Best schools in St. Johns County, ranked.
St. Johns County is the number one rated public school district in Florida, so the real question is not whether the schools are good, it is which of the top ones fits your family and how to buy into its zone. Here are the six high schools ranked, the top elementary and middle schools, and the honest version of what the rankings do and do not tell you.
The short answer.
By the 2026 U.S. News rankings, the top St. Johns County high schools are Ponte Vedra (around #35 in Florida), Allen D. Nease (#42), and Creekside (#43), followed by Bartram Trail (#104). Tocoi Creek and Beachside are too new to appear in the major ranking cycles but are A-rated in the same district. The district itself averages a 10 out of 10 school rating, in the top 5 percent of Florida, with a 94 percent graduation rate against the state's 88 percent.
Every traditional high school in St. Johns County is A-rated and sits in the top-ranked district in the state, so even the school ranked #104 in Florida is an excellent school. The gaps between them are at the margin, and the ranking sources disagree on the exact order of the middle of the pack. Treat the list below as a starting point, not a verdict. The school you can actually buy into, with the commute and community that fit your life, matters more than a few places in a statewide ranking.
St. Johns County high schools, ranked.
Ranked by U.S. News Florida state ranking for 2026, with Niche's most recent Florida ranking shown alongside for comparison. Where the two disagree, we say so.
| Rank | High School | U.S. News (FL) | Niche (FL) | Enrollment | Buy into the zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ponte Vedra High School | #35 in FL | Top 50 in FL | ~1,930 | Zone guide → |
| 2 | Allen D. Nease High School | #42 in FL | #135 in FL | ~2,210 | Zone guide → |
| 3 | Creekside High School | #43 in FL | #108 in FL | ~2,550 | Zone guide → |
| 4 | Bartram Trail High School | #104 in FL | #102 in FL | ~2,150 | Zone guide → |
| 5 | Tocoi Creek High School | Not yet ranked | Not yet ranked | ~2,375 | Zone guide → |
| 6 | Beachside High School | Not yet ranked | Strong early reviews | ~2,400 | Zone guide → |
A closer look, in order.
1. Ponte Vedra High School
The county's top-ranked high school by U.S. News. Coastal zone covering Palm Valley and the Sawgrass communities. Reported English and math proficiency around 81% and 84%. Ponte Vedra High School profile · best neighborhoods in the zone →
2. Allen D. Nease High School
Established 1981, the original anchor for the coastal corridor. Highest graduation rate in the county. Serves most of Nocatee, Palencia, and Las Calinas. Allen D. Nease High School profile · best neighborhoods in the zone →
3. Creekside High School
Home of the Knights, built in 2008 to relieve Bartram Trail. Anchors the Durbin and Fruit Cove corridor. Consistently top-50 in Florida. Creekside High School profile · best neighborhoods in the zone →
4. Bartram Trail High School
The Bears, the established northwest powerhouse since 2000. Large, family-driven zone covering Julington Creek and Fruit Cove. The two ranking sources put it just behind the top tier. Bartram Trail High School profile · best neighborhoods in the zone →
5. Tocoi Creek High School
Opened 2021 to serve the World Golf Village and SilverLeaf corridor. Too new for the major ranking cycles, but A-rated in the #1 district. Tocoi Creek High School profile · best neighborhoods in the zone →
6. Beachside High School
The newest school, opened 2022 for the Shearwater and Beachwalk corridor. Too new for the ranking cycles, but drawing strong parent reviews and fast-growing programs. Beachside High School profile · best neighborhoods in the zone →
Best elementary and middle schools.
The high schools get the attention, but the elementary and middle schools are where the day-to-day experience starts. Among the highest-rated in the county by test scores are Ponte Vedra Palm Valley-Rawlings Elementary, Durbin Creek Elementary, and Alice B. Landrum Middle School. Like the high schools, the strongest elementary and middle schools are spread across the master-planned communities, and assignment is by address. When we help you target a school zone, we confirm the full elementary, middle, and high path for the specific home, not just the high school.
How to actually buy into the school you want.
In St. Johns County, public school assignment follows the home address, so buying inside the right attendance zone is how most families secure a specific school. The catch is that zones shift as the district opens new schools, and the county is opening two new K-8 academies for the 2026-2027 year. The community name is not a reliable guide to the zone, since several large communities are split. We build searches around your target zone, confirm the current assignment for every address in writing through the district's official locator, and flag homes near a boundary where a future rezoning is possible.
Zone buyer guides: Ponte Vedra · Nease · Creekside · Bartram Trail · Tocoi Creek · Beachside
Targeting a specific St. Johns school?
Tell us which school matters most and we will build the search around its zone, confirm the assignment for every address in writing, and move fast when the right home lists. Every inquiry comes straight to us. No obligation, no spam.
Prefer to talk now? Call (904) 351-6461.
Questions families ask.
What are the best schools in St. Johns County?
St. Johns County is the number one rated school district in Florida, so the question is really which of its top schools fits you. By the 2026 U.S. News rankings, the top high schools are Ponte Vedra (around #35 in Florida), Nease (#42), and Creekside (#43), followed by Bartram Trail (#104). Tocoi Creek and Beachside are too new to be ranked but are A-rated. All six sit in a district where the average school rates 10 out of 10.
Is St. Johns County the best school district in Florida?
St. Johns County is consistently rated the number one public school district in Florida by most measures. Its schools average a 10 out of 10 rating, in the top 5 percent of Florida, with a 94 percent graduation rate against the state's 88 percent and proficiency scores well above the state average.
Which St. Johns County high school is ranked highest?
Ponte Vedra High School is the highest-ranked St. Johns County high school by U.S. News, at roughly #35 in Florida, with reported English and math proficiency around 81 and 84 percent. Nease and Creekside follow closely. Ranking sources disagree on the exact order of the middle schools, so treat the differences as small among a very strong group.
Do the rankings agree on the order?
Not exactly. U.S. News and Niche both place Ponte Vedra at the top, but they order Nease, Creekside, and Bartram Trail differently. U.S. News puts Nease and Creekside ahead of Bartram, while Niche's most recent list ordered Bartram ahead of Creekside and Nease. Because all are A-rated in the top district in the state, the gaps are at the margin.
How do I get my child into a specific St. Johns County school?
Public school assignment in St. Johns County is by home address, so buying a home inside the right attendance zone is how most families secure a specific school. Zones shift as the district opens new schools, so confirm the assignment for a specific address with the district's official locator before you buy. We build searches around a target school zone and confirm every address in writing.
What are the best elementary and middle schools in St. Johns County?
Among the top-rated by test scores are Ponte Vedra Palm Valley-Rawlings Elementary, Durbin Creek Elementary, and Alice B. Landrum Middle School. Like the high schools, the strong elementary and middle schools are spread across the county's master-planned communities, and assignment is by address, so confirm the full elementary-middle-high path for any specific home.
Keep exploring.
St. Johns County schools overview · St. Johns County real estate · Nocatee · Ponte Vedra · All school zones · All neighborhood guides · Best schools in Duval County · Best schools in Clay County · Best schools in Nassau County