School Options

[formosan80]

It is great to see such an active group of people in the Springfield neighborhood. I am looking to move to the area with my family. My spouse and I are drawn by the sense of community and the historic homes. My spouse grew up restoring a post-Victorian foursquare.

What are the school options? I have three daughters who'll be in elementary school. I have heard great things about Kirby-Smith MS, but I cannot figure out what folks do about elementary school. I will be taking a job as an ecology professor and I sadly cannot afford private schools. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Kimmaga]

I don't have kids, but I know that Jacksonville has some exceptional magnet schools (including Kirby-Smith). Here's a link with more information:

http://www.magnetprograms.com/

[REDWING]

My boys go to River City Science academy on beach Blvd over the Heart bridge. Unfortunately there is no transportation on our side. It's a great school and worth the drive. They are charter. K-12, uniforms.
Welcome to Springfield, I live off of 10th and redwing behind Kirby.

[fsu813]

Different parents use different schools. Many use Magnet Schools, as SPR residents have some type of preference status.

I would get in touch with the Springfield Mommies Group...
http://www.springfieldmommies.com/

It is great to see such an active group of people in the Springfield neighborhood. I am looking to move to the area with my family. My spouse and I are drawn by the sense of community and the historic homes. My spouse grew up restoring a post-Victorian foursquare.

What are the school options? I have three daughters who'll be in elementary school. I have heard great things about Kirby-Smith MS, but I cannot figure out what folks do about elementary school. I will be taking a job as an ecology professor and I sadly cannot afford private schools. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[zoeboesmom]

I second the mommies group. There is a number of kids at Pine Forest, the performing arts magnet school. It is less than 15 minutes away near Emerson and University. I know 3-4 just on my street and talking to a friend last week (aparent of one of the students) there is around 12-15 kids from Springfield at Pine Forest and they trying to get together and organize a play group or something. K and 1st are waiting lists every year but 2nd and up are easier. Living in Springfield, we get a boost in the lottery for attending magnet schools too so look at all of them, there are some really good ones.

[Miss Fixit]

Yes, there are many excellent magnet schools in Jacksonville and because Springfield's neighborhood school is a title I school (high number of free and reduced lunch kids) our residents receive a higher priority for magnet admission. My son is at Pine Forest this year, along with a big group of Springfield friends, and loves it. We had a back to school gathering in August and are planning more events. Pine Forest is an arts magnet and offers daily classes in dance, visual arts, drama, vocal music and strings. It is a feeder for two of the United State's finest arts schools, LaVilla Middle School of the Arts and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. My older daughters went to La Villa and are now at Douglas Anderson for high school and we have been very happy with the experiences they have had.

[Yardchick]

True to what Christina said. I would add however that Douglas Anderson admissions are through audition. It is not a true feeder school but it does seem to help.

[fsu813]

Our zoned high school, Andrew Jackson, just had it's school rating released: a B!

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstorie ... ove-grades