Early Learning in Alachua, Newberry and Archer Earn Top State Marks

ALACHUA COUNTY – Early education programs in Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) have earned some of the highest marks in Florida, with schools in Alachua, Newberry, and Archer among those recognized for excellence, according to information released by Alachua County Public Schools.

The district reported that 78% of its Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) programs received an “Excellent” rating in new evaluations by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). That compares with just 33% of the nearly 6,100 VPK programs statewide. Ratings are based on both student performance and classroom observations.

“This is the first year the state has used a formal performance metric to evaluate VPK programs,” said district VPK coordinator Trisha Rodriguez in a statement provided by ACPS. “Something that really sets us apart is the quality of our staff, who are highly educated and trained in early childhood education. They are very dedicated to this field and are always looking for new ways to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond.”

Seven district-based VPK programs earned the top rating of “Excellent,” including those at Newberry Elementary School, Archer Elementary School, and Irby Elementary School in Alachua, as well as Chiles, Talbot, Wiles, and the Duval Early Learning Academy.

The programs at Norton and Terwilliger Elementary Schools were rated “Above Expectations,” the second-highest ranking.

Four of the county’s top 10 VPK programs overall were based in district schools, including Chiles (#2), Talbot (#3), Wiles (#6), and Newberry (#8).

In the classroom observation category, Newberry Elementary ranked #1 in Alachua County, with Archer Elementary (#10) and Irby Elementary (#9) also making the top 10. Newberry’s program also ranked 11th out of all 6,095 providers statewide in that category, ACPS noted.

Across the county’s 68 public and private VPK providers, 31% earned an “Excellent” rating. Most providers in Alachua County are privately run. District programs, however, consistently scored among the best in the county, with schools in Alachua, Newberry, and Archer standing out.

Rodriguez said the results highlight the strength of school-based VPK programs. “The best way to prepare students for school is to place them in the school setting,” she said. “These results show that a high level of learning is happening in our school-based VPK programs.”

Providers that fail to meet the state’s standards risk losing VPK funding, making the new metrics especially significant. Alachua County’s results place its district programs well ahead of the statewide average, underscoring the role early education plays in preparing students for long-term success.

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