EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

The quality of public schools tend to vary from county to county and from school to school. Florida public schools are controlled by elected school boards that establish policy and exercise responsibility for countywide school districts.

St. Johns and Clay county schools are ranked as some of the best public schools in the state.

In 2003 Newsweek magazine rated "America's Best High Schools" naming Paxon High and Stanton College Prep - both public schools in Jacksonville - as second and third best high schools in the nation.

In Florida, public education encompasses grades K – 12 and is compulsory until age 16.

Enrollment Facts -

Requirements to enter kindergarten: 5 years old on or before September 1
Requirments to enter first grade: 6 years old on or before September 1 & successful completion of kindergarten

Registration Requirements: 1) Certified birth certificate for Kindergarten and first grade 2) Florida certification of immunization (DH form 680) or exemption (form 681); 3) Certification of school entry health examination completed within one year of the date of enrollment; 4) Social Security Number 5) 2 document showing proof of residence; 5) if student was enrolled in another school district, latest report card. Immunization or exemption forms are available at doctor offices and public health departments.

Requirements to obtain Florida certificate of immunization: 1) At least 4 doses of DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine with the last dose given on or after 4th birthday, otherwise a fifth dosage is needed 2) At least 3 dosages of polio vacccine with last dose given on or after 4th birthday 3) MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine given on or after first birthday with a definite recorded date. Kindergarten through 11th grade students must present proof of two doses of measles vaccine preferably MMR; 4) HIB (haemophilus influenza type B) vaccination for children under age 5 5) Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine unless child has documentation of history of varicella.

Immunization requirements for students entering, attending or transferring to 7th - 12th grades: 1) second dose of measles vaccine, preferably MMR 2) a recent tetanus diphtheria booster 3) Hepatitis B vaccine series, three shots given over 4 to 6 month period.

Duval County Public Schools www.educationcentral.org

Main Office - 1701 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, 32207 System - 131,000 students; 105 elementary schools, 26 middle schools, 17 high schools School Board - Seven elected members for a 4-year term. Public meetings held first Tuesday each month. Superintendent - Appointed by the school board. Registration - Open registration for non-magnet programs. Dress code - Mandatory uniform policy - elementary through middle school. Opt out waivers are available. Buses - Free to students who live more than 1.5 miles from assigned school. Class Size - k through 3rd (18.57); 4th through 8th (19.62); 9th through 12th (20.55). Graduation rate - 63.7%

Important Numbers for Duval Public Schools

Clay County Public Schools www.clay.k12.fl.us

Important Numbers for Clay County Public Schools

St. Johns County Public Schools www.stjohns.k12.fl.us

Main Office - 40 Orange Street, St. Augustine, 32084 System - 24,061 students, 15 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 5 high schools. School Board - Five members elected to 4-year terms. Superintendent - Appointed by school board. Registration - Open Dress Code Casual - approved attire is required. Class Size - k through 3rd (19.68); 4th through 8th (20.76); 9th through 12th (23.06) Graduation Rate - 78.2%

Important Numbers for St. Johns County Public Schools

Main Office - 904-819-750
Student Services - 904-819-7590
Exceptional Education - 904-819-7560
Bus Transport - 904-826-7980
Immunizations - 904-819-7898
School Meals - 904-819-7680

PRIVATE SCHOOLS - JACKSONVILLE AND THE BEACHES

ABC Christian Academy & Preschool 2360 Kings Rd  www.abyssinia.org
Argyle Christian Academy  6823 Argle Forest Blvd www.thechurchatarglye.com
Arlington Country Day School 5725 Ft. Caroloine Rd  www.acdsjax.net
Assumption Catholic School 2431 Atlantic Blvd www.assumptioncatholicschool.org
Baymeadows Baptist Day School 4826 Baymeadows Road www.lightingtheway.org
Beaches Episcopal School 1150 N. 5th Street, Jax Beach   www.beachepiscopalschool.org
Bishop Kenny High School  1055 Kingman Ave   www.bishopkenny.org
Center Academy  3 locations  www.centeracademy.com
Episcopal High School 4455 Atlantic Blvd  www.episcopalhigh.org
Family Christian Academy 5617 Wesconnett www.familyfoursquarejax.org
Jacksonville Country Day School 10063 Baymeadows Rd  www.jcds.com
Providence School 2701 Hodges Blvd  www.prov.org
Riverside Presbyterian Day School 830 Oak Street  www.rpds.com
Sacred Heart School 5752 Blanding Blvd www.sacredheartjax.com
San Jose Episcopal Day School 7423 San Jose Blvd www.sanjoseepiscopal.com
Solomon Schechter Day School 3662 Crown Point Rd  www.uscj.org/ssds/jacksonville
St. Paul's Catholic School 2 locations www.stpaulsfaithwarriors.org
The Bolles School 400 San Jose Blvd  www.bolles.org
The Broach School 4 locations www.broachschool.com
Trinity Christian School 800 Hammond Blvd  www.tcjax.org
University Christian School 5520 University Blvd http://www.ucschool.org

PRIVATE SCHOOLS - PONTE VEDRA/ST. AUGUSTINE

Accotink Academy by the Sea 171 Canal Blvd, Ponte Vedra  www.accotinkacademy.com
Cathedral Parish School 259 St. George Street, St. Augustine  www.cathedralparishschool.com
St. Joseph Academy 155 State Rd 207, St. Augustine www.sjaweb.org

HIGHER EDUCATION

University of North Florida 4567 St. Johns Bluff Rd., South 904-620-1000 www.unf.edu Enrollment: 14,666 (fall 2004)
Jacksonville University 2800 University Blvd., North 904-256-8000  www.ju.edu Enrollment: 2,128 undergraduates, 385 graduate students, 433 online students
Edward Waters College 1658 Kings Road 904-470-8000 www.ewc.edu Enrollment: 1,301
Florida Community College 7 campus' in the area 904-633-8100 (downtown campus)  www.fccj.edu Enrollment: 25,692
St. Johns River Comm. College 4 campus' in the area 904-280-1322 (Ponte Vedra Center) www.sjrcc.edu Enrollment: 10,000