A Program of Interest is defined as a multi-year, specialized program that is potentially available to eligible students in St. Johns County School District who apply and are accepted to the program.
Student must be a resident of St. Johns County
- Acceptance into a Program of Interest automatically provides an out-of-zone waiver for students to attend a school other than their zoned school. No separate actions need to be taken to receive an out-of-zone waiver.
- Completed applications must be submitted by the established due dates.
- Each school will determine the number of student seats available in each Program of Interest and may deny entry solely based on seats available. A weighted lottery system is available to ensure students have equal access to a Program of Interest if seat capacity is met. Students may be placed on a waiting list. Out-of-zone students can be taken off the waiting list and be placed into a Program of Interest up until July 1. In-zone students can be taken off the waiting list and be placed into a Program of Interest up until the first day of the next school year.
- Rising 11th and 12th grade students currently in the school district are ineligible to apply for and obtain an out-of-zone waiver to a new Program of Interest.
- Each Program of Interest sets expectations for academic progress, attendance and behavior. Should an out-of-zone transfer student not meet such expectations the following actions will ensue:
- The principal of the out-of-zone Program of Interest school may initiate action to rescind a student’s out-of-zone waiver for failing grades, excessive school absences or tardiness and/or recurrent discipline problems.
- Prior to rescinding a student’s out-of-zone waiver, the principal or designee shall notify the student’s parent/guardian in writing citing the reason for potential revocation the out-of-zone waiver.
- The parent/guardian shall be permitted a reasonable time and opportunity to address or correct the situation.
- If not corrected in a reasonable amount of time, the principal will make a recommendation to the Department of Career and Technical Education for revocation of the student’s out-of-zone waiver. The recommendation will be reviewed by the Director for Career and Technical Education and a letter submitted to the family with the outcome of the review, at which point the decision will be final. In most instances the revocation will be effective at the end of the semester after grades have been awarded.
- Escalated infractions (for example Level 3 or 4 infractions) may result in immediate removal from a Program of Interest/Career Academy.
- Mid-Year transfers to a new Program of Interest are not allowed.
- In the event that a student opts to drop out of, or ceases to be enrolled in, a Program of Interest for which an out-of-zone waiver has been approved, the student will be required to return to his/her home zoned school at the start of the new semester once credit has been awarded.
- Students may apply for multiple programs of study; however, students may only attend academies and or programs of interest at one school.
- Students who miss the deadline to apply to a Program of Interest may complete a late application during the established Late Application window. Late applications will not be included in the lottery. Late applicants may be placed in open seats pending availability after the lottery. If programs are full, late applicants will be placed on a waiting list according to receipt of late application. There will be no out of zone placements after July 1.
- The parents/guardians of students attending an out-of-zone school are required to provide transportation for the student to and from the out-of-zone school. There is an exception for students attending St. Johns Technical High School.
- Student enrollment in an Academy is contingent upon a minimum enrollment in two or more additional school based core academic courses as determined by the school principal.
- Students may not apply for a Program of Interest at an out-of-zone school if the program exists at the student’s zoned high school. This policy went into effect December 2015.
- Students who have applied and been accepted into a Program of Interest at an out of zone school and move into a zone where the program exists, will need to attend the program at their zoned school.
Programs that are replicated in the district:
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- International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Allen D. Nease High School and Pedro Menendez High School OR Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Program at St. Augustine High School and Beachside High School
- Early College at Tocoi Creek High School and Pedro Menendez High School
- VyStar Academy of Business at Bartram Trail High School and Pedro Menendez High School
- JROTC programs at Bartram Trail High School, Allen D. Nease High School and St. Augustine High School
- Academies of IT at Bartram Trail High School and Ponte Vedra High School
- Academy of Future Teachers at Creekside High School, Ponte Vedra High School, St. Augustine High School and Tocoi Creek High School
- Academy of Future Healthcare Professionals at Pedro Menendez High School and Tocoi Creek High School
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New Students entering the St. Johns County School District
Any student entering 9th or 10th grade not previously enrolled in a St. Johns County public school within the prior school year is eligible to apply for any Program of Interest in the St. Johns County School District up until the first interim and pending district and school approval. Students entering the St. Johns County School District enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade who were previously enrolled in an equivalent Program of Interest at his/her previous school may apply for the equivalent Program of Interest, regardless of school zone, pending district and school approval. Applying does not guarantee acceptance into the Program of Interest.
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