Dawn Spencer REALTOR® · Hi Real Estate

Schools & Colleges

School choice in Northeast Florida, explained.

Your address determines your zoned school, but in Florida it doesn't have to determine where your child goes. Here's how every option works, how schools are rated, and what's here for college.

By Dawn Spencer · Last updated

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K-12 Options

Seven ways to choose a school

OptionHow it worksCostHow to get in
Zoned public schoolAssigned by your home addressFreeEnroll with the district; confirm the zoned school for the exact address
Controlled open enrollmentAny public school in Florida with available capacity, in or out of your districtFree; parents usually provide transportationApply during the district's window; seats are assigned by preference and lottery
Magnet and choice programsSpecialized programs (arts, STEM, IB, AP, career academies)FreeDistrict application or lottery; some programs have entrance criteria or auditions
Charter schoolsTuition-free public schools run by independent boardsFreeApply directly to each school; lottery when oversubscribed
Private schoolsIndependent and faith-based schoolsTuition; state scholarships may cover much of itApply to the school, and to Step Up For Students for a scholarship
Virtual schoolFlorida Virtual School or a district virtual program, full- or part-timeFree for Florida studentsEnroll online
Home educationParent-directed educationFamily-funded; scholarships may helpNotify the district superintendent and complete an annual evaluation

Not Zoned for the School You Want?

The rules for attending a different public school

Florida's controlled open enrollment law (section 1002.31, Florida Statutes) requires every school district to let parents choose public schools outside their zone when those schools have room.

How it works

  1. Check capacity. Each district publishes which schools and grades have open seats, and updates it during the year. Schools at capacity aren't open to transfers.
  2. Apply in the window. Each district sets its own application dates, usually in winter or early spring for the next school year. Late applications may be accepted where seats remain.
  3. Preferences and lottery. When there are more applicants than seats, districts use a lottery with preference categories set by law and district policy, such as military families and siblings of current students. Districts generally place their own residents before out-of-district applicants.
  4. Accept your seat by the district's deadline.
  5. Plan transportation. Districts usually don't provide busing for open-enrollment students. Florida offers a transportation scholarship for some eligible students who attend a public school other than their assigned one when the district doesn't provide transportation.

Duval County example (2026–27 school year): the in-district Special Transfer Option and magnet lottery ran December 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026, and the out-of-county controlled open enrollment window opened March 23, 2026, with out-of-county applications reviewed after Duval residents'. Expect similar timing for 2027–28, and confirm on the district's site.

Other paths

  • Magnet and special programs have their own applications and criteria, separate from open enrollment.
  • Charter schools take applications directly; you're not limited by your zone or county.
  • Hardship or administrative transfers may be available for documented circumstances; ask the district.

Ratings

How Florida rates its schools

The Florida Department of Education gives most public schools, including charters, an A through F school grade each year. Grades are based mainly on state assessment achievement and learning gains, plus graduation rates and college and career acceleration for high schools.

  • Look at several years, not one, and at learning gains as well as scores
  • Visit, ask about class sizes, programs, and teacher turnover
  • Third-party rating sites use their own formulas; compare them with the state's data
  • Confirm the school assigned to a specific address with the district before you buy

I share official data and resources so you can decide for yourself. I don't steer buyers toward or away from any area based on schools or anything else.

Private School & Pre-K

Scholarships and early learning

  • Family Empowerment Scholarship (Educational Options): open to every Florida K-12 student eligible for public school, regardless of income. Funding isn't guaranteed and priority groups are served first, so apply early.
  • Scholarships for students with unique abilities and other programs are also administered by Step Up For Students.
  • Deadlines matter: for 2026–27, Step Up's handbook set November 15, 2026 for new students' initial applications. Check current dates.
  • Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK): free pre-K for children who are 4 by September 1, at participating public, private, and faith-based providers.

Military Families

Enrolling on PCS orders

  • Florida treats a student whose parent is transferring to a Florida installation on official orders as a district resident for enrollment once the orders are submitted, so you can enroll before you've closed on a home
  • Military children receive preference in controlled open enrollment
  • The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children helps with records, placement, and graduation requirements when moving between states
  • Look for Purple Star schools, which have a designated military liaison, and contact the school liaison officer at NAS Jacksonville or Naval Station Mayport

PCS guide and checklist

Higher Education

Colleges and universities in Northeast Florida

For Students & Parents

Paying for college in Florida

  • Dual enrollment: Florida public high school students can take college courses tuition-free and graduate with credits or an associate degree.
  • Bright Futures: merit scholarships for Florida high school graduates attending eligible Florida colleges.
  • Florida Prepaid: lock in future tuition costs with a prepaid plan.
  • In-state tuition: generally requires 12 months of legal Florida residence before classes start, with documentation. Moving here a year ahead can matter.

Buying Near Campus

Housing for college students

  • Some parents buy a condo or small home near campus instead of paying rent for four years, then sell or rent it out
  • Check HOA leasing rules and rental restrictions before you buy
  • Florida's homestead exemption applies only to an owner's permanent residence, so a parent's second home pays non-homestead taxes
  • Plan financing early: second-home and investment loans have different rules than a primary residence

Talk with me about buying near UNF, JU, or FSCJ

School and college questions

Can my child attend a public school we're not zoned for in Florida?

Yes, in many cases. Florida's controlled open enrollment law (section 1002.31, Florida Statutes) lets parents apply to any public school in the state that has not reached capacity, including schools in other districts. Each district publishes which schools have space and sets an application window. Parents generally provide transportation.

Are charter schools public schools in Florida?

Yes. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools run by independent boards under a charter with the school district. You apply directly to each charter school, and schools with more applicants than seats hold a lottery.

How are Florida schools rated?

The Florida Department of Education assigns most public schools an A through F grade each year, based mainly on state assessment results, learning gains, and, for high schools, graduation rates and college and career acceleration. Grades are published on the FLDOE website.

How do military families enroll before they arrive?

Under Florida law, a student whose parent is transferring to a Florida military installation on official orders is treated as a district resident for enrollment once the orders are submitted, and receives preference in the district's controlled open enrollment process.

Can my child attend a private school with a state scholarship?

Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options is open to all K-12 students eligible to attend public school, regardless of income, though funding is not guaranteed and priority groups are served first. Applications are handled by Step Up For Students and have annual deadlines.

School policies, deadlines, and programs change every year. Always confirm with the school district, school, or college. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Next Step

Neighborhood guidesFind the neighborhood for the school.New-listing alertsHomes near the schools you chose.Relocation guideEnrollment, licenses, and timing.

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Dawn Spencer, REALTOR® · Hi Real Estate