Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Santa Fe High School

Q: Is Santa Fe High School a good school?

Santa Fe High School ranks 324 th of 844 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

324^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 844 Florida High Schools

Better than 62% of Florida high schools

Summary

Santa Fe High School is a public magnet high school located in Alachua, Florida, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,151 students. The school is part of the Alachua school district, which is ranked 45 out of 67 districts in Florida and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Santa Fe High School has maintained a relatively high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 84.1% to 89.7% over the past few years, on par with nearby magnet high schools like Gainesville High School (89.7%) and Newberry High School (89.7%). However, the school has a concerning chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 29.9% to 35.9% in recent years, significantly higher than the state average and the rates of nearby schools. Santa Fe High School's performance on standardized tests is mixed, with strengths in Biology 1 EOC and US History EOC, but lower proficiency rates in Algebra 1 EOC compared to the district and state.

While Santa Fe High School's overall performance is generally on par with or slightly below the nearby magnet high schools, the school's high chronic absenteeism rate is a significant concern that warrants further investigation and targeted interventions. The school's spending per student has increased in recent years, reaching $9,352 in 2023-2024, which is higher than the spending at Gainesville High School ($9,049) and Newberry High School ($9,508). Continued efforts to address the challenges and build on the school's strengths could help improve its overall performance and outcomes for students.

1,132

Students ?

24.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

41.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

16213 NW Us Highway 441
Alachua, FL 32615

(386) 462-1125

District: Alachua

Feeder schools for Santa Fe High School:

Elementary:	Alachua Elementary School
	High Springs Community School
	W. W. Irby Elementary School
Middle:	A. L. Mebane Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

57.6%

African American:

19.3%

Hispanic:

13.7%

See top rated Florida high schools

Compare Santa Fe High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 50th percentile in 2019 → 62nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 62nd (2025) from a 50th-percentile low (2019)

✓Above the Florida median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Algebra 1 scores 20 pts below the Florida average

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school61%

District avg61%

Florida avg62%

324^th of 844

Florida public high schools ?

Top 38%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 35% (2016) to top 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 13High Schools in the Alachua

45^th of 67Alachua 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2025	50.9	324 of 844	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.0	362 of 807	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.3	252 of 792	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.5	346 of 774	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.7	297 of 746	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.4	364 of 734	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.4	264 of 716	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	55.4	233 of 714	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	53.7	240 of 693	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	65.4	179 of 687	73.9%	★★★★☆
2013	67.6	146 of 648	77.5%	★★★★☆
2012	56.2	185 of 606	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	65.5	217 of 622	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	65.8	211 of 620	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.9	166 of 587	71.7%	★★★★☆
2008	70.2	146 of 577	74.7%	★★★★☆
2007	71.3	143 of 563	74.6%	★★★★☆
2006	67.0	145 of 477	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	74.7	110 of 487	77.4%	★★★★☆
2004	77.3	91 of 484	81.2%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Biology 177%+6 vs state

US History66%-5 vs state

Geometry62%+7 vs state

English Language Arts56%~ state avg

Algebra 140%-20 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

Rate Santa Fe High School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a student
Tuesday, August 14, 2012

I am a SFHS alumni. I graduated in 2007. Ill start off by saying, if you want your child to learn something, I wouldn't recommend them attending SFHS. This schools main focus is on FCAT and FCAT alone. The school is so focused on making sure they rank high to have additional funding (which btw, it apparently never goes towards anything that has to do with students or teachers directly because teachers pay is still down, and student textbooks are falling apart). I remember being in language arts class hoping to read some of the classics you remember reading in high school, and instead only learning punctuation, EVERY DAY, for FCAT. There were many cliques within the school, even between teachers, parents, and staff. The students who's parents donated the most, or were friends or went to the same high school with said teacher, or staff member, even deans, would have favoritism over the rest. Its very unfair to other students who's parents ARENT brown nosing. Its a difficult environment to learn in, I felt as though i really only ever had maybe two or three teachers within four years time, who actually took the time to teach and help me learn. This is not a good school, and if you can afford it, there are other high school in the district that have much higher rating, such as BHS, and Eastside. Both have great academies, such as a cooking academy at Eastside. Close Quote

Schools Near Santa Fe High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)					FAST Math (2025)			Statewide Science Science (2025)	EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Biology 1 (2025)	EOC US History (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	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 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th 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
Santa Fe High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	16213 NW Us Highway 441	Alachua	32615	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	No	(386) 462-1125	1,132	47	24.0	41.6%	652 (57.6%)	218 (19.3%)	155 (13.7%)	27 (2.4%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (6.6%)	50.9	324^th of 844 public high schools	61.6%		45	362^nd of 807 public high schools	55.1%	38				51.0	61.0					40.0	62.0	77.0	66.0
Santa Fe College High School Dual Enrollment	Public	11-12	3000 NW 83rd St	Gainesville	32606	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(352) 395-5490	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Santa Fe College Academy Of Science And Technology	Public, Charter	9-12	3000 NW 83rd St	Gainesville	32606	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(352) 955-5493	133	5	26.6	39.8%	51 (38.3%)	42 (31.6%)	18 (13.5%)	11 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (8.3%)	68.6	156^th of 844 public high schools	81.5%					(n/a)				76.0	79.0					42.0	62.0	93.0
F. W. Buchholz High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	5510 NW 27th Ave	Gainesville	32606	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 955-6702	2,416	88	27.5	34.5%	1,058 (43.8%)	586 (24.3%)	403 (16.7%)	152 (6.3%)	3 (0.1%)	4 (0.2%)	210 (8.7%)	60.3	218^th of 844 public high schools	74.2%		62.8	191^st of 807 public high schools	76.3%	27				65.0	66.0					45.0	61.0	76.0	78.0
Siatech Mycroschool Inc.	Public, Charter	8-12	7022 NW 10th Pl	Gainesville	32605	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	No	(352) 333-7952	97	1	97.0	55.7%	17 (17.5%)	55 (56.7%)	18 (18.6%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (6.2%)	1.6	822^nd of 844 public high schools	2.6%		9.1	679^th of 807 public high schools	15.9%	143				7.0	0.0							18.0	13.0
Newberry High School	Public, Magnet	8-12	400 SW 258th St	Newberry	32669	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 472-1101	791	36	21.7	47.2%	387 (48.9%)	221 (27.9%)	106 (13.4%)	9 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (8.5%)	50.3	330^th of 844 public high schools	60.9%		53.4	264^th of 807 public high schools	67.3%	66				57.0	53.0					59.0	45.0	69.0	80.0
Fort White High School	Public	6-12	17828 SW State Road 47	Fort White	32038	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	No	(386) 319-7272	1,101	65	16.9	46.3%	792 (71.9%)	95 (8.6%)	126 (11.4%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	85 (7.7%)	44.8	398^th of 844 public high schools	52.8%		42.3	397^th of 807 public high schools	50.8%	1	55.0	50.0	52.0	56.0	53.0	50.0	64.0	24.0	68.0	54.0	37.0	68.0	66.0	75.0	$11,082	$949	$10,133
Gainesville High School	Public, Magnet	8-12	1900 NW 13th St	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	No	(352) 955-6707	1,825	74	24.5	45.0%	590 (32.3%)	601 (32.9%)	401 (22.0%)	93 (5.1%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	136 (7.5%)	41.5	444^th of 844 public high schools	47.4%		41.4	404^th of 807 public high schools	49.9%	40				47.0	53.0					35.0	55.0	57.0	75.0
A.Quinn Jones Center	Public	6-12	1108 NW 7th Ave	Gainesville	32601	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6840	95	14	6.6	84.2%	9 (9.5%)	77 (81.1%)	4 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.3%)	0.5	843^rd of 844 public high schools	0.1%		2.2	785^th of 807 public high schools	2.7%	58	0.0	0.0	0.0			0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0				0.0
Alachua Eschool (Virtual Franchise)	Public, Virtual	6-12	1108 NW 7th Ave	Gainesville	32601	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	Yes	No	(352) 955-6840	178	2	118.6	45.5%	86 (48.3%)	48 (27.0%)	23 (12.9%)	8 (4.5%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.7%)	33.3	546^th of 844 public high schools	35.3%		44.1	379^th of 807 public high schools	53.0%	167		50.0	62.0		55.0		60.0	40.0	55.0		18.0	71.0	54.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Fe High School

How many students attend Santa Fe High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,132 students attended Santa Fe High School.

Is Santa Fe High School a good school?

Santa Fe High School ranks 324^th of 844 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Santa Fe High School?

Santa Fe High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alachua Elementary School
Elementary : High Springs Community School
Elementary : W. W. Irby Elementary School
Middle : A. L. Mebane Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Santa Fe High School?

Students at Santa Fe High School are 58% White, 19% African American, 14% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Santa Fe High School in?

Alachua

Rate Santa Fe High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

FLFlorida High School Rankings

FLFlorida District Rankings

Schools in Alachua, FL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Santa Fe High School!

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.