacon Lake’s school age residents will be assigned to Lakeside Academy and Beachside High School for the 2024-2025 school year. Here’s some useful resources for all three schools:

Lakeside Academy St Johns County

Lakeside Academy

Lakeside Academy School Hours – Mon-Fri
Start Time: 8:40 a.m.

Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday Dismissal: 2:00 p.m.

 

Beachside High School

Beachside High School logo - St Johns County

Beachside Hours – Mon-Fri
Start Time: 9:20 a.m.

Dismissal: 3:50 p.m.

Wednesday Dismissal: 2:50 p.m.

Check out the Daily Bell Schedule for 1st-7th periods and A,B, and C lunch times

 

St. Johns County School District & Financials

From a financial standpoint, the district performs very well within the state. For the years 2016-2018, SJSD received two awards related to its budget performance:

  • Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (Government Finance Officers Association)
  • Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (Association of School Business Officials International)

The St. Johns school system had a large spike in enrollments between 2000 and 2008. During that time, the number of schools in the area tripled.

 

Due to its small-town charm and position within such a high-performing district, St. Johns County is a great place to move to. You can view a list of potential schools on the SJSD website. It includes important contact information, locations, and facts about each school in the area.

Jacksonville School System

The Nearby Jacksonville School System

Many people are drawn to the Jacksonville area because of its booming art and music scene. It also has the biggest urban park system in the United States and more than 20 miles of beaches. Other popular features include a robust food culture, jazz music history, and bustling economy.

Many of the largest companies in the country have headquarters in downtown Jacksonville, meaning that it has a variety of opportunities for new residents.

As the most populous city in Florida, Jacksonville also has a large school system with many options. There are an estimated 900,000+ residents in the city, and this population includes more than 120,000 students. Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) has many more schools than St. Johns County, including:

Elementary schools: 98

K-8 academies: 2

Middle schools: 23

High schools: 19

Charter schools: 35

The district’s graduation rate is 90.2%, which is higher than the national average. With over 12,000 full and part-time staff members, the district has a wide range of resources for its students. For the 2018-2019 school year, the district received an overall “B” rating.

In response to rising concerns over school safety, each school in DCPS has its own security protocol. This can include safety measures such as:

  • Each classroom is locked while students are inside.
  • Every school completes safety drills regularly.
  • The district has a dedicated school police department.

These and other policies help make every Jacksonville school as safe as possible. With many students, faculty members, and support staff to care for; the district is dedicated to proactive and protective measures. If you are new to the Jacksonville area or considering moving, check out the closest schools to your location.
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Moving to Northeast Florida

There are many reasons to move to northeast Florida. Nearby education and school options are an attractive force in the area. With high performance standards and a commitment to improvement, Jacksonville and St. Augustine are attractive places to settle.

Given its active economy, excellent weather, and interesting history; many people find Florida hard to resist. In all, Florida has more than 600 miles of beaches and the average annual temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. If you love animals, Florida is the place to go. The state has nearly 200 native bird species and hosts other unique creatures including manatees and armadillos.

Beacon Lake Located directly between St. Augustine and Jacksonville, the Beacon Lake living community sits on nearly 400 acres of lakefront real estate. The paddle-friendly lake spans more than 40 acres and is great for family adventures. The location is ideal, as it is near major highways and interstates but still retains a tranquil and relaxed atmosphere.

Beacon Lake has many amenities like a fitness center, pool, dog park, splash park, and sand beach. It makes activities like kayaking, tennis, and other sports (in the multipurpose field) easy. You will find that Beacon Lake promotes a healthy, active lifestyle and includes plenty of ways to relax. Because it is a private community, you will feel like you are at a resort with all the comforts of home.

 

Explore Beacon Lake’s New Homes Today!

 

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