Prepare for back to school with these insider tips
Moving to a new place can be daunting — from finding a new place to live to finding a new place to put all the knick-knacks gifted by Aunt Sally. One part of this process, finding a new school that is just the right fit, does not have to be so overwhelming.
Through its many institutions and innovative programs, Greater Gainesville highly values education and cultivates a community that invests in its students.
I am moving to Greater Gainesville with preschool-age children. Where and how do I enroll them in school?
Florida offers a Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to all children who reside in the Sunshine State. The free program encourages parents to enroll preschool-age children so they can practice pre-reading, pre-math, language and social skills to augment their future kindergarten education.
To register children ages 4 and 5, visit vpkhelp.org.
How do I enroll my kids in a Greater Gainesville public school?
The enrollment process is now conveniently online for all new students. The first step is to create an account through Skyward Family Access at sbac.edu/enrollment. To create an account, The district provides a parent guide with step-by-step help for the enrollment process at shorturl.at/frAGH.
Certain documents are required to enroll a child into school in GG. These include two documents showing proof of residence, health records and certain immunizations, proof of name and age, school records and, finally, the child’s social security card is requested, not required. For information, visit sbac.edu/Page/3678.
Florida does not require children under 6 years old to attend kindergarten or preschool. By law, all children aged 6 and up must attend school the entire academic year. However, students who are 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 of the school year can be enrolled.
I am interested in sending my child to a private school. What education options does Greater Gainesville offer?
There are a number of options for families looking at private schools in the Greater Gainesville region. Whether it is college preparation, vocational or faith-based, Greater Gainesville has some of the best options in Florida.
Oak Hall School is the top-rated private school in the region and an excellent choice for families looking to prepare their children for college or pursuing academic, artistic and athletic passions. Oak Hall educates students from prekindergarten through 12th grade. Oak Hall School welcomes a diverse learning community into a safe, supportive environment. The school enjoys more than 50 years of success, with an abundance of choices for academic and extracurricular programs and a value of strengthening students’ self-esteem.
Millhopper Montessori School is a top-tier accredited Montessori school educating students from prekindergarten through eighth grade. Jordan Glen School provides alternative education to students from prekindergarten to eighth grade.
Celebrating 50 years of education, Brentwood School provides a personal and challenging learning environment to children from preschool to fifth grade. Gainesville Country Day is an independent school offering students from six weeks old to fifth grade unique educational programs.
What are the options for faith-based private education in Greater Gainesville?
There are several faith-based private schools in GG that provide a quality education intertwined with diverse faiths.
Non-denominational Christian schools include Cornerstone Academy and The Rock School. Catholic schools include Queen of Peace Academy and St. Francis Catholic Academy. Christian Life Academy is a Pentecostal school. Due to limited enrollment, Christian Life Academy considers members of Christian Life World Church first. B’nai Israel Community Day School has been in the community for 45 years, educating children from three months old to the second grade.
Bhaktivedanta Academy is a Montessori school that incorporates spiritual practices and traditions from the culture of ancient India. Sung Adventist Academy is part of the global Seventh-day Adventist educational system.
How do the schools rank in Greater Gainesville compared to other districts in Florida?
Alachua County Public Schools is a consistently high-ranking school system. In 2019, the district boasted an A rating and a B for the preceding three years. For the 2020-2021 school year, 56 school districts statewide, including ACPS, opted out of receiving a grade for standardized testing due to the challenges of COVID-19.
Multiple review sites place the Alachua County Public Schools among the top 10 or 20 districts in Florida. It is also home to high-ranking private schools.
Beyond the rankings, residents place a high value on quality Greater Gainesville education in general. It is an academically-oriented community, with the University of Florida and Santa Fe College having a large and influential presence here. Both institutions have many educational and community programs, which not just students, but the community at large benefit from.
Can my child attend a school outside of my address zone or district?
The Florida Board of Education allows controlled open enrollment through the state. The program permits students to attend a school outside of their address zone or district. Of course, controlled open enrollment is based on the school’s capacity, changing each academic year. If approved, the parent or guardian of the student must provide transportation to and from the respective school.
Additionally, magnet program acceptance would qualify a student for a zoning exception. Alachua County has 27 different magnet programs focusing on everything from academics to various career paths.
What is the selection of charter schools like?
The selection of charter schools in GG is lengthy, offering parents a plethora of choices. While some charter schools educate all grade levels, others only serve specific grades. Starting the charter school trend, The One Room School House became Gainesville’s first charter school in 1997 and has been serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade ever since.
Some of the most notable charter schools, according to Niche, include Expressions Learning Arts Academy, Healthy Learning Academy Charter School, Alachua Learning Academy Elementary School, Micanopy Area Cooperative School and Boulware Springs Charter School.
How does Greater Gainesville meet the needs for specialized education or a non-traditional setting?
Greater Gainesville understands that not all children learn the same way. There are many options for either a specialized education or something a little unconventional.
In the last few years, online education has seen an explosion in participants and learning opportunities. Alachua eSchool and Florida Virtual School are both accredited online platforms offering students a flexible alternative to being physically present in the classroom. Neighboring Gilchrist County joins Greater Gainesville in offering high quality online education through MyDistrict Virtual School provided by the North East Florida Educational Consortium.
Resilience Charter School embraces a Projects Based Learning model, providing students flexibility, freedom of expression and the chance to work as a team or individually. Resilience focuses on social emotional learning through mindfulness and restorative justice.
While Sidney Lanier Center used to be a school that catered specifically to students with intellectual disabilities, in 2015, the school transitioned to a public school that now offers a wide range of programs. The school maintained its unique grade level configuration, educating students from kindergarten to the age of 22.
Einstein School is a charter school that was created to help students from second to eighth grade with learning difficulties, specifically to help develop skills in reading, writing, speech and language.
My child is considered gifted and talented. What kinds of advanced curriculums are available?
Whether choosing a public or private school, every institution in GG offers a curriculum that will truly challenge a gifted young mind. All ACPS schools offer gifted program services.
Advanced Placement courses provide the opportunity to earn college credits at the high school campus. In addition, advanced students can dual enroll at Santa Fe College before graduating high school with no tuition costs. More than 1,000 high school students partake in Santa Fe’s dual enrollment program each year.
International Baccalaureate program at Eastside High School and the Montessori school, Bhaktivedanta Academy, and Eastside High School, both offer International Baccalaureate programs. The Cambridge Program is offered at Gainesville High School.
From elementary to high school, various schools throughout the district provide additional enrichment and advanced studies through the many academic magnet programs. New this year is the biomedical magnet at Mebane Middle School in Alachua, which goes hand-in-hand with the biotechnology magnet at Santa Fe High School in Alachua. Other magnet programs include The Center for Gifted and Talented Studies at Archer Elementary, Williams Magnet Program at Williams Elementary, The Academy of Technology and Advanced Studies at Howard Bishop Middle School and The Lyceum at Lincoln Middle School.
How do I navigate homeschooling in Greater Gainesville?
Homeschooling and remote learning are allowed under the Florida Board of Education throughout the Sunshine State. Upon relocating, it is essential to research the homeschooling and remote learning programs.
ACPS has a homeschool department that can help navigate the decision to homeschool and provide resources for families who choose this learning method.
The first step to homeschooling children is to submit a Letter of Intent to the Alachua County Public Schools Homeschool Office or complete the intent form. Families must complete an annual evaluation each year to remain in the homeschool program.
To get started or for more information, visit sbac.edu/homeschool.
By Jewell Tomazin