Photo: Rbrko · CC BY-SA 4.0Gainesville’s public schools score below 59% of Florida districts on tests and graduation
The grade covers the public school district serving Gainesville, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Florida, not nationally.
From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Gainesville’s schools, in brief
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 53% and math 51% in spring 2022, against 52% and 52% statewide; 84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $11,908 per student, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Nine elementary schools, then three middle and two high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
The One Room School House Project, Caring & Sharing Learning School, North Central Florida Public Charter School, Boulware Springs Charter, Resilience Charter School Inc, Oak Hall School (private), St. Patrick Interparish School (private), Newberry Christian Community School (private), Brentwood School (private), Cornerstone Academy (private), Elevations Learning Academy (private), Laniakea Montessori School (private), Flowers Montessori (private) and Persimmon Early Learning Academy LLC (private) are in town. Alachua Eschool and Alachua Virtual Instruction Program, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Gainesville’s grade
C+: better than 41% of Florida school districts, #494 of 638 Florida towns. Both inputs trail the Florida average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Gainesville, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in Gainesville · depends on your address
Westwood Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 854 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Howard W. Bishop Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 824 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Abraham Lincoln Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 613 students · 22:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Gainesville · depends on your address
Westwood Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 854 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Howard W. Bishop Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 824 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Abraham Lincoln Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 613 students · 22:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Gainesville · depends on your address
Gainesville High School
Grades 8–12 · 1,825 students · 25:1 students per teacher
Professional Academy Magnet at Loften High School
Grades 9–12 · 328 students · 18:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Gainesville · depends on your address
Gainesville High School
Grades 8–12 · 1,825 students · 25:1 students per teacher
Professional Academy Magnet at Loften High School
Grades 9–12 · 328 students · 18:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Gainesville · depends on your address
Gainesville High School
Grades 8–12 · 1,825 students · 25:1 students per teacher
Professional Academy Magnet at Loften High School
Grades 9–12 · 328 students · 18:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Gainesville · depends on your address
Gainesville High School
Grades 8–12 · 1,825 students · 25:1 students per teacher
Professional Academy Magnet at Loften High School
Grades 9–12 · 328 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Gainesville’s public schools are run by Alachua County School District, which also serves Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne and High Springs and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Close to the state in reading
Gainesville vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Florida towns that share Gainesville’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | C+ | Alachua County |
| Alachua | C+ | Alachua County |
Every school in Gainesville
36 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 4 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Alachua County Jail, Alachua Virtual Instruction Program, Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center and P. K. Yonge Virtual Franchise).
Questions about Gainesville’s schools
Are Gainesville’s schools good?
On Florida’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Gainesville children attend score below 59% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #494 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 42%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Gainesville in?
Alachua County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 28,204 students in 58 schools (2024–25).
Where do Gainesville kids go to high school?
One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Gainesville High School and Professional Academy Magnet at Loften High School.
What is Gainesville’s graduation rate?
84% of the class of 2023 in Alachua County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.
How much does Gainesville spend per student?
$11,908 in Alachua County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Gainesville?
Yes: Oak Hall School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 903 students), St. Patrick Interparish School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 428 students), Newberry Christian Community School (religious, grades K–12, 303 students), Brentwood School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 229 students), Cornerstone Academy (religious, grades K–12, 167 students), Elevations Learning Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 70 students), Laniakea Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–9, 48 students), Flowers Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–1, 45 students) and Persimmon Early Learning Academy LLC (nonsectarian, grades K–4, 38 students). Gainesville also has 5 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Gainesville families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Gainesville → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Florida. Stars are from neighbors.