Why Northern St. Johns Schools consistently Lead in School Performance and All Around in the State of Florida

​Friends of ours recently moved to the area and one of the driving factors in choosing St. Johns was the opportunities afforded through our amazing public schools.  Northern St. Johns Schools are part of the award-winning St. Johns County Public School District, named by Niche.com and 247Wallst.com as the #1 School District in the state. Many of the most highly regarded schools are located in Northern St. Johns.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of sending my children to SJCPS and have experienced many schools first hand, since one of my children has special needs.  Our kids started out at Timberlin Creek and later went to Switzerland Point Middle, then on to Bartram Trail High School. Cunningham Elementary, Switzerland Point Middle & Creekside High School were amazing for high quality special needs teachers and programs.

What sets St. Johns apart is often the teachers at these schools who go above and beyond in their dedication to the students. But the schools are stellar on every level including academic offerings, championship athletics, and a social opportunities through clubs and other extracurricular activities.

According to Florida Department of Education school grades for 2018 (*from a press release from SJCPS):  “The elementary schools receiving an “A” are Cunningham Creek Elementary, Durbin Creek Elementary, W.D. Hartley Elementary, Hickory Creek Elementary, R.B. Hunt Elementary, Julington Creek Elementary, Ketterlinus Elementary, Mill Creek Elementary, Ocean Palms Elementary, Palencia Elementary, Picolata Crossing Elementary, PVPV/Rawlings Elementary, Timberlin Creek Elementary and Wards Creek Elementary.

The middle schools with an “A” are Fruit Cove Middle, Alice B. Landrum Middle, Pacetti Bay Middle and Switzerland Point Middle. Liberty Pines, Patriot Oaks and Valley Ridge academies received an “A” as did Bartram Trail, Creekside, Allen D. Nease and Ponte Vedra high schools. St. Johns Virtual School also received an “A”.”

For our back to school issue we decided to focus on High Schools in northern St. Johns and really examine statistically why they are so amazing.

​Ponte Vedra has 1629 students and is ranked #24 in the state. 
It was chosen as a national gold  medal award winner by US News and World Report.
Academies: Biotech & Medical Research; International Business, IT
Athletics: Football 96th in state & 1233 Nationally; Lacrosse 5th in state & 67th nationally; Baseball 145th in state and 2504th nationally; Girls Softball: 190th in state and 3821th Nationally; Girls Soccer: 36th in state and 166th nationally.

Creekside has 2007 students and is ranked #27 in the state.
It was chosen as a national gold medal award winner by US News and World Report.
Academies: Engineering & Environmental; Emerging Technologies (Digital Design or Cyber Security)
Athletics: Football 256th in state and 4114th nationally; Lacrosse: 26th State and 497th nationally; Baseball 66th in state and 1147th nationally; Girls Softball: 190th state and 3821th nationally; Girls Soccer 36th state and 166 nationally.

Bartram Trail has 2107 students and is ranked #45th in the State
It was chosen as a national silver medal award winner by US News and World Report.
Academies: Vystar; Design (Interior, Fashion & Architecture); AIR FORCE JROTC
Athletics: Football 14th in State and 118th nationally; Lacrosse 35 in state and 632 nationally; Baseball 184th in state and 3129 nationally; Girls Softball 31st in state and 455 nationally; Girls Soccer: 9th in state and 33rd nationally.

Nease has 2059 students is ranked #81 in the state.
It was chosen as a national silver medal award winner by US News and World Report.
Academies: International Baccalaureate; Communications; Engineering; Hospitality & Tourism; NAVY JROTC
Athletics: Football: 138th in state and 1884 nationally; Lacrosse: 11th in state and 266 nationally; Baseball: 168 in state and 2772 nationally; Girls Softball: 131st in state and 2263 nationally; Girls Soccer 12th in state and 46th nationally.

​SOURCES

2018 Best Public High Schools in America; Niche
https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-public-high-schools/

Best High Schools in Florida /Website US News and World Report
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida

Maxpreps/ http://www.maxpreps.com/search/states_by_sport.aspx

Florida Department of Education
/www.fldoe.org/accountability/data-sys/school-dis-data