Students enrolled in St. Lucie Public Schools have a lot to be excited about. No matter if scholars want to enter the workforce after they earn their diploma or attend college, the skills they obtain while attending classes will prepare them for the 21st century.
The school system comprises 17 elementary, eight K-8, four middle schools, one sixth through 12th, five high schools, one virtual and two alternative schools.
The district’s population is as diverse as its opportunities. With nearly 40,000 students and 5,400 staff members, 57 countries are represented, 49 different languages are spoken, and 9 percent are ESOL students.
Students have 37 career and technical academies from which to choose, and the district encourages students to partake in career and technical education courses to bolster their skills. By taking CTE classes, students gain work-based experience, can earn college credits and obtain industry-recognized certifications.
District students can also take advantage of Advanced Placement courses, a dual enrollment program, International Baccalaureate and an Advanced International Certificate of Education program.
In addition, St. Lucie Public Schools enjoys a 90.1 percent graduation rate — the fifth in Florida — and has no failing schools. While the school district is great for students, it is equally rewarding for its teachers, faculty and staff. It was named one of St. Lucie County’s Best Places to Work.
An Alternative Approach
Fostering a unique learning environment
For parents seeking smaller class sizes and one-on-one instruction for their children, alternative, faith-based schools may be the right option. St. Lucie County offers some of the best around!
Barnabas Christian Academy
Educating students in kindergarten through 12th grade, Barnabas Christian Academy offers a rigorous curriculum with a biblical worldview. The school is dedicated to equipping students academically, physically and spiritually, so they grow up to be well-rounded adults and followers of Christ.
Students learn subjects that prepare them for the 21st century workforce and also have the opportunity to participate in the arts, such as drama, music and visual art. Athletics are also offered, including basketball, cheerleading, volleyball, soccer and flag football.
St. Lucie Christian
Meeting the academic needs of students in grades kindergarten through high school, St. Lucie Christian instills faith-filled principles in its classes. Helping pupils grasp concepts that they can apply to real world scenarios, the school’s S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) program prepares pupils for college or entering the workforce.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in athletics and robotics, among others. The school even offers a special aviation program for students, which enables those with an interest in aircraft to pursue their curiosity in this subject.
Morningside Academy
Divided into a lower school and an upper school, Morningside Academy has been providing academic and spiritual instruction to its students for more than 30 years. Pupils receive individualized attention thanks to the school’s average class size being 20. Middle and high school class sizes vary depending on the course. The academy boasts an impressive lineup of extracurricular activities in which its students may partake, including drama, student government, photography club, fine arts, creative writing and missions trips, to name a few.
Renaissance Charter School of St. Lucie
This tuition-free public charter school educates students in kindergarten through eighth grade. With a mission to inspire and empower, the school’s curriculum is managed by Charter Schools USA, a leader in the development and design of charter schools. The school takes an individualized approach to learning, which helps students get the one-on-one instruction they need. Elective classes enrich students’ education. These classes include graphic art, physical education, bank, music appreciate and journalism, to name a few.
Sports and activities complement a pupil’s experience at school. Students can partake in private instrument lessons, ballet, karate, athletics, cooking, group chorus, lyrical dance, science and technology.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy
Since 1970, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy has paved the road to success for generations of students. Located on the Indian River Lagoon in historic, downtown Fort Pierce, the academy’s award-winning Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) college preparatory educational model offers students a chance to unlock and develop the vital skills necessary to excel in the 21st century.
St. Andrew’s is a place where students can get real-world, hands-on learning inside and outside of the classroom. A place where STEAM lessons and student driven problem solving, critical thinking, entrepreneurship and leadership, moves from practice and theory to implementation. A place where education provides not only these much-needed skills, but the soft skills of teamwork, collaboration and community involvement.
Students are immersed in an atmosphere of ethical behavior, social conscience, caring and integrity. The Academy challenges the whole student: emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, socially, and physically. Graduates are prepared to lead lives that make a positive difference in their community and the world at large. St. Andrew’s is proudly inclusive and welcomes all children, embracing cultural and religious diversity.
St. Anastasia Catholic School
Children in preschool through eighth grade receive a challenging and engaging education in a faith-inspired atmosphere at St. Anastasia Catholic School. When students leave the school, they are critical thinkers, responsible citizens and seek God in all they do.
Aside from academics, students can participate in extracurricular activities, such as athletics, student government, drumline and Girls Scouts.
Saint Edward’s School
Founded in 1965, Saint Edward’s School educates students in pre-K through grade 12 in a Christian setting. As a college-preparatory school, students benefit from rigorous courses and small class sizes. Starting in eighth grade, students start college counseling, so when the time comes, they are fully prepared to make an informed decision. The campus is outfitted with modern classrooms, state-of-the-art athletic fields, an aquatics complex, music and arts studios, two libraries, an academic learning lab and a performing arts center.
Pupils can participate in athletics, fine arts, yearbook, community service projects and numerous clubs.
Sun Grove Montessori School
Seeking to create a unique learning environment where students develop a natural desire and love of learning, Sun Grove Montessori School instructs infants through middle school ages. Children learn to be responsible for their own behavior, adapt to their surroundings and become academically competent and engaged. Students master traditional subjects, as well as have the opportunity to run their own enterprise, such as keeping bees or poultry, mentoring or tutoring younger students or manage “Wake Up Montessori Café,” as examples.
The school also offers field trips, which are often organized by students, like a ropes course, conferences, camping, internships and learning and adventure excursions.