For the 2025 school year, there are 23 public preschools serving 10,235 students in Alachua County, FL.
The top ranked public preschools in Alachua County, FL are Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School, Caring & Sharing Learning School and Hidden Oak Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Alachua County, FL public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the Florida public pre school average of 56%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 54% statewide average). Pre schools in Alachua County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Florida public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Florida public preschool average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Alachua County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2525 School House Rd
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 333-2825
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 333-2825
Gr: PK-5 | 699 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #22.
Caring & Sharing Learning School
Charter School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1951 Se 4th St
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 372-1004
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 372-1004
Gr: PK-6 | 320 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
Rank: #33.
Hidden Oak Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2100 Fort Clarke Blvd
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 333-2801
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 333-2801
Gr: PK-5 | 735 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #44.
High Springs Community School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1015 N Main St
High Springs, FL 32643
(386) 454-1958
High Springs, FL 32643
(386) 454-1958
Gr: PK-8 | 937 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #55.
William S. Talbot Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5701 Nw 43rd St
Gainesville, FL 32653
(352) 955-6716
Gainesville, FL 32653
(352) 955-6716
Gr: PK-5 | 627 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #66.
Kimball Wiles Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4601 Sw 75th St
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6955
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6955
Gr: PK-5 | 830 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #77.
Micanopy Area Cooperative School Inc.
Charter School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
802 Nw Seminary Ave
Micanopy, FL 32667
(352) 466-0990
Micanopy, FL 32667
(352) 466-0990
Gr: PK-5 | 215 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #88.
Littlewood Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
812 Nw 34th St
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6712
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6712
Gr: PK-5 | 720 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #99.
Archer Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
14533 Sw 170th St
Archer, FL 32618
(352) 495-2111
Archer, FL 32618
(352) 495-2111
Gr: PK-5 | 431 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1010.
Newberry Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
25705 Sw 15th Ave
Newberry, FL 32669
(352) 472-1100
Newberry, FL 32669
(352) 472-1100
Gr: PK-4 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1111.
C. W. Norton Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2200 Nw 45th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6765
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6765
Gr: PK-5 | 539 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1212.
Alachua Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2802 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-7584
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-7584
Gr: PK-5 | 39 students Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1313.
Ochwilla Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
299 N State Road 21
Hawthorne, FL 32640
(352) 481-0204
Hawthorne, FL 32640
(352) 481-0204
Gr: PK-6 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #1414.
Idylwild Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4601 Sw 20th Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6709
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6709
Gr: PK-5 | 628 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1515.
Myra Terwilliger Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
3999 Sw 122nd St
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6717
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6717
Gr: PK-5 | 637 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1616.
Lake Forest Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4401 Se 4th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6710
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6710
Gr: PK-5 | 286 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #1717.
Chester Shell Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
21633 Se 65th Ave
Hawthorne, FL 32640
(352) 481-1901
Hawthorne, FL 32640
(352) 481-1901
Gr: PK-5 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1818.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3500 Ne 15th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6715
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6715
Gr: PK-5 | 420 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1919.
W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1250 Ne 18th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6713
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6713
Gr: PK-5 | 444 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: n/an/a
2106 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Gr: PK-K
Rank: n/an/a
3600 Ne 15th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6875
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6875
Gr: PK
Rank: n/an/a
13505 Nw 140th St
Alachua, FL 32615
(386) 462-5002
Alachua, FL 32615
(386) 462-5002
Gr: PK-2 | 361 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Alachua County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Alachua County Superintendent's Office (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
0620 E University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-788
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-788
620 E University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7589
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7589
312 Nw 16th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-6841
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-6841
Gr: K-5 | 65 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Character Counts Center (Closed 2015)
Alternative School
1108 Nw 7th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-6840
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-6840
Gr: K-6 | 37 students Minority enrollment: 76%
2106 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Gr: K-5 | 217 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Desoto High School, Inc. (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
14533 Sw 170th St
Archer, FL 32618
(352) 495-3326
Archer, FL 32618
(352) 495-3326
Gr: 9-12 | 39 students Minority enrollment: 12%
1717 Ne 9 St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 367-4369
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 367-4369
Gr: 6-8 | 113 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Horizon Center. Alternative School (Closed 2016)
Alternative School
2802 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-7250
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-7250
Gr: 6-12 | 75 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
125 Nw 23rd Ave Ste 3
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 381-1900
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 381-1900
Gr: 1-5 | 67 students
3500 Ne 15th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6715
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6715
Gr: PK-5 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
3930 Ne 15 Street
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 336-4777
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 336-4777
Gr: 2-5 | 46 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Migrant Non-enrolled Students (Closed 2007)
Alternative School
620 E University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7880
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7880
908 Se Williston Road
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 692-3773
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 692-3773
Gr: 6-8 | 30 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
4180 Ne 15th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 376-4014
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 376-4014
Gr: 6-8 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 35:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
1015 N Main Street
High Springs, FL 32643
(386) 454-2701
High Springs, FL 32643
(386) 454-2701
Gr: 5-8 | 461 students Minority enrollment: 15%
1000 Ne 16th Ave Bldg C
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-8838
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-8838
Gr: 6-8 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
1000 Ne 16th Ave Bldg D, Bldg
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-8838
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-8838
Gr: K-5 | 120 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
14450 Ne 148th Ter
Waldo, FL 32694
(352) 468-1451
Waldo, FL 32694
(352) 468-1451
Gr: PK-5 | 193 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Alachua County, FL?
The top ranked public preschools in Alachua County, FL include Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School, Caring & Sharing Learning School and Hidden Oak Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Alachua County?
23 public preschools are located in Alachua County.
What is the racial composition of students in Alachua County?
Alachua County public preschools minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Florida public preschools average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Alachua County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Alachua County include: Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School vs. Kimball Wiles Elementary School, W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School vs. Lake Forest Elementary School, Kimball Wiles Elementary School vs. Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School
Recent Articles
Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.
When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?
When Field Trips Turn Deadly: Who is Responsible?
Recent deaths during field trips have parents and school officials questioning the safety of these excursions. Learn about these tragedies and what parameters should be in place to ensure a safe field trip.
