The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Math. The lowest is 66% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wards Creek Elementary School
Wards Creek Elementary sits on State Road 16 in the western, suburban stretch of St. Augustine, well removed from the historic downtown and closer to the newer residential subdivisions that have made St. Johns County one of the fastest-growing counties in the country. It serves prekindergarten through fifth grade and draws a large enrollment for an elementary school, reflecting the surrounding growth pressure on the district.
The school's academic results are a clear strength. Florida's FAST assessments show that third, fourth, and fifth graders are performing well in math across all three tested grades, with proficiency rates that are consistently strong. ELA results are solid in third and fifth grade, though fourth grade is a bit softer and worth a parent asking the school about directly. Fifth-grade science proficiency sits in the mid-sixties range, which is reasonable but not at the same level as the math results. Taken together, across tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency picture places it above the midpoint relative to districts in St. Johns County, which is a meaningful position given that St. Johns as a district is itself considered high-performing in the Florida context. Sixth-grade math data was reported as suppressed, likely due to small group size, so that figure is unavailable. Trend data across multiple years was not available in what was provided, so it is not possible to say whether performance has been climbing or holding steady.
The student body is large and racially and ethnically diverse. White students make up roughly half the enrollment, with Hispanic and Asian students each representing a substantial share and multiracial students adding further breadth. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is low relative to many Florida schools, suggesting a largely middle-to-upper-income community. Data on students with IEPs and English learners was not available, so parents with children who have special needs or are acquiring English should ask the school directly about those services.
No magnet designation or specialized program information was included in the data, so Wards Creek appears to operate as a standard neighborhood elementary. Programs data was not provided, so parents interested in arts, STEM, or enrichment offerings should check with the school directly.
The housing market around the school reflects St. Johns County's sustained desirability. Home values in the zip code are well above both the Florida and national medians, and they have softened modestly over the past year. Rents are also running at levels that make buying more cost-efficient than renting for most households, though the estimated monthly mortgage at current rates is a real carrying cost to weigh. The rent-to-income ratio sits at a level that financial planners would typically describe as moderately stretched.
Two tax decisions made by voters in November 2024 are directly relevant to anyone buying a home here. Voters approved a new one-mill property tax increase for school operations, publicly reported as dedicated to teacher and support-staff salaries, school safety, and programs including science, art, music, and athletics. That adds a recurring cost to any property tax bill in the district. Voters also renewed the district's half-cent capital sales surtax for another multi-year term, keeping county sales taxes at the lowest rate in northeast Florida while continuing to fund school construction and maintenance in a district that is building to keep up with enrollment. Together, these votes reflect a community that has been willing to fund its schools and a district that has been transparent about what the money is for.
St. Augustine itself, while the city address, is less the immediate context for this school than the newer suburban corridor along SR 16. The city's famous historic downtown, Flagler College, and the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind are all present but are a drive away from this school's neighborhood. The county's library system, parks network, and Sunshine Bus transit serve the broader area, though transit coverage in the suburban western corridors is more limited than in the historic core.
Chronic absenteeism data was not available in what was provided, which is a gap worth noting since that metric often reflects how well younger students are actually engaging day to day.
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