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Gaines Alternative At Hamblen

Public Grades 5-12

709^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 838 Florida High Schools

Better than 15% of Florida high schools

Summary

Gaines Alternative At Hamblen is a small alternative school in St. Augustine, FL, serving just 65 students in grades 5-12 within the highly-rated St. Johns school district.

This school is designed for students who have struggled in traditional settings, and its data reflects the significant challenges this population faces. The most critical issue is a 0% graduation rate over the last three years, a stark contrast to nearby traditional high schools like Tocoi Creek High School (97.5%) and St. Augustine High School (93.4%). Even St. Johns Technical High School, another alternative school just 2.6 miles away, boasts a 93.5% graduation rate, suggesting the type of alternative program matters greatly. Academic proficiency is also extremely low, with only 20% of students proficient in Algebra 1 and 18% in 10th-grade ELA, compared to district averages above 75%. A major underlying factor is a 56.5% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly three times the district average—meaning most students are not in class regularly enough to make academic progress.

Despite these struggles, the school spends significantly more per student ($24,724) than traditional high schools like Pedro Menendez High School ($9,860), reflecting the intensive support services required. There is one relative bright spot: 65% of students were proficient in Civics, close to the state average of 71%. This suggests that with the right approach, students can succeed. For parents considering this school, it is crucial to understand that it serves a very specific, high-need population and that addressing the absenteeism crisis is the first step toward any potential improvement.

Students ?

16.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,724

Per pupil spending ?

60%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1 Christopher St
St Augustine, FL 32084

(904) 547-8560

District: St. Johns

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.3%

African American:

30.8%

Hispanic:

9.2%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 25th percentile in 2013 → 15th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (32% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Florida average (0% vs 92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg80%

Florida avg61%

Middle school

965^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 8 pts since 2018

From bottom 29% (2018) to bottom 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

709^th of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Bottom 15%▲ up 2 pts since 2017

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 10High Schools in the St. Johns

4^th of 70St. Johns among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	26.5	965 of 1216	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.6	1065 of 1205	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.2	1087 of 1196	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.9	1000 of 1177	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.3	1028 of 1148	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.5	735 of 1035	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	13.1	834 of 956	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	42.0	546 of 897	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	35.4	620 of 891	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	13.4	723 of 839	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	31.4	535 of 740	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	4.0	697 of 736	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	15.7	563 of 675	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	9.4	709 of 838	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	14.3	687 of 844	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.9	651 of 807	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.4	644 of 792	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.8	607 of 774	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.0	583 of 746	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	18.7	566 of 734	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.1	392 of 716	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	6.9	621 of 714	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	26.3	485 of 648	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	10.4	545 of 622	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	34.6	414 of 587	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	41.4	366 of 577	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	54.3	265 of 563	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	24.3	377 of 477	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	45.2	303 of 487	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science44%-8 vs state

Civics41%-36 vs state

English Language Arts36%-24 vs state

Math21%-40 vs state

Algebra 118%-45 vs state

Geometry17%-39 vs state

5.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, May 14, 2010

Great school ! My daughter attends Gaines. The staff really cares. The staff goes above and beyond teaching ! Thank you Ms. Tish Close Quote

Schools Near Gaines Alternative At Hamblen

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)				FAST Math (2026)	Statewide Science Science (2026)	EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gaines Alternative At Hamblen	Public	5-12	1 Christopher St	St Augustine	32084	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-8560	65	0		60.0%	34 (52.3%)	20 (30.8%)	6 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (7.7%)	9.4	709^th of 838 public high schools	15.4%		14.3	687^th of 844 public high schools	18.6%	22	55.0	41.0	0.0	44.0	21.0	44.0	18.0	17.0			41.0	$24,724	$680	$24,044
Deaf High School (Fsdb)	Public	9-12	207 San Marco Ave	St Augustine	32084	St. Johns County	Deaf/Blind	No	No	No	No	(904) 827-2500	179	22	8.1	83.8%	67 (37.4%)	41 (22.9%)	54 (30.2%)	13 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.2%)	3.8	756^th of 838 public high schools	9.8%		6.3	723^rd of 844 public high schools	14.3%	33			18.0	12.0			21.0	8.0	16.0	33.0		$47,918	$2,615	$45,303
Blind High School (Fsdb)	Public	9-12	207 San Marco Ave	St Augustine	32084	St. Johns County	Deaf/Blind	No	No	No	No	(904) 827-2700	93	18	5.1	86.0%	45 (48.4%)	15 (16.1%)	23 (24.7%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	6 (6.5%)	14	691^st of 838 public high schools	17.5%		12.6	695^th of 844 public high schools	17.7%	4			46.0	22.0			36.0	21.0	30.0	56.0		$47,918	$2,615	$45,303
St. Johns Technical High School	Public	8-12	2970 Collins Ave	St Augustine	32084	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 547-8500	190	15	12.6	78.4%	104 (54.7%)	54 (28.4%)	24 (12.6%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.7%)	14.2	690^th of 838 public high schools	17.7%		13.1	692^nd of 844 public high schools	18.0%	2		20.0	37.0	28.0	35.0	10.0	17.0	40.0	55.0	43.0	37.0	$22,185	$1,990	$20,195
St. Augustine High School	Public	8-12	3205 Varella Ave	St Augustine	32084	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-8530	1,717	80	21.4	43.4%	1,081 (63.0%)	286 (16.7%)	226 (13.2%)	28 (1.6%)	6 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	88 (5.1%)	65.1	183^rd of 838 public high schools	78.2%		61.2	206^th of 844 public high schools	75.6%	23			70.0	77.0			37.0	69.0	82.0	86.0		$9,817	$158	$9,660
First Coast Technical College	Public	9-12	2980 Collins Ave	St Augustine	32084	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-3282	53	11	4.8	69.8%	23 (43.4%)	18 (34.0%)	6 (11.3%)	1 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (9.4%)								(n/a)
Life Work/Project Search	Public	12	2980 Collins Ave	St Augustine	32084	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-7678	104	5	20.8	30.8%	61 (58.7%)	18 (17.3%)	19 (18.3%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	4 (3.8%)								(n/a)
St. Johns Community Campus	Public, Charter	9-12	2165 Arc Dr	St Augustine	32084	St. Johns County	St. Johns	Yes	No	No	No	(904) 824-7249	80	0		3.8%	53 (66.3%)	4 (5.0%)	18 (22.5%)	4 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.3%)								(n/a)
Pedro Menendez High School	Public	8-12	600 State Road 206 W	St Augustine	32086	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-8660	1,403	65	21.4	45.0%	1,051 (74.9%)	114 (8.1%)	146 (10.4%)	21 (1.5%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	65 (4.6%)	53	301^st of 838 public high schools	64.1%		47	372^nd of 844 public high schools	55.9%	71			65.0	61.0			39.0	49.0	84.0	73.0		$9,860	$325	$9,535
Tocoi Creek High School	Public	8-12	11200 St Johns Pkwy	Saint Augustine	32092	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-7450	2,616	109	24.0	15.4%	1,707 (65.3%)	144 (5.5%)	418 (16.0%)	152 (5.8%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.1%)	188 (7.2%)	68.4	151^st of 838 public high schools	82.0%		68.6	158^th of 844 public high schools	81.3%	7			74.0	73.0			55.0	65.0	87.0	89.0		$7,731	$120	$7,612

Frequently Asked Questions about Gaines Alternative At Hamblen

How many students attend Gaines Alternative At Hamblen?

In the 2024-25 school year, 65 students attended Gaines Alternative At Hamblen.

What district is Gaines Alternative At Hamblen in?

St. Johns

Is Gaines Alternative At Hamblen a good school?

Gaines Alternative At Hamblen ranks in the bottom 15.4% of Florida high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Gaines Alternative At Hamblen?

Students at Gaines Alternative At Hamblen are 52% White, 31% African American, 9% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.

Rate Gaines Alternative At Hamblen!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.