St. Johns County families now have a new option for building an education plan that does not fit neatly into one traditional category. Through St. Johns Compass, the St. Johns County School District is opening many of its academic courses, certified teachers, school-based resources and student services to eligible students who are homeschooled or enrolled in other private education options. The program reflects a growing reality in education: many families want flexibility, but they still value the structure, curriculum and support available through their local public school system.
Rather than requiring families to choose between a fully traditional public school experience and a fully independent education path, Compass offers a hybrid approach. Students can remain in the educational setting that works best for their family while adding individual courses, electives, testing services, athletics or other school-based opportunities through the district.
The program is available to St. Johns County residents participating in the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Education Options, or the Florida Tax Credit Personalized Education Program.
A Flexible Option for Modern Families
The district’s Compass program recognizes that education today looks different from family to family. Some students thrive in a homeschool environment but may benefit from certified instruction in a specific subject. Others may attend a private school but want access to a broader range of electives, virtual courses, testing options or extracurricular opportunities.
Through Compass, students can build a more personalized academic plan based on their goals, interests and needs.
A student might take math or science through St. Johns County while continuing the rest of their education at home. Another student may want access to visual arts, band, chorus, theater, physical education, computer education or career and technical education. High school students may be looking for advanced options, world languages, dual enrollment support, J.R.O.T.C., leadership development or research-based courses.
The idea is to give families more ways to use the resources already available through the public school system without requiring them to give up the educational model they have chosen.
Compass students may learn from certified St. Johns County teachers either through in-person instruction or through St. Johns Virtual School, depending on the course and availability.
The course catalog is broad and includes many of the core academic and elective areas available to traditional public school students. Categories include English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages, health education, physical education, music, visual arts, drama and theater arts, dance, computer education, career and technical education, library media, peer counseling, research and critical thinking, leadership skills development, humanities, driver education and traffic safety, dual enrollment, experiential education, J.R.O.T.C. and military training.
For families, that range is significant. One of the challenges of homeschooling or private education can be finding specialized instruction or group-based elective experiences. Subjects like band, chorus, theater, lab sciences, technical education and physical education can be more difficult to replicate independently. Compass gives students a way to participate in those kinds of courses while maintaining a customized education path.
The program also allows students to experience classroom engagement and peer relationships, which can be especially valuable for families seeking both flexibility and connection.
Course Fees and Services
Families participating in Compass pay fees based on the courses and services selected.
According to the district’s fee schedule for the 2026-2027 school year, elementary course pricing varies by subject and instructional time. Elementary social studies and elementary science for grades K-3 are listed at $200 per quarter, $400 per semester or $800 for the full year, with 30 minutes of instructional time. Elementary science for grades 4-5 and elementary math are listed at $400 per quarter, $800 per semester or $1,600 for the full year, with 60 minutes of instructional time. Elementary ELA is listed at $600 per quarter, $1,200 per semester or $2,400 for the full year, with 90 minutes of instructional time.
Elementary elective courses, including music, art and physical education resource options, are listed at $200 per quarter, $400 per semester or $800 for the full year.
For middle school students, core courses in ELA, math, science and social studies are listed at $275 per quarter, $550 per semester or $1,100 for the full year. Middle school elective courses, including art, band and computers, follow the same pricing structure.
For high school students, core and elective courses are listed at $270 per quarter, $540 per semester or $1,080 for the full year. High school FCTC elective pricing is also listed at the same rate, with course times available directly from FCTC.
The district also lists an annual enrollment fee of $50 per student. Other services may include athletics, band, fine arts, lab or supply fees, and testing services. Some of those fees vary by school or course. Testing services listed on the fee schedule include ACT, SAT and CLT in-school testing, AICE, AP, IB and CTE testing, and state progress monitoring or end-of-course exams. Some testing requires advanced registration.
Who Is Eligible
St. Johns Compass is available only to St. Johns County residents who are participating in one of the following scholarship or education programs:
Family Empowerment Scholarship – Unique Abilities, often used by families of students with unique learning needs.
Family Empowerment Scholarship – Education Options, which gives eligible families more choice in selecting educational settings.
Florida Tax Credit Personalized Education Program, which supports customized education plans outside of the traditional full-time public school model.
For families already using one of these programs, Compass may serve as a way to fill gaps, expand opportunities or add structure to a student’s schedule.
A Bridge Between Choice and Support
St. Johns Compass is not a replacement for every education model. Instead, it is designed to work alongside the choices families are already making.
For some, it may mean one virtual course. For others, it may mean several in-person academic classes. Some students may use the program for electives, testing or extracurricular access. Others may use it as a stepping stone toward a fuller public school experience.
The program’s name is fitting. For families navigating the expanding world of education choice, Compass offers direction, access and flexibility. It gives parents another way to chart a course that reflects their child’s needs while still staying connected to the resources of the St. Johns County School District.
As more families look for education options beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all model, Compass represents a broader shift in how public school systems can serve their communities. It acknowledges that families may choose different educational paths, but they can still benefit from the strength, experience and resources of their local district.
