St. Lucie County is indeed on the rise. A region once perceived as primarily an agricultural area, as part of Florida’s Treasure Coast, is emerging as the premier site in the state for expanded research and education, as well as a highly desirable location for families and business enterprise.

The school district employs approximately 4,500, more than half of whom are classroom teachers. With over 38,000 students and with an annual operating budget exceeding $470,000,000, millions of dollars are being invested in many existing campuses to renovate and expand to the K-8 instructional model. Educational research has shown to enhance the academic and social environment for students and their families.

Rapid growth in the district’s student population has generated the need for additional student stations in new and expanded schools throughout the county, but primarily in the southwest region of St. Lucie County. Since 2006, the district has added a new high school, and 4 K-8 facilities.  Fort Pierce Central High School moved less than two miles from its location on Edwards Road to a new, state-of-the-art facility in 2008.

St. Lucie County Schools Superintendent Michael Lannon was named the 2007 Florida Superintendent of the Year, for his activism for children, and his involvement with many organizations to improve the quality of life for all sectors of the county and region.

Lannon also has led the district in many challenging initiatives in the last several years, including re-drawing student attendance zones, establishing a district-wide student dress code, managing an aggressive building program to accommodate tremendous growth in student population, as well as personally ensuring the school district supported the entire community during the challenges of recent devastating hurricane seasons.

St. Lucie County public schools showed significant improvement district-wide in school grades. The report card-like assessments are primarily based on student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests, or FCAT. Seventy five (75) per cent of schools either raised their letter grade by at least one, or maintained their grade from last year. There were no F schools in the district.

The St. Lucie County school district was for the second year in the top 10 districts in the state for learning gains by minorities as compared with their white counterparts as Hispanic students again outgained learning gains in mathematics, closing the learning gap for minority students.

To register your children for school you may go to the Orange Blossom Business Park located on Okeechobee Avenue in Fort Pierce; from there you will need to go to student assignment. When registering your children in local public schools for the first time, parents should present the following: One document showing proof of residence, a certificate of immunization, proof of medical examination during the past 12 months, birth certificate and a copy of the child’s last report card is helpful. For the public school your child should attend please contact: 772-429-3600.

For additional school information, visit www.stlucie.k12.fl.us.