Palm Valley Academy

Summary:

Palm Valley Academy is a public elementary and middle school in Ponte Vedra, Florida, serving grades PK-8 with an enrollment of 1,496 students. The school is part of the highly-ranked St. Johns school district, which is ranked 4th out of 68 districts in Florida and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Palm Valley Academy consistently outperforms the St. Johns district and the state of Florida in academic assessments, with 85% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts compared to 76% in the district and 55% statewide. The school also has a more diverse student population than many nearby schools, with higher percentages of Hispanic and Asian students. Additionally, Palm Valley Academy has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates and a low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which is significantly lower than the nearby schools.

When compared to other schools in the area, such as Durbin Creek Elementary School, Liberty Pines Academy, and Patriot Oaks Academy, Palm Valley Academy stands out as a high-performing school with a more diverse student population and lower rates of chronic absenteeism and free/reduced lunch eligibility. This suggests that the school may be attracting families from a wider geographic area and socioeconomic spectrum, and its success may be attributed to effective teaching practices, strong parental involvement, and a supportive school culture.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-8

700 Bobcat Ln
Ponte Vedra, FL 32081

(904) 547-4201

District: St. Johns

SchoolDigger Rank:
77^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,771

Students who attend Palm Valley Academy usually attend:

High:

Allen D Nease Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.1

Number of students: 1,498

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.0%

Hispanic:

8.8%

Two or more races:

6.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 6.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Palm Valley Academy ranks better than 96.6% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 2^nd among 26 ranked elementary schools in the St. Johns School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 93.74. (See more...)

Compare Details Palm Valley Academy ranks better than 95.8% of middle schools in Florida. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.93. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (81%), Hispanic (8.8%), two or more races (6.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 6.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Palm Valley Academy is 16.1. 18 elementary schools in the St. Johns School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Palm Valley Academy employs 93 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Palm Valley Academy is $8,771. 21 elementary schools in the St. Johns School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Palm Valley Academy was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Palm Valley Academy 50^th of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Palm Valley Academy in the ranking list.)

St. Johns:

SchoolDigger ranks St. Johns 4^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Palm Valley Academy.

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Your rating for Palm Valley Academy?

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Rank History for Palm Valley Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2019	92.60	82^nd	2182	96.2%
2021	95.35	51^st	2247	97.7%
2022	94.44	59^th	2219	97.3%
2023	92.52	104^th	2240	95.4%
2024	93.74	77^th	2256	96.6%

See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Palm Valley Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	FL State Percentile
2021	94.05	44^th	1136	96.1%
2022	92.36	57^th	1148	95.0%
2023	91.37	70^th	1177	94.1%
2024	92.93	50^th	1196	95.8%

See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Overcrowded and overwhelming. Nocatee continues to grow but the schools are not being built fast enough to support the demand. I regret not having moved to Ponte Vedra Beach instead, where the smaller schools can live up to the St Johns County reputation. The schools in Nocatee are living by this reputation of “best schools in Florida” but children are being taught in portable classrooms/trailers outside because there are not classrooms, teachers are overwhelmed and there are not enough support resources to tend to the growing number of students. We pulled our children out of PVA after just 2 months and opted for private school. Our understanding is that the new school that opens next fall is also already over capacity and they will need to start building yet another school next year. If school is your motivation for moving to the area, invest a bit more money and settle in Ponte Vedra Beach instead. Or stay in Nocatee and opt for a private school. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Palm Valley Academy

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2019	1064	10	75	91	0	0	54	1294
2020	1477	16	93	182	0	0	88	1856
2021	1706	13	101	216	2	0	110	2148
2022	1270	6	52	150	1	0	81	1560
2023	1196	10	51	153	1	0	85	1496
2024	1214	3	48	132	1	1	99	1498

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Palm Valley Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	1294	75.0	17.2	0.2
2020	1856	111.6	16.6	4.1
2021	2148	134.0	16.0	4.4
2022	1560	88.8	17.5	3.7
2023	1496	90.0	16.6	6.7
2024	1498	93.0	16.1	6.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Palm Valley Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	1294	75.0	17.2	0.2
2020	1856	111.6	16.6	4.1
2021	2148	134.0	16.0	4.4
2022	1560	88.8	17.5	3.7
2023	1496	90.0	16.6	6.7
2024	1498	93.0	16.1	6.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Palm Valley Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$196 (2.8%)	$6,880 (97.2%)	$7,076
2020	$170 (2.4%)	$6,868 (97.6%)	$7,038
2021	$269 (3.7%)	$6,907 (96.3%)	$7,176
2022	$369 (4.8%)	$7,312 (95.2%)	$7,681
2023	$527 (6.0%)	$8,243 (94.0%)	$8,771

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Palm Valley Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 82^nd of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 104^th of 2240 Elementary schools	0.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Palm Valley Academy)	87	90	3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (St. Johns)	78	76	2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Palm Valley Academy)	93	93
3rd Grade Mathematics (St. Johns)	82	80	2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Palm Valley Academy)	80	79	1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (St. Johns)	77	76	1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Palm Valley Academy)	87	83	4%
4th Grade Mathematics (St. Johns)	82	81	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Palm Valley Academy)	83	85	2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (St. Johns)	76	75	1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Palm Valley Academy)	80	85	5%
5th Grade Mathematics (St. Johns)	80	76	4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Palm Valley Academy)	73	69	4%
5th Grade Science (St. Johns)	73	70	3%
5th Grade Science (Florida)	53	51	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Palm Valley Academy)	84	80	4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (St. Johns)	74	70	4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	54	52	2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Palm Valley Academy)	91	85	6%
6th Grade Mathematics (St. Johns)	74	74
6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	55	49	6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1294	1496	15.6%
African American	10	10
American Indian	0	1
Asian	75	51	32%
Hispanic	91	153	68.1%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	1064	1196	12.4%
Two or More Races	54	85	57.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	0.2%	6.7%	6.5%

Schools Near Palm Valley Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)						FAST Math (2024)						Statewide Science Science (2024)		EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Biology 1 (2024)	EOC Civics (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Palm Valley Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	700 Bobcat Ln	Ponte Vedra	32081	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-4201	1,498	93	16.1	6.9%	1,214 (81.0%)	3 (0.2%)	132 (8.8%)	48 (3.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	99 (6.6%)	93.7	77^th of 2256 public elementary schools	96.6%		92.5	104^th of 2240 public elementary schools	95.4%	27	85.0	80.0	79.0	81.0	80.0	82.0	92.0	90.0	83.0	88.0	78.0	88.0	76.0	82.0	100.0			94.0	$8,771	$527	$8,243
Ocean Palms Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	355 Landrum Ln	Ponte Vedra Beach	32082	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-3760	952	61	15.6	10.2%	645 (67.8%)	28 (2.9%)	122 (12.8%)	86 (9.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (7.2%)	92	113^th of 2256 public elementary schools	95.0%		91.2	141^st of 2240 public elementary schools	93.7%	28	84.0	80.0	81.0				75.0	80.0	87.0				76.0						$10,085	$494	$9,591
Valley Ridge Academy	Public	K-8	105 Greenleaf Dr	Ponte Vedra	32081	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-4090	1,267	75	16.8	15.6%	912 (72.0%)	72 (5.7%)	146 (11.5%)	66 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.2%)	68 (5.4%)	91.9	118^th of 2256 public elementary schools	94.8%		92.9	98^th of 2240 public elementary schools	95.6%	20	79.0	81.0	77.0	77.0	80.0	76.0	85.0	88.0	84.0	89.0	75.0	77.0	74.0	69.0	100.0	100.0		94.0	$9,098	$403	$8,696
Pine Island Academy	Public	K-8	805 Pine Island Rd	St Augustine	32095	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-7500	1,721	100	17.2	3.8%	1,304 (75.8%)	7 (0.4%)	220 (12.8%)	72 (4.2%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	115 (6.7%)	89.5	193^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	91.4%		90.2	166^th of 2240 public elementary schools	92.6%	27	80.0	73.0	79.0	79.0	75.0	76.0	83.0	75.0	83.0	79.0	67.0	84.0	78.0	81.0	93.0	100.0		94.0	$8,056	$398	$7,658
Bartram Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	14799 Bartram Springs Pkwy	Jacksonville	32258	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	No	(904) 260-5860	1,111	69	16.1	25.3%	493 (44.4%)	203 (18.3%)	205 (18.5%)	104 (9.4%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	100 (9.0%)	76.2	497^th of 2256 public elementary schools	78.0%		80.1	407^th of 2240 public elementary schools	81.8%	90	65.0	69.0	67.0				67.0	69.0	63.0				69.0						$10,287	$2,950	$7,337
Duval Charter School At Flagler Center	Public, Charter	K-8	12755 Flagler Center Blvd	Jacksonville	32258	Duval County	Duval	Yes	No	No	No	(904) 899-1010	950	0	19.9	24.2%	395 (41.6%)	141 (14.8%)	249 (26.2%)	91 (9.6%)	4 (0.4%)	4 (0.4%)	66 (6.9%)	66	720^th of 2256 public elementary schools	68.1%		69.8	633^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	71.7%	87	54.0	59.0	62.0	63.0	52.0	63.0	78.0	64.0	27.0	74.0	63.0	67.0	65.0	45.0	78.0	100.0	96.0	82.0	$9,343	$800	$8,543
Ponte Vedra Palm Valley- Rawlings Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	610 Us Highway A1a N	Ponte Vedra Beach	32082	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-8570	1,043	70	14.9	12.5%	842 (80.7%)	28 (2.7%)	77 (7.4%)	29 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (6.4%)	97.2	19^th of 2256 public elementary schools	99.2%		97.4	12^th of 2240 public elementary schools	99.5%	7	90.0	88.0	85.0				90.0	93.0	91.0				86.0						$9,544	$415	$9,128
Palencia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	355 Palencia Village Dr	St Augustine	32095	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-4010	708	48	14.8	16.4%	527 (74.4%)	20 (2.8%)	80 (11.3%)	29 (4.1%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	49 (6.9%)	89.8	186^th of 2256 public elementary schools	91.8%		90.7	154^th of 2240 public elementary schools	93.1%	32	86.0	78.0	78.0				92.0	75.0	70.0				70.0						$9,331	$473	$8,858
Liberty Pines Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	10901 Russell Sampson Rd	Saint Johns	32259	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-7900	1,948	113	17.2	16.3%	1,246 (64.0%)	62 (3.2%)	341 (17.5%)	155 (8.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	142 (7.3%)	83.8	324^th of 2256 public elementary schools	85.6%		84.2	307^th of 2240 public elementary schools	86.3%	17	74.0	70.0	69.0	68.0	73.0	74.0	77.0	73.0	74.0	85.0	66.0	83.0	71.0	82.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	97.0	$7,917	$352	$7,565
Patriot Oaks Academy	Public	K-8	475 Longleaf Pine Pkwy	Saint Johns	32259	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-4050	1,466	88	16.6	8.5%	922 (62.9%)	35 (2.4%)	160 (10.9%)	254 (17.3%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	91 (6.2%)	88.6	215^th of 2256 public elementary schools	90.5%		90.6	160^th of 2240 public elementary schools	92.9%	55	82.0	73.0	71.0	78.0	81.0	90.0	87.0	84.0	73.0	88.0	68.0	95.0	69.0	83.0	98.0	100.0		98.0	$8,895	$437	$8,457

Frequently Asked Questions about Palm Valley Academy

How many students attend Palm Valley Academy?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,498 students attended Palm Valley Academy.

Is Palm Valley Academy a good school?

Yes! Palm Valley Academy is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 77^th of 2256 Florida elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Palm Valley Academy?

Students at Palm Valley Academy are 81% White, 9% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What district is Palm Valley Academy in?

St. Johns

What schools do graduates of Palm Valley Academy attend?

Students who attend Palm Valley Academy usually go on to attend:

High : Allen D Nease Senior High School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.