Clay County High Schools (Middleburg, Orange Park: renting, home, school districts)

[wb3690]

Morning all! Well morning for me anyway!

I'm trying to get a jump on moving and the areas and am really trying to focus on school districts. I'm looking at Clay County Schools. (I am just focusing on these now, but won't discount other area high schools). So with that in mind and after reading the Great Schools website I was wondering if there are other intangibles or unmentioned things I should know about the following schools.

First I was told to avoid Orange Park HS. When we lived in Jax in 2000 we lived very close to OPHS and I don't think we are wanting to move back up into that exact area.

So what about the following:

Fleming Island HS
Ridgeview HS
Clay HS
Middleburg HS

Any input about these high schools would be appreciated. Things like extra curricular activities, parental involvement, sports, known issues.....any news stories etc.

Thanks! I think I might be overthinking this part of the move, but I know we'll be in Jax to let my oldest finish high school and after the school he attends now I am WELCOMING the change. I'm just very glad my oldest is a good student and we're able to wade through this.

Have a great day and weekend!

[joninclay]

You are wise to avoid OPHS.

Of the four high schools that you listed, Fleming Island HS is by far your best bet. Good school, nice area, good parental involvement, lots of activities...can't go wrong at all!

Of the remaining schools, I would say that Middleburg HS and Clay HS are both tied for second...a very distant second behind Fleming Island. In my view, Ridgeview is only marginally better than OPHS.

Hope that helps!

[wb3690]

Originally Posted by joninclay

You are wise to avoid OPHS.

Of the four high schools that you listed, Fleming Island HS is by far your best bet. Good school, nice area, good parental involvement, lots of activities...can't go wrong at all!

Of the remaining schools, I would say that Middleburg HS and Clay HS are both tied for second...a very distant second behind Fleming Island. In my view, Ridgeview is only marginally better than OPHS.

Hope that helps!

It does help. I mean you can only read so much from the websites. There is such limited parental involvement at both of my son's schools and I don't like that.

I don't hear many bad things about FIHS.........

[Ryde41]

We went to a sports event at Fleming Island High School. It's a nice school, very clean and the kids that were getting in their cars looked like good kids too. I've heard Clay is a good school.

[mawipafl]

I don't have any kids in the school system, but I thoroughly enjoyed the FIHS's recent Homecoming Parade. It was quite impressive to see the number of highschoolers involved in the parade (and quite obviously having a blast), and the number of people of all ages lining the streets to watch.

[wb3690]

thanks for all the input. I was looking at the florida doe website and it does a pretty good comparison between schools, graduation rates, testing etc.

I think FIHS is our first choice.........well I KNOW it is our first choice.

Okay now that is narrowed down.......

I'm really anxious to move. I remember when we lived in Jax in 2000 we'd drive down towards that area and I would always tell my husband "I like this area alot........."

[mawipafl]

Originally Posted by wb3690

I remember when we lived in Jax in 2000 we'd drive down towards that area and I would always tell my husband "I like this area alot........."

Me, too, but I'm a tad bias because I live here :-)

If you haven't been back since 2000, goodness you'll see some changes!

[wb3690]

Originally Posted by mawipafl

Me, too, but I'm a tad bias because I live here :-)

If you haven't been back since 2000, goodness you'll see some changes!

I am sure they are welcomed!

A good friend of mine just moved back to Hawaii recently from Jax. They own a home in Oakleaf and are renting it out at the moment. (they plan to move back after this tour and he retires from the Navy).

We were chatting about areas and she said that we should definitely look into FIHS and the surrounding area. It's what everyone keeps telling me will be our best fit. Like I said before I remember liking it then and I have a feeling I'll like it more now.........

It's strange to be leaving a place we LOVE so much in Hawaii, but are really excited to move forward to another place we really enjoyed.

[mawipafl]

Let us know when you land! There's a lively pizza-loving group of Jax C-D'ers who enjoy meeting up in real life :-)

[wb3690]

Originally Posted by mawipafl

Let us know when you land! There's a lively pizza-loving group of Jax C-D'ers who enjoy meeting up in real life :-)

haha I've noticed!

I will...........