Very Good
#404 of 1,462 private schools in FL
Top 28% of private schools
The Pioneer School
Middle School
105 MASTERS DR, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on FL statewide data. Learn more
Enrollment
32
Student-Teacher
4.7:1
Score
7.1
Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
32
Student-Teacher
4.7:1
Score
7.1
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2021-22
Updated 2021-22
How this school compares
In St. Augustine
#4 of 7
public schools
Florida middle schools
#8 of 27
About The Pioneer School
THE PIONEER SCHOOL serves grades 6 through 8 as a regular public middle school in St. Augustine, Florida, with just 32 students creating an exceptionally intimate learning environment. This small school maintains an outstanding 4.7:1 student-teacher ratio with 7 full-time equivalent teachers, ensuring personalized attention that many larger schools cannot provide.
The school has earned an impressive 9.2 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #543 out of 1,462 schools statewide, placing it in the 63rd percentile among Florida schools. This strong performance reflects the benefits of the school's small size and dedicated faculty in supporting middle school students during these crucial developmental years. The Pioneer School draws families from the surrounding St.
Johns County community, where the median household income is $67,727 and median home value reaches $266,800. About one-third of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, contributing to an education-focused community atmosphere. The area maintains a 16% poverty rate across its population of over 36,000 residents.
Located on Masters Drive in a small suburban setting, The Pioneer School offers families seeking a close-knit educational experience an alternative to larger traditional middle schools in the historic St. Augustine area.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 32 students, The Pioneer School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
With a student-teacher ratio of 4.7:1, The Pioneer School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
As a private school, The Pioneer School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.
Financial Overview
Source: IRS Form 990 (2024 filing)
- Per-Pupil Spending
- Total expenses ÷ enrollment
- $14,179
- Per-Pupil Revenue
- Total revenue ÷ enrollment
- $14,739
- Financial Health
- Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
- 1.04x — Stable
- Tuition Dependency
- Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
- 95%
- Total Assets
- End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
- $198,150
Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 32 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow The Pioneer School compares to 13 public schools serving similar grades in St. Augustine, FL
Student Demographics
Nearby Middle Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| The Pioneer School (this school) | 7.1 |
| ST. AUGUSTINE PUBLIC MONTESSORI SCHOOL (SAPMS) | 3.2 |
| THE EVELYN HAMBLEN CENTER | 6.2 |
| GAINES ALTERNATIVE AT HAMBLEN | 3.5 |
| SEBASTIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7.7 |
| DEAF MIDDLE SCHOOL (FSDB) | 6.6 |
| BLIND PK-8 SCHOOL (FSDB) | 4.8 |
| R J MURRAY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7.2 |
| ST. JOHNS TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL | 6.6 |
| ST. JOHNS VIRTUAL FRANCHISE | 5.2 |
| GAMBLE ROGERS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6.9 |
| MILL CREEK ACADEMY | 7.2 |
| PACETTI BAY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6.7 |
| PINE ISLAND ACADEMY | 7.3 |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
What This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in FL.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in FL
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
105 MASTERS DR, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering The Pioneer School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. SEBASTIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is R J MURRAY MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 1.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, DEAF MIDDLE SCHOOL (FSDB) (rated 6.6/10, 1.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in St. Augustine, see our St. Augustine schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.7 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 32084 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$72,965
Median Home Value
$295,000
Median Rent
$1,534/mo
Population
36,998
College Educated
32.2%
Homeownership
65.3%
Avg Commute
23.5 min
Poverty Rate
15.5%
Median Age
43.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding The Pioneer School has a median household income of $72,965. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $295,000, with a median rent of $1,534/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.5%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| WONDERHERE ACADEMY Lakeland, FL | 7.0 |
| JUST FOR GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOL Bradenton, FL | 7.3 |
| NEW BEGINNINGS - NAPLES Naples, FL | 7.4 |
| THE ACADEMY AT OCEAN REEF Key Largo, FL | 7.6 |
| LAKELAND MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL Lakeland, FL | 7.8 |
| NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Pompano Beach, FL | 5.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about The Pioneer School
What grades does The Pioneer School serve?
The Pioneer School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend The Pioneer School?
The Pioneer School has an enrollment of approximately 32 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Pioneer School?
The student-teacher ratio at The Pioneer School is 4.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does The Pioneer School rank in FL?
The Pioneer School is ranked #404 out of 1,462 private schools in FL.
What is The Pioneer School's MySchoolScout rating?
The Pioneer School has a composite rating of 7.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
Is The Pioneer School a private school?
Yes, The Pioneer School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is The Pioneer School a religious school?
No, The Pioneer School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 32
- Gender Split
- 47% M / 53% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 4.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 7
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 7.4 hours
- Days Per Year
- 180 days
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- ST. JOHNS
- Phone
- (904) 209-5891
- Data Year
- 2022–2023
Resources & Links
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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