Alachua County Public Schools is a public school district serving Alachua County in North Central Florida. It serves approximately 27,000 students in 41 schools and centers.The district is governed by the School Board of Alachua County, which is made up of five board members elected at large who serve staggered, four-year terms.In 2015, the district's average SAT score of 1620 was the highest in the state of Florida and above the national average. The districtwide passing rate on Advanced Placement exams was 63%, higher than state, national and global passing rates on the exams, which reflect college-level material. Five of the district's six traditional high schools were ranked on The Washington Post's 2015 High School Challenge Index, placing them among the top high schools in the nation. The district also received the What Parents Want Award from SchoolMatch, the nation's largest school selection consulting firm. About 16% of school districts nationwide receive the award each year.The district offers a number of magnet programs for gifted/talented students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. It also has thirteen career-tech high school magnet programs in fields such as healthcare, biotechnology, culinary arts and emergency services.There are approximately 4,000 employees of Alachua County Public Schools. About half of them are teachers. Each school has a nurse on campus full-time. School resource officers/deputies are also assigned to all schools.SchoolsThe district has 41 schools including 22 elementary schools, seven middle schools, seven high schools, two special education centers (Sidney Lanier School and A. Quinn Jones Center), an early childhood center (Duval Early Learning Academy, a family services center (Fearnside Family Services Center) and an environmental education center (Camp Crystal Lake)(Grades 3-5) Archer Community School (PK-5)Chiles Elementary School (PK-5)JJ Finley Elementary School (PK-5)Foster Elementary School (K-5)Glen Springs Elementary School (K-5)Hidden Oak Elementary School (PK-5)High Springs Elementary School (K-8)Idylwild Elementary School (PK-5)Irby Elementary School (PK-2)Lake Forest Elementary School (PK-5)(PK-5)Meadowbrook Elementary School (K-5)Metcalfe Elementary School (1-5)Newberry Elementary School (PK-4))Norton Elementary School (PK-5)Rawlings Elementary School (1-5)Shell Elementary School (PK-5)Talbot Elementary School (PK-5)Terwilliger Elementary School (PK-5)Wiles Elementary School (K-5)Williams Elementary School (K-5)
