Superintendent: Nease High School students likely switching schools for rezoning

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Action News Jax has learned that some Nease High School students will likely soon be switching schools.

In a one-on-one interview with Action News Jax, St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson said it’s to fill a new high school and help deal with the county’s rapid growth.

“The first piece from parents and families is how is it going to impact me?” Forson said of the possible rezoning.

Tuesday, parents will have a chance to weigh in on possible rezoning at a 6:30 p.m. meeting at Nease.

On Thursday, Forson didn’t show Action News Jax the new proposal -- which he said was still in the works -- but he said it could impact zoning at seven schools.

“High School HHH” off International Golf Pkwy is set to open for the 2021-2022 school year.

“Because the site exists within the Nease attendance zone, I think the obvious piece is some part of Nease is going to get relief,” Forson said. “That means pulling more students down out of Nease to the new high school.”

Forson said “HHH” will likely open at around 75% capacity with upwards of 1,800 students.

He couldn't give percentages of how it will be filled with Nease students and students from other schools.

“Would then any students from Creekside [High School] or Bartram [Trail High School] have to backfill those spots from Nease?” Action News Jax Reporter Russell Colburn asked.

“I don’t think they’d have to backfill them at Nease,” Forson said. “What we’d probably also be looking to do is how can we provide some level of support to Bartram Trail as well? And so, any school that might be adjacent or boundaries right up against that school could be impacted in some way.”

Long-term, the school district said more development and the opening of “High School III” in three to four years could mean more rezoning for Nease and Bartram Trail High School students.

“Is there a way to do this to ensure kids aren’t moving twice in a matter of just a couple years?” Colburn asked.

“I think that’s something that we always face,” Forson said. “The goal as we do this is some students will move once, but [we] try to ensure that no student enters one high school and moves more than once in that four-year window of time.”

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