Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year

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St. Johns County School District

School Board

Beverly Slough – District 1
Anthony E. Coleman Sr. – District 2
Jennifer Collins – District 3
Kelly Barrera – District 4
Dr. Linda Thomson – District 5

Dr. Brennan Asplen

Superintendent of Schools

40 Orange Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
(904) 547-7500
http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us

Date: August 10, 2026

Dear Middle/High School Parent or Guardian,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer. I am writing not only to welcome you to the new school year but also to remind you of program of interest opportunities and information available on the district website.

Programs of Interest include career academies, advanced academic programs, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and the Arts. For most programs, the application process is tentatively set to begin in early January for the 2027-2028 school year. More information is available at https://cte.stjohns.k12.fl.us/programs/. It is never too early to begin consideration of your child’s future educational goals.

Virtual options are available either during the regular school day or after school and in the summer. All virtual course requests must be approved by a school counselor. The next open enrollment periods to apply for St. Johns Virtual School as a full-time student are October 19th to November 20th, 2026, and in the spring, May 3rd to June 30th, 2027. To learn about all virtual options, please go to http://www-sjvs.stjohns.k12.fl.us or call 904-547-8080.

All St. Johns County schools offer Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) options, which look different at each level. Options include but are not limited to:

Middle – high school courses in middle school; virtual instruction in a higher grade-level course; qualifying students may even participate, at no cost to them, in Dual Enrollment with St. Johns River State College (SJR State) and First Coast Technical College (FCTC). ACCEL options do not supersede the core course requirements for promotion to high school (three English language arts, three math, three science, and three social studies) but courses taken in middle school may earn high school credit (1003.4156 F.S.)
High – college credit via Advance Placement (AP), Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, dual enrollment (DE) in SJR State College or career dual enrollment (CDE) in FCTC courses that meet high school graduation requirements and earn college credit at the same time; high school credit by passing a State End-of-Course (EOC) assessments for selected courses; virtual instruction in advanced courses; early graduation; college credit by passing the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) assessment for a course; college credit via an AP exam without actually being enrolled in the course. Also, industry certifications while enrolled in high school may be articulated for college credit. To see a list of articulation agreements, visit https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-technical-edu-agreements/industry-certification.stml. Fla. Stat. § 1003.4295 (2025) and Fla. Stat. § 1007.23 (2025)

When considering an academic path, keep in mind that there are several diploma options. Designations are dependent upon a student’s course of study. Details regarding the criteria for each option and graduation requirements by cohort year are available at https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/sss/graduation-requirements/.

Planning should include post-high school goals. After high school, students may qualify for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. To find out how to qualify for this Bright Futures Scholarship go to https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPHome/SAPHome?url=home. Also, industry certifications earned while in high school may be articulated for college credit. To see a list of articulation agreements, visit https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-technical-edu-agreements/industry-certification.stml.

Admission into Florida’s State University System is competitive so prospective students should complete a rigorous curriculum in middle and high school. Eligibility requirements are available at https://www.flbog.edu/universities/admissions-transfers/undergraduate-admissions/.

A letter from the St. Johns County School Board detailing the 2026-2027 school year programs, application process, and contact information for board members and the superintendent.

The St. Johns County School District will inspire good character and a passion for lifelong learning in all students, creating educated and caring contributors to the world.

School Board

Beverly Slough – District 1
Anthony E. Coleman Sr. – District 2
Jennifer Collins – District 3
Kelly Barrera – District 4
Dr. Linda Thomson – District 5

Dr. Brennan Asplen

Superintendent of Schools

40 Orange Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
(904) 547-7500
http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us

The Florida College System is the primary access point to higher education for Floridians, including recent high school graduates and returning adult students. The 27 member colleges of the Florida College System respond quickly and efficiently to meet the demand of employers by aligning certificate and degree programs with regional workforce needs. With an array of programs and services, our colleges serve individuals, communities, and the state with low-cost, high-quality education opportunities. More information is available at https://www.floridashines.org/go-to-college/get-ready-for-college/college-admission-requirements.

Florida also offers students 46 accredited career and technical centers, including our own First Coast Technical College located in St. Augustine, which provide the education and certifications necessary to work in a particular career or technical field. More information is available at http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/.

This is a great deal of information to consider, so as you plan, one of the first places you may wish to visit is the district Parent Resource Guide, http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/families/resource/, and the Student Progression Plan, http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/cs/spp/. These user-friendly tools may promote a better understanding of the options open to your child. In addition, you can access district approved instructional materials at https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/instructional-materials/approved/. The Florida Department of Education website provides resources related to parental rights at https://www.fldoe.org/ParentalRights/.

I am proud that our schools offer so many academic choices for our students. Regardless of whether a student wishes to attend a university, join the military, go directly into a career after high school or some combination of these options, St. Johns County School District has programs to support those goals. With so many great options to consider, I hope you will work with your school counselor to develop the best learning path.

Thank you for considering this information and best wishes to you and your family for an outstanding school year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brennan Asplen
Superintendent of Schools

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A text document listing school board members and their districts, with a message about the Florida College System and its benefits for high school graduates.