Hendricks versus St. John's country day school (Jacksonville: credit, home)

[new2jax08]

I'm selecting a school for my gifted children. One of our greatest needs is for advanced placement for my kids. They greatly exceed the typical standards for each grade level by about 2 years. I know Hendricks will advance children who are evaluated as capable. Jacksonville Country Day school will not. St. John's country day school will. Even though St. John's Country Day School is extremely far, we have heard it is a wonderful place. And correct me if I'm wrong, but they do a lot of moving between classes- that is a third grader can attend fourth grade science if capable, or kindergarteners can attend a 2nd grade reading class. So, my dilemma is which school to choose.

So, I seek your advice on setting my kids on the path. Right now we have Stanton in mind for the future and then hopefully a top 15 college.

[riveree]

I'm sure the other schools are very good, but St. John's Country Day, in Clay county, is one of the top in the region - on par with Bolles.

St. John's Country Day is an excellent college prep school, there are very few schools that compare in NEFL and there are only a handful of other schools with the accreditations that St. John's Country Day has.

I know the location isn't convenient if you live outside of Clay county, but if you want a top notch education, SJCD is excellent.

[HIF]

I sent a rep comment, but am confused after reading another post- do your children currently attend Hendricks?

[seteiwane]

As I've said before, to get to Stanton, your best bet is to go through the academic magnets: James Weldon Johnson, Darnell-Cookman, and (in a few years) Landon. If your kids are younger than middle school age, check out Duval's magnet website and figure out which of the academic magnet schools work best for you.

[JagFan27]

Originally Posted by seteiwane

As I've said before, to get to Stanton, your best bet is to go through the academic magnets: James Weldon Johnson, Darnell-Cookman, and (in a few years) Landon. If your kids are younger than middle school age, check out Duval's magnet website and figure out which of the academic magnet schools work best for you.

Landon begins next year as a dedicated academic magnet.
If you do not attend one of the feeder magnet schools, you will not get into Stanton, except through the IB program, and that is an invitation only application.

[seteiwane]

Originally Posted by JagFan27

Landon begins next year as a dedicated academic magnet.
If you do not attend one of the feeder magnet schools, you will not get into Stanton, except through the IB program, and that is an invitation only application.

One should note that Stanton & Paxon are not going to give Landon kids the same priority as JWJ and D-C for at least a few years. It's too new. It's possible to get into the honors programs at SCP or PSAS without going through the academic magnets, but it's very rare (as in 1 or 2 every year). And that option is almost exculsively public schools with good state scores (aka LaVilla kids who don't want DA).

[HIF]

In another thread, the OP said that her kids already go to Hendricks- and she/he has not posted since her/his first threads- which contradicted one another.

Moderator cut: edit I think that the majority of posters who have responded to the OP have very good, real info.

There are excellent public and private schools out there. If anyone has specific questions about any of them, it is always good to get answers from those with chldren enrolled or educators in those schools.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by HIF

There are excellent public and private schools out there. If anyone has specific questions about any of them, it is always good to get answers from those with chldren enrolled or educators in those schools.

....or graduates of. I do not have children enrolled at SJCD but my husband is a graduate and we are still involved with the school on an alumni basis, so we are aware of what is currently happening at the school and even had an extensive tour recently.

I also take the time to keep abreast of what is going on in the public school even going so far as to vote when the school board elections come around, which I bet plenty of parents don't even bother to do.

I think education in Jacksonville is everyone's business, it affects us all directly or indirectly from home values to social issues.

[JagFan27]

Originally Posted by seteiwane

One should note that Stanton & Paxon are not going to give Landon kids the same priority as JWJ and D-C for at least a few years. It's too new.

I do not think that information is correct.
Landon will be a feeder school for Paxon, I know for sure, and I believe for Stanton, also. Darnell Cookman will is going to be a medical magnet middle/high school. DC is adding ninth grade next year, so they are hoping that the students in the middle school at DC will stay there for high school.

[seteiwane]

Originally Posted by JagFan27

I do not think that information is correct.
Landon will be a feeder school for Paxon, I know for sure, and I believe for Stanton, also. Darnell Cookman will is going to be a medical magnet middle/high school. DC is adding ninth grade next year, so they are hoping that the students in the middle school at DC will stay there for high school.

Not yet for Landon. I can't speak for Paxon, but I've heard SCP administrators talking, and we're not giving priority yet. We're going to wait a few years to see if the school measures up to the hype before letting them have equal priority. D-C will keep their priority at least for this year and next.