Nearly half of Escambia County’s public elementary and middle are among the lowest performing in Florida. Accordingly, parents with the means have figured how to get a good education for that children using the numerous private school options available.
However, parents don’t have as many options when it comes to high school. Therefore, we’ve seen an increase of students in public schools when they advance from eighth to ninth grade. The average increase over the past five years has been 511 students, 13.8 percent.
| Increase in Student from Middle to High School | ||
| # | Â % | |
| 2013-14 | 534 | 17.5% |
| 2014-15 | 384 | 12.9% |
| 2015-16 | 365 | 12.2% |
| 2016-17 | 297 | 10.2% |
| 2017-18 | 462 | 16.4% |
| Average | 511 | 13.8% |
Interestingly, Escambia County’s public high schools don’t keep the students. The Twelfth grade enrollment for the past three years is on average 939 fewer students than the same class’ freshman year–a loss of 27 percent.
| Shrinking of High School Classes | ||||
| Ninth | Twelfth | Loss | % | |
| Class of 2016 | Â Â Â Â Â 3,443 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,372 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (1,071) | -31.1% |
| Class of 2017 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3,590 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,483 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (1,107) | -30.8% |
| Class of 2018 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3,362 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,723 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (639) | -19.0% |
| Average | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (939) | -27.0% | ||
This isn’t normal. St. John’s County is one of the highest performing school districts in the state. It’s average loss of students from their freshman to senior years is only 6.1 percent (173 students). The district keeps most its high school students.
| St. John’s County | ||||
| Ninth | Twelfth | Loss | % | |
| Class of 2016 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,601 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,419 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (182) | -7.0% |
| Class of 2017 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,960 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,703 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (257) | -8.7% |
| Class of 2018 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,966 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,887 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (79) | -2.7% |
| Average | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (173) | -6.1% |
St. John’s school superintendent is appointed by the school board.