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Inside Alachua County Public Schools

Schools are one of the first things my buyers ask about — and for good reason. Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) serves more than 26,000 students across Gainesville, Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, and Newberry, with options that go well beyond the neighborhood school: STEM and fine arts magnets, a Dual Language Immersion program, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge programs, and career academies in everything from veterinary assisting to robotics.

Below is a quick guide to every school in the district, with a link to each school's website so you can dig deeper.

Helpful District Links

Elementary Schools

Alachua Elementary

Grades 3–5 · Alachua

Serves upper-elementary students in the city of Alachua, picking up where Irby Elementary (PK–2) leaves off.

Archer Elementary

Grades PK–5 · Archer

A small-town school in southwest Alachua County and home of the district's Center for Gifted and Talented Studies magnet.

Chiles Elementary

Grades PK–5 · Southwest Gainesville

Located on Schoolhouse Road in the Haile Plantation area, serving many of southwest Gainesville's established neighborhoods.

Glen Springs Elementary

Grades K–5 · Northwest Gainesville

A neighborhood school on NW 31st Avenue serving the close-in northwest side of town.

Hidden Oak Elementary

Grades PK–5 · West Gainesville

Sits on Fort Clarke Boulevard, serving the growing neighborhoods of west Gainesville.

High Springs Community School

Grades K–8 · High Springs

A K–8 campus on Main Street that keeps students in one community school from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Idylwild Elementary

Grades K–5 · Southwest Gainesville

Located on SW 20th Terrace, serving neighborhoods just southwest of the University of Florida.

Irby Elementary

Grades PK–2 · Alachua

Focused on the early grades in the city of Alachua; students continue on to Alachua Elementary for grades 3–5.

Lake Forest Elementary

Grades PK–5 · East Gainesville

A neighborhood school on SE 4th Avenue serving east Gainesville families.

Littlewood Elementary

Grades PK–5 · Northwest Gainesville

Located on NW 34th Street, serving the established neighborhoods of northwest Gainesville.

Meadowbrook Elementary

Grades K–5 · West Gainesville

Out on NW 39th Avenue, serving the far west side of Gainesville and its newer subdivisions.

Metcalfe Elementary

Grades K–5 · Northeast Gainesville

Home of the district's STEAM magnet, blending science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.

Norton Elementary

Grades K–5 · Northwest Gainesville

Home of the STEM magnet program, located on NW 45th Avenue.

Oak View K–8

Grades K–8 · Newberry

Newberry's K–8 campus, including the Center for Advanced Academics and Technology middle school magnet.

Parker Elementary

Grades K–5 · Central Gainesville

Located on NW 5th Avenue, close to downtown and the University of Florida.

Rawlings Elementary

Grades PK–5 · Northeast Gainesville

Home of the Center for Fine Arts magnet, giving young students a strong foundation in the arts.

Shell Elementary

Grades K–5 · Hawthorne

Serves the Hawthorne community in eastern Alachua County.

Talbot Elementary

Grades PK–5 · North Gainesville

Located on NW 43rd Street, serving neighborhoods on Gainesville's north side.

Terwilliger Elementary

Grades PK–5 · West Gainesville

Home of the Dual Language Immersion magnet, where students learn in both English and a second language.

Wiles Elementary

Grades K–5 · Southwest Gainesville

Located on SW 75th Street (Tower Road), serving many southwest Gainesville neighborhoods.

Williams Elementary

Grades K–5 · East Gainesville

Home of the Williams Magnet Program, a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

Middle Schools

Bishop Middle

Grades 6–8 · Northeast Gainesville

Home of the Academy of Technology and Advanced Studies magnet.

Fort Clarke Middle

Grades 6–8 · West Gainesville

Located on NW 23rd Avenue, serving the west side of Gainesville.

Hawthorne Middle/High

Grades 6–12 · Hawthorne

A combined 6–12 campus serving eastern Alachua County, home of the Academy of Agribusiness.

Kanapaha Middle

Grades 6–8 · Southwest Gainesville

Located on SW 75th Street, serving much of southwest Gainesville.

Lincoln Middle

Grades 6–8 · East Gainesville

Home of The Lyceum: Center for Advanced Studies magnet program.

Mebane Middle

Grades 6–8 · Alachua

Serves the Alachua area and offers the Biomedical Mustangs magnet program.

Oak View K–8

Grades K–8 · Newberry

Newberry's middle grades, including the Center for Advanced Academics and Technology magnet.

Westwood Middle

Grades 6–8 · Northwest Gainesville

Located on NW 15th Avenue, serving central and northwest Gainesville.

High Schools

Buchholz High

Grades 9–12 · West Gainesville

Offers the Academy of Entrepreneurship and the Academy of Finance career programs.

Eastside High

Grades 9–12 · East Gainesville

Home of the district's International Baccalaureate (IB) program and the Institute of Culinary Arts.

Gainesville High

Grades 9–12 · Central Gainesville

Offers the Cambridge program plus the Academy of Health Professions and the Academy of Future Teachers.

Hawthorne Middle/High

Grades 6–12 · Hawthorne

A close-knit 6–12 campus featuring the Academy of Agribusiness.

Newberry High

Grades 9–12 · Newberry

Serves western Alachua County and offers the Academy of Criminal Justice.

Professional Academies Magnet (PAM) @ Loften High

Grades 9–12 · East Gainesville

A career-focused magnet with academies in automotive technology, fire & EMS, gaming and mobile apps, media production, robotics and engineering, and graphic design.

Santa Fe High

Grades 9–12 · Alachua

Serves the northern county and offers academies in agriscience, veterinary assisting, and biotechnology.

Virtual & Specialized Schools

Alachua eSchool

Grades K–12 · Virtual

The district's online school for families who want a full-time or part-time virtual option.

A. Quinn Jones Center

Grades 6–12 · Central Gainesville

A specialized center offering individualized support for students in a smaller setting.

Sidney Lanier Center

Grades K–12 · Central Gainesville

A specialized center serving students in the district's Exceptional Student Education programs.

Good to know: School attendance zones can change, so always confirm the zoned schools for a specific address directly with Alachua County Public Schools before you buy. Have questions about homes in a neighborhood you're considering? Call or text me at 352-359-5600 or email sarah@sarahgjrealtor.com — I'm happy to help.

School information compiled from alachuaschools.net, October 2026.