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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Alachua County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 16 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 67% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Alachua County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2525 School House Rd
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 333-2825
Gr: PK-5 | 692 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #22.
Caring & Sharing Learning School
Charter School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1951 Se 4th St
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 372-1004
Gr: PK-5 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1
Rank: #33.
Hidden Oak Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2100 Fort Clarke Blvd
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 333-2801
Gr: PK-5 | 694 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #44.
P.k. Yonge Developmental Research School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1200 Sw 6th St
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 392-1554
Gr: PK-12 | 1,363 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #55.
High Springs Community School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1015 N Main St
High Springs, FL 32643
(386) 454-1958
Gr: PK-8 | 902 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #66.
William S. Talbot Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5701 Nw 43rd St
Gainesville, FL 32653
(352) 955-6716
Gr: PK-5 | 573 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #77.
Kimball Wiles Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4601 Sw 75th St
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6955
Gr: PK-5 | 741 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #88.
Micanopy Area Cooperative School Inc.
Charter School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
802 Nw Seminary Ave
Micanopy, FL 32667
(352) 466-0990
Gr: PK-5 | 212 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #99.
Littlewood Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1262 Nw 31st Drive
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6712
Gr: PK-5 | 714 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1010.
Archer Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
14533 Sw 170th St
Archer, FL 32618
(352) 495-2111
Gr: PK-5 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1111.
Newberry Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
25705 Sw 15th Ave
Newberry, FL 32669
(352) 472-1100
Gr: PK-4 | 651 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1212.
C. W. Norton Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2200 Nw 45th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6765
Gr: PK-5 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1313.
Ochwilla Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
299 N State Road 21
Hawthorne, FL 32640
(352) 481-0204
Gr: PK-6 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #1414.
Myra Terwilliger Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3999 Sw 122nd St
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6717
Gr: PK-5 | 672 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Learning Academy At Duval
2106 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Gr: PK | 117 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: n/an/a
W. W. Irby Elementary School
13505 Nw 140th St
Alachua, FL 32615
(386) 462-5002
Gr: PK-2 | 372 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 55%

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 67% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Alachua County are often viewed compared to one another?

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