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Schools & Education · 2026–27

How to Check Your School Zone Before You Buy in St. Johns County

A practical guide to attendance zones, the official address locator, career academies, IB, AICE, Early College, arts programs and the high-school choices families should understand before choosing a home.

By StJohnsFL.org Staff Updated October 2026 Buyer + Parent Guide
#1 SJCSD's 2026 Florida district accountability ranking
8 Comprehensive public high schools serving district students
48,093 Students counted on opening day, August 10, 2026
Jan. 25 2027 Programs of Interest application deadline

St. Johns County's public schools are one of the biggest reasons families move here — but “good schools” is not enough information to buy a house on. The exact property address matters, attendance boundaries change as new schools open, and the high-school system includes more choice than many newcomers realize.

The important update for 2026–27 Magnolia Oaks Academy opened in SilverLeaf and Sabal Crest Academy opened in Nocatee for the 2026–27 school year. Both opened with grades K–7, and their creation changed attendance boundaries. Do not rely on an old MLS listing, a neighbor's experience or a neighborhood name to determine a school.

Step 1: Check the exact address before you make an offer

School assignment is based on the student's residence address. Elementary, middle/K–8 and high-school assignments should be checked separately, especially in fast-growing areas such as SilverLeaf, Nocatee, CR-210 and northwest St. Johns County.

1

Use the official zone locator

Enter the exact property address in the current SJCSD attendance-zone locator. Do this for every property you are seriously considering.

2

Check the full K–12 path

Do not stop at elementary school. Verify the middle/K–8 assignment and the high school separately.

3

Watch new-school boundaries

Rapid growth means boundaries can change. New campuses frequently trigger rezoning before or after opening.

4

Confirm directly if the home is near a line

If a property appears close to a boundary, contact SJCSD zoning before closing rather than relying on third-party school data.

Official SJCSD Attendance Zoning → StJohnsFL.org School Guide
Do not assume a school from the neighborhood name. A Nocatee, SilverLeaf, Durbin or World Golf Village address does not automatically tell you the assigned school. The district's current locator is the source to use.

The high-school choice families need to understand

St. Johns County uses the term Programs of Interest for career academies and several specialized high-school pathways. Current 8th- and 9th-grade students may apply to eligible Programs of Interest, and 5th graders may apply to the R. J. Murray Middle School Center for the Arts.

Important: “Any student can go to any program” is too simple. Out-of-zone applications are subject to district rules. If the same program is offered at a student's zoned high school, the student generally may not use that duplicated program to transfer elsewhere. IB and AICE also have specific academic-eligibility and zoning rules. Acceptance into an eligible out-of-zone Program of Interest provides the waiver, but families are generally responsible for transportation.

2026–27 Programs of Interest timeline

For families with a current 8th grader, this is the calendar to save. These dates are for the upcoming application cycle leading into the 2027–28 school year.

High School Connect

Career specialists visit middle schools to introduce high-school program options.

High School Showcase

3:30–7:00 p.m. at the World Golf Village Convention Center. Families can compare programs from across the district in one place.

Online applications open at 8:00 a.m.

For newly applying 5th-, 8th- and 9th-grade students.

Academy Nights

Individual high schools hold evening program information sessions.

SJCCA auditions

St. Augustine High School and R. J. Murray Middle School arts applicants follow the district's audition process.

Application deadline at 5:00 p.m.

Late applications are not included in the main lottery.

Lottery results

The district lists the result date as TBD; families review results through Home Access Center.

Out-of-zone placements finalized

The current district timeline lists July 1 as the cutoff for final out-of-zone placement decisions.

Current SJCSD CTE Timeline → Programs of Interest

How the different programs work

🛠️

Career Academies

Open access Lottery if needed

Multi-year elective pathways tied to industries such as engineering, business, health care, IT, communications, construction and design. General Career Academy admission does not require a special GPA; placement may depend on seats and lottery results.

🌍

IB

Nease Pedro Menendez

International Baccalaureate acceleration programs require academic eligibility and teacher recommendations. Out-of-zone eligibility is restricted by the district's duplicated-program rules.

🎓

AICE

Beachside St. Augustine

Cambridge AICE is offered at Beachside and St. Augustine. Applicants must meet academic requirements and follow current district eligibility rules.

📚

Early College

Pedro Menendez Tocoi Creek

Operated with St. Johns River State College. Eligible students may work toward an associate degree while completing high school. Out-of-zone students are responsible for transportation.

⚙️

Early Career

St. Augustine + FCTC

The current CTE pathway is offered through St. Augustine High School in partnership with First Coast Technical College for eligible students pursuing technical and career training.

🎭

St. Johns County Center for the Arts

R. J. Murray St. Augustine HS

5th graders may apply for the Murray middle-school arts program. High-school SJCCA applicants use the Program of Interest process and must also audition.

🎖️

JROTC

Navy · Nease Air Force · Bartram Trail Army · St. Augustine

JROTC is also handled through the Program of Interest system and is subject to district placement and duplicated-program rules.

The eight comprehensive high schools: programs at a glance

This is the current district CTE lineup for 2026–27. Career Academy offerings can evolve, so use the district's official program page before making a final school decision.

St. Johns County Public High School

Allen D. Nease High School

IB Navy JROTC
Career Academies
  • Academy of Hospitality and Tourism
  • Communications Academy
  • Stellar Academy of Engineering
Acceleration: International Baccalaureate (IB).
St. Johns County Public High School

Bartram Trail High School

Air Force JROTC
Career Academies
  • Design Academy
  • Information Technology Academy
  • VyStar Academy of Business
Bartram Trail also offers advanced coursework for its in-zone students. Contact the school for current acceleration options.
St. Johns County Public High School

Beachside High School

AICE
Career Academies
  • Academy of Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Academy of Information Technology
  • Academy of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Acceleration: Cambridge AICE.
St. Johns County Public High School

Creekside High School

Career Academies
  • Academy of Emerging Technology
  • Academy of Engineering & Environmental Sciences
  • Communications Academy
  • St. Johns County Academy of Future Teachers
Current district CTE materials list four academies at Creekside.
St. Johns County Public High School

Pedro Menendez High School

IB Early College
Career Academies
  • Architectural Design and Technology Academy
  • VyStar Academy of Business
  • UF Health St. Johns Academy of Future Healthcare Professionals
Acceleration: IB and the SJR State Early College Program.
St. Johns County Public High School

Ponte Vedra High School

Career Academies
  • Academy of Biotechnology and Medical Research
  • Academy of International Business and Marketing
  • Academy of Information Technology
  • St. Johns County Academy of Future Educators
Current district CTE materials list four academies at Ponte Vedra.
St. Johns County Public High School

St. Augustine High School

AICE SJCCA Army JROTC
Career Academies
  • Academy of Advanced Automation Technology
  • Academy of Law & Homeland Security
  • Academy of Aviation and Aerospace
  • St. Johns County Academy of Future Teachers
Also: Cambridge AICE, SJCCA and the current Early Career pathway with First Coast Technical College.
St. Johns County Public High School

Tocoi Creek High School

Early College
Career Academies
  • Academy of Innovation in the Built Environment
  • Academy of Leadership in Emerging Technologies
  • UF Health St. Johns Academy of Future Healthcare Professionals
  • St. Johns County Academy of Future Educators
Also: SJR State Early College.
What about St. Johns Technical High School? Current 2026–27 district materials still list St. Johns Technical High School separately, and district Programs of Interest materials include technical programs there. At the same time, the current CTE site lists the Early Career pathway through St. Augustine High School and First Coast Technical College. Families considering a technical pathway should verify the exact current enrollment route directly with SJCSD CTE.

IB vs. AICE: what is the practical difference?

🌍 International Baccalaureate

Offered at: Nease and Pedro Menendez

  • Highly structured international diploma pathway
  • Broad subject requirements across the curriculum
  • Includes major writing, theory and service components
  • Requires academic eligibility for admission
  • Teacher recommendations are part of the district application process

🎓 Cambridge AICE

Offered at: Beachside and St. Augustine

  • Cambridge International advanced course pathway
  • Generally offers more flexibility in course combinations
  • Students may pursue individual Cambridge courses or the diploma pathway
  • Requires academic eligibility for admission
  • Teacher recommendations are part of the district application process
The bigger buying takeaway High-school zoning still matters, but it is not the only factor. Families with older children should compare the zoned high school's offerings with the Programs of Interest their student may actually pursue — while remembering that not every duplicated program can be used for an out-of-zone transfer.

How to use this guide when buying a home

1 Run the exact address through SJCSD zoning
2 Check elementary + middle/K–8 + high school
3 Research high-school programs your child may want
4 Check Program of Interest eligibility and transportation
5 Re-check the zone before closing if boundaries are changing

If your child is in elementary school

Your immediate elementary and middle/K–8 path deserves the most attention. High-school offerings can change before a young child reaches 9th grade, so avoid buying solely for a future academy that may be many years away.

If your child is in middle school

Start comparing programs before 8th-grade application season. The district's High School Showcase and individual Academy Nights are the easiest way to compare programs, eligibility and transportation requirements before the January deadline.

If your child is already in high school

Current 9th graders may still be eligible to apply to Programs of Interest under district rules. Rising 11th- and 12th-grade students already in the district generally cannot obtain a new out-of-zone waiver for a new Program of Interest, although rules for students newly entering SJCSD can differ.

Planning a move to St. Johns County?

Use the school zone as one piece of the decision — then compare neighborhoods, commute patterns and the practical day-to-day fit.

Explore St. Johns County Schools → Compare St. Johns Neighborhoods → Moving to St. Johns County Guide →

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my assigned St. Johns County public school?

Use the St. Johns County School District's current Attendance Zone Locator and enter the exact residential address. Check each school level rather than relying on a real-estate listing or neighborhood label.

Did St. Johns County school zones change for 2026–27?

Yes. Magnolia Oaks Academy in SilverLeaf and Sabal Crest Academy in Nocatee opened for 2026–27, and new-school attendance zones were created as part of the district's rezoning process.

Can an 8th grader apply to a high school outside the home zone?

Eligible 8th graders may apply to Programs of Interest, but the district's duplicated-program and eligibility rules determine which out-of-zone applications are allowed. Acceptance to an eligible out-of-zone program provides the waiver.

Does SJCSD provide transportation to an out-of-zone academy?

Generally no. Families are normally responsible for transportation when a student attends an out-of-zone Program of Interest. Verify any program-specific transportation exception directly with the district.

Where are IB programs offered?

International Baccalaureate is offered at Allen D. Nease High School and Pedro Menendez High School.

Where is AICE offered?

Cambridge AICE is offered at Beachside High School and St. Augustine High School.

Where is Early College offered?

The current SJCSD CTE site lists the SJR State Early College Program at Pedro Menendez High School and Tocoi Creek High School.

When is the next Programs of Interest application deadline?

The district's current timeline lists January 25, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. as the deadline for the upcoming cycle, with online applications opening January 5, 2027 at 8:00 a.m.

Updated October 2026. School zones, program names, eligibility rules and application dates can change. Always verify a specific property and program directly with St. Johns County School District before making a housing or enrollment decision.

Official resources: SJCSD Attendance Zoning · Programs of Interest · Career Academies · Application Timeline · Policies & Procedures