Programs of Interest
What Are Programs of Interest?
Programs of Interest include high school career academies, IB and AICE acceleration programs, Early College Program, Early Career Program, JROTC, St. Johns County Center for the Arts at St. Augustine High School and in middle school, a Center for the Arts program at R. J. Murray Middle School. Students in 8th and 9th grade may apply for enrollment in a Program of Interest for any of the of the St. Johns County School District high schools. There are application rules and a timeline that must be followed in order to be considered. Students in 5th grade may apply for R. J. Murray Middle School’s St. Johns County Center for the Arts (SJCCA) program.
A Career Academy provides an opportunity for a group of students to enroll in a specific set of courses associated with a designated career area. Each Career Academy has the following components:
- A recommended sequence of courses.
- A capstone project, a work site experience, a research project studying careers in the academy area, or some other experience in which students learn more about the career cluster with which the academy is affiliated.
- A demonstrated need for employees within the Career Cluster.
- An advisory board consisting of business leaders in the Career Cluster.
- Adherence to specific rules established by the school system.
- Hands-on project-based learning throughout the four years of the program.
Early College Program
Early College Program is available to all eligible students on a “space available” basis. There are specific application and eligibility requirements for this program, which is provided in partnership with St. Johns River State College. The program is available in two locations, however accepted students who are zoned for another high school are responsible for transportation. Please read the requirements and visit the St. Johns River State College website for additional information.
Early Career Program
Early Career Program is available to all eligible students on a “space available” basis per career program. There are specific application and eligibility requirements for this program, which is provided in partnership with First Coast Technical College. Accepted students will attend St. Augustine High School and FCTC to complete high school and industry requirements, and out of zone students are responsible for transportation. Information on the available programs can be found on the FCTC website under Dual Enrollment Programs.
For more details on this program, please review our informational presentation here.
AICE & IB
High School Acceleration Academies
Four high schools have international acceleration programs that are potentially open to students zoned for Bartram Trail, Creekside, Tocoi Creek, and Ponte Vedra High Schools. Students zoned for Allen D. Nease, Pedro Menendez, Beachside, or St. Augustine High Schools are not eligible to apply for the international acceleration programs at schools other than their zoned school. In addition to applying to these programs through the Program of Interest application process, students will have to be deemed academically eligible to be accepted into these programs. A Teacher Recommendation Form must be submitted by all four core academic teachers.
Bartram Trail, Ponte Vedra and Creekside High Schools also have advanced academic programs for students who live within their school zones only. These programs are not open for any students outside their school zones. Please contact your zoned school for more information concerning acceleration opportunities.
JROTC Programs
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is a Program of Interest designed to focus on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics. The following ROTC programs are available in St. Johns County.
St. Johns County Center for the Arts (SJCCA)
The St. Johns County Center for the Arts provides artistically gifted students with a pre-professional program of study designed to develop their unique talents in the performing and visual arts. In an environment that is supportive and intellectually challenging, SJCCA prepares students to be members of an artistic society. Commitment and self-discipline are necessary in order to advance through the school’s academic and artistic studies.
Click on the links below to see the arts offerings at the middle and high school levels. Only 5th graders throughout the district can apply to go into the R. J. Murray School’s Arts Programs and only 9th and 10th graders throughout the district can apply to go into the St. Augustine High School Arts Programs. In addition to applying through the Program of Interest application process, students must pass auditions to be considered.
