Lakeside Academy

Lakeside Academy is a K-8 school in St. Augustine, FL, serving 1,356 students as part of the highly-rated St. Johns County School District, which ranks 4th in Florida. The school itself earns a solid 4-star rating and ranks in the 71st percentile statewide, but it sits in a neighborhood of exceptionally high-performing schools, which makes its profile particularly interesting for parents.

One of the most striking things about Lakeside Academy is its "Jekyll and Hyde" performance. In early elementary grades (3rd-5th), math and English Language Arts proficiency rates are consistently below the district average. For example, 3rd-grade math proficiency is 68%, compared to 89% at nearby Palencia Elementary School and 83% at Durbin Creek Elementary School. However, the school completely flips the script in middle school. By 6th grade, math proficiency jumps to 86%, well above the district average, and the school achieves a perfect 100% proficiency on Algebra 1 and Geometry End-of-Course exams—matching top-tier peers like Palm Valley Academy and Patriot Oaks Academy. This suggests a powerful middle school program that excels at accelerating students into advanced high school coursework.

Another notable factor is that Lakeside Academy spends less per student ($8,533) than many of its district peers, such as Timberlin Creek Elementary School ($11,651) and Palencia Elementary School ($10,084). This lower spending, combined with a slightly higher student-teacher ratio of 16.8:1, may contribute to the early-grade performance gaps. Interestingly, when compared to the nearby Duval Charter School At Flagler Center in the Duval district, Lakeside Academy's early-grade scores are sometimes lower, highlighting that its "weakness" is relative to its elite local competition, not an absolute failure. For parents, this school offers a unique blend: a strong middle school that prepares students for high school success, but with early elementary challenges that may require extra support at home.