moving back Fletcher HS vs. Ponte Vedra High School (Jacksonville: spring break, renting)

[Kristen1500]

Lived in ICW area of Jax four years ago and am considering returning. Kids are in 6th and 8th grade so high school is the main criteria on where to move. They also are both in band and I'd like honors/AP courses (college prep.). We like the beach so I'd like suggestions of nieghborhoods in PVB, JAx Beach and Neptune beach where my kids will make new friends and schools will be good? Thanks.

[tundrasooner]

Moved to PVB this summer and we are extremely pleased with Ponte Verda Beach High School, the area and the community.

[dawnomalley]

Originally Posted by Kristen1500

Lived in ICW area of Jax four years ago and am considering returning. Kids are in 6th and 8th grade so high school is the main criteria on where to move. They also are both in band and I'd like honors/AP courses (college prep.). We like the beach so I'd like suggestions of nieghborhoods in PVB, JAx Beach and Neptune beach where my kids will make new friends and schools will be good? Thanks.

Did u decide on Neptune or PV? We currently live in Chattanooga tn and can't wait to leave. Have always wanted to live near the beach. We r leaning towards Neptune but r open. We have 2 kids that are 9(boy) and 13(girl). We r going down there for spring break. We like the idea of our kids walking and riding their bikes everywhere. We r too looking forward to that too! We know the schools in St. John's r rated higher but that Duvall Cty schools r good too. Don't want to live in nocatee now, maybe in 10 years. R there good beach communities in PV?

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by dawnomalley

Did u decide on Neptune or PV? We currently live in Chattanooga tn and can't wait to leave. Have always wanted to live near the beach. We r leaning towards Neptune but r open. We have 2 kids that are 9(boy) and 13(girl). We r going down there for spring break. We like the idea of our kids walking and riding their bikes everywhere. We r too looking forward to that too! We know the schools in St. John's r rated higher but that Duvall Cty schools r good too. Don't want to live in nocatee now, maybe in 10 years. R there good beach communities in PV?

I don't think too many kids anywhere in the Jacksonville Beaches areas live close enough to schools to walk or bike to them.

When you come down here - ask what particular areas are zoned for particular schools (keeping in mind that these zones aren't fixed in stone). Robyn

[tjorourke]

There's no contest...Ponte Vedra is a much better area and school. It is in St. John's Country which is the town five school districts in the state while Duval is less than idea in most cases. I would not put my kids in Fletcher personally, but I am also extremely biased against Duval County. I substitute taught in Fletcher a number of years ago and you can do much better.

[williamwebb49]

I would imagine Ponte Vedra is a better high school than Fletcher because;

1. It's in St Johns County ranked #1 overall in education of all the counties in Florida.
2. It's a much newer school built in 2008, while Fletcher was built in 1937 .
3. Ponte Vedra has less than 1500 students while Fletcher has more than 5000. Fletcher was tied with Robt E. Lee high school as the most crowded School on the First Coast

[ShakenStirred]

Originally Posted by Kristen1500

Lived in ICW area of Jax four years ago and am considering returning. Kids are in 6th and 8th grade so high school is the main criteria on where to move. They also are both in band and I'd like honors/AP courses (college prep.). We like the beach so I'd like suggestions of nieghborhoods in PVB, JAx Beach and Neptune beach where my kids will make new friends and schools will be good? Thanks.

I'm a successful business owner, stock market investor and father. I paid cash for my last house, my new house in Neptune Beach, every vehicle I own, and for a few short years I was a part of that elusive and often disdainfully referred to group known as the "1%." (Nothing lasts forever, and it's not all it's cracked up to be, trust me). I grew up at the beach and graduated from Fletcher in the 80's, while working as the illustrious "salad bar manager" at Shoney's restaurant in Neptune Beach. Education is important, but teaching kids a good work ethic, which I attribute to my father, is in my opinion, equally as important as education if not more so.

For some reason it irritates me when people slam Fletcher and other Duval County schools, when there are in fact, some great schools in the area. Better to blame the school system than a lack of parenting and complete and utter uninvolvement in your childs life for poor performance.

I'm not directing this at anyone here, just ranting because I see a lot of parents who rush to happy hour every day of the week, leave the child rearing to a nanny or babysitter, and then seem perplexed when little Johnny or Susie aren't doing as well as they should in school.

If more parents were actually involved in raising their children, the schools system wouldn't be getting such a bad rap all the time.

End of Rant. (and I feel much better!)