Charter Schools in St. Johns County
St. Johns County has four charter schools, and the state and district lists agree on all four. Two take applications from any student in the district; the other two are programs run by The Arc of the St. Johns for students who qualify for exceptional student education services. Most St. Johns County students attend their zoned district school.
How charter enrollment works in Florida
- Every Florida charter school is a public school. It cannot charge tuition or registration fees beyond what other public schools charge.
- A charter has no attendance zone. Buying a home next door does not hold a seat: when a grade gets more timely applications than it has room for, the law requires a random lottery.
- The law lets a charter give preference to some applicants, such as siblings of current students and children of its employees and board members. Each school publishes its own list.
- Busing is up to each school. It can contract buses or rely on parents, so many run a car line. Where a school states its busing, it is shown below.
From Florida’s charter school law, section 1002.33, Florida Statutes.
Charter schools open to any student in the district
- St. Augustine Public Montessori School
K–6, plus tuition-based classes for ages 3–4 · 7 Williams St, St. Augustine 32084
Montessori.
Apply: Apply by the late-February deadline for a March lottery; a campus tour is required.
Open to students living in the St. Johns County School District.
- Treaty Oaks Preparatory Academy
K–8, enrolling K–7 in 2026–27 · 1565 Brinkhoff Rd, St. Augustine 32086
Cambridge program. Run by Charter Schools USA.
Apply: 2027–28 open enrollment Nov 3 – Dec 4, 2026; a random lottery by grade if a grade fills.
Homes for sale near these schools
Programs for students with disabilities
Both are run by The Arc of the St. Johns and serve students who qualify for exceptional student education (ESE) services. Admission goes through the program.
- St. Johns Community Campus
9–12 (students may continue to age 21) · Arc Dr, St. Augustine 32084
Vocational and life-skills program for students with intellectual disabilities. Run by The Arc of the St. Johns.
- Therapeutic Learning Center
Pre-K (ages 3–5) · Arc Dr, St. Augustine 32084
Pre-kindergarten for children who qualify for exceptional student education (ESE) services. Run by The Arc of the St. Johns.
Questions buyers ask
How many charter schools are in St. Johns County?
Four for 2026–27, on both the state and district lists: St. Augustine Public Montessori School, Treaty Oaks Preparatory Academy, St. Johns Community Campus and the Therapeutic Learning Center. The last two are programs for students with disabilities run by The Arc of the St. Johns.
Are St. Johns County charter schools free?
Yes. Florida law makes every charter school a public school, and a charter cannot charge tuition or registration fees beyond what other public schools charge. St. Augustine Public Montessori also runs tuition-based classes for ages 3 and 4, outside its kindergarten through sixth grade charter.
Does living near a charter school get my child a seat?
No. A charter school has no attendance zone; when a grade gets more timely applications than seats, the law requires a random lottery. St. Augustine Public Montessori takes applicants who live in the St. Johns County School District. The home’s address still sets its zoned district school, which the district’s school locator shows.
When do St. Johns County charter schools take applications?
Treaty Oaks Preparatory Academy lists its 2027–28 open enrollment as November 3 to December 4, 2026, then a lottery by grade if a grade fills. St. Augustine Public Montessori’s deadline for 2026–27 was February 27, 2026, with a March lottery; watch its site for the 2027–28 dates.
Are new charter schools coming to St. Johns County?
The state’s list of approved charters that have not opened yet showed none for St. Johns County in October 2026. Proposals reported in the news are not approved charters.
Weighing a charter lottery against a zoned school? I can pull the district zoning for any address you are considering, so you know which public school comes with the home whatever the lottery does.
Roster: the Florida Department of Education charter school directory and the St. Johns County School District. Home listings are from the MLS; school facts are from each school and the state, not the MLS.