St. Johns County families sent 48,093 students through school doors on the first day of the 2026-27 year, 441 more than the district's opening-day total last year.

The growth came alongside two milestones: the opening of two new K-8 campuses and a state assessment score that kept the St. Johns County School District ranked No. 1 in Florida for student achievement.

Superintendent Brennan Asplen discussed the numbers on Episode 24 of The INK! Podcast, published Tuesday by the St. Johns County Education Foundation.

Two new K-8 schools serve growing communities

Magnolia Oaks Academy opened in the Silverleaf community, where the district projected about 1,300 students for its first year. Sabal Crest Academy, at 1515 Conservation Trail in Ponte Vedra, opened serving grades K-7 in the Nocatee area. Sabal Crest will add eighth grade in the 2027-28 school year; until then, eighth graders in its attendance zone attend Pine Island Academy.

Tiffany Cantwell, former principal of Ocean Palms Elementary, leads Sabal Crest. Both schools were funded and under construction before the district closed a $23 million budget gap this summer by cutting about 130 teaching positions and removing 150 portable classrooms.

District extends its No. 1 statewide ranking

The district earned an overall state assessment score of 910, up from 882 the prior year, according to school board member Kelly Barrera in an Aug. 19 Q&A with Florida NewsLine. Forty schools earned an "A" grade, five received a "B" and one earned a "C."

"The results are something our entire community can be proud of," Barrera said in the Aug. 19 interview.

The streak dates to 2004. St. Johns County has held an "A" district rating every year since grades were first issued, one of only two Florida districts to do so, according to Barrera.

Enrollment growth pace continues to slow

The 441-student gain reflects a broader trend. Asplen has said enrollment growth has slowed to about 1.5% a year, down from 4% to 4.5% in prior years. In early August, Asplen said the district expects to build only one new high school over the next three years, according to St. Johns Community reporting.

The state's expanded voucher program now serves about 6,000 St. Johns County students, redirecting per-pupil funding while fixed costs for buses, buildings and meals remain.

Families can listen to the full podcast episode on Spotify. The district posts meeting dates and enrollment information at stjohns.k12.fl.us.