As we reach the final quarter of the school year, I am so incredibly proud and grateful for what our students, teachers and staff have achieved.
We remain devoted to delivering exceptional education for every student, and the results are reflected in our school and district grades. All schools in our school district have earned either an A or B rating by the State of Florida Department of Education, with 37 A schools and seven B schools! Since ratings began in 2004, our school district has consistently earned an A. Out of 67 school districts in the state, Sarasota County is the only other school district to share this distinction. Our focus remains squarely on our students, and we have seen notable progress in subgroup performance under the Every Student Succeeds Act. We have also expanded acceleration courses and opportunities for students in middle and high school.
Our 97.1% graduation rate continues to exceed the state graduation rate of 92.2 % and national rate of 86.4%. Guidance counselors, school leaders, support staff and teachers remain dedicated to helping struggling students access the support they need to succeed. Beyond our strong Florida Assessment of Student Testing (F.A.S.T.) results tracking student learning gains through the school year, other assessments further demonstrate the high performance of our students. Our students’ SAT scores of 1137 surpass the state average of 990, and the national average of 1020, and the ACT average of 21.4 is above the state average 19.6 and the national average of 19.4. In St. Johns County, 81.4% of our students earned college credit from successful AP Exams compared with 71.5% nationally. These achievements are possible thanks to the support of our community, students, families and school teams.
It takes a community that values education and understands that at the core of every desirable community is an outstanding public school. It is important to support our traditional public schools, even when you do not have a child attending.
We are so very grateful for the families, volunteers and business partners that come alongside our schools to be test proctors, reading, computer, music, art and teacher assistants, offer internships and project-based learning opportunities, and PTO, SAC and business and nonprofit advisory board members. We are so grateful for our voters who chose to support our schools through the school referendums.
Another educational opportunity our school district provides is St. Johns Virtual School (SJVS), which is also an A-rated school. SJVS offers a warm, supportive path to high quality education from home, with the reassurance of our local St. Johns County educators guiding students every step of the way. Students can learn through Florida Virtual School lessons, while benefiting from live instruction.
Full-time SJVS students can participate in onsite campus enrichment days, access to school counseling services and a pathway to school-based graduation through a familiar, community -centered environment. Students at SJVS also receive Exceptional Student Education services and are offered office hours for questions and support.
When students enroll the SJVS through FLVS, funding stays in St. Johns County to support our school district, reinforcing a stable, local educational experience. Fall enrollment is underway through July 10 and families can reach us at 904-547-8080 or review the SJVS Fall Application Flyer for details: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SJVS-Fall-Application-Flyer.pdf
A new initiative that will be rolling out over the summer for the start of the school year is St. Johns Compass. St. Johns Compass will offer a flexible, high-quality educational option for students who are not enrolled in the traditional public school system to receive live in-person instruction on a school campus on a course-by-course basis, including electives and career programs. Similar to enrolling at a local college, students can access targeted course work while benefiting from the resources and oversight of our St. Johns County School District education professionals. St. Johns Compass complements the school districts ongoing commitment to support families with diverse learning needs by providing accessible, on-site instruction.
Our school district remains committed to maintaining high quality, academically strong schools that prepare students for success in today’s evolving competitive landscape.
Even in the face of budget reductions and rigorous accountability being experienced across Florida in our traditional public schools, we are focused on strengthening our offerings, elevating student outcomes and increasing the desirability of our schools for St. Johns County families. By prioritizing thoughtful support for students and teachers, taking deliberate steps to expand opportunities and provide transparent communication, we will position our school district as the preferred choice for families who want an outstanding education for their children.
