Skip to main content

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

Private Estimated Score

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

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

Beta

How The Pioneer School compares to 13 public schools serving similar grades in St. Augustine, FL

Student-Teacher Ratio
4.7:1
This School
vs
23.1:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
32
This School
vs
651
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
6.1
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 78.1% vs 0%
Hispanic 15.6% vs 0%
Asian 3.1% vs 0%
The Pioneer School St. Augustine Public Avg

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.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.8 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 4.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 9.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.4 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,332
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B 5.7 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 36%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C- 1.7 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 32
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)

White 78.1%
Hispanic 15.6%
Asian 3.1%
Pacific Islander 3.1%

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 mi
School Distance Rating
VICTORY PREPARATORY SCHOOL St. Augustine 0.0 mi 7.1
CROOKSHANK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL St. Augustine 0.4 mi 8.9
ST. AUGUSTINE PUBLIC MONTESSORI SCHOOL (SAPMS) St. Augustine 0.9 mi 3.2
GAINES ALTERNATIVE AT HAMBLEN St. Augustine 1.0 mi 3.5
THE EVELYN HAMBLEN CENTER St. Augustine 1.0 mi 6.2
KETTERLINUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL St. Augustine 0.9 mi 8.4
SEBASTIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL St. Augustine 1.1 mi 7.7
MOULTRIE MONTESSORI SCHOOL St. Augustine 1.2 mi
JAMES A. WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL St. Augustine 1.2 mi 9.0
DEAF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (FSDB) St. Augustine 1.2 mi 6.0
DEAF MIDDLE SCHOOL (FSDB) St. Augustine 1.2 mi 6.6
DEAF HIGH SCHOOL (FSDB) St. Augustine 1.2 mi 7.0
BLIND PK-8 SCHOOL (FSDB) St. Augustine 1.2 mi 4.8
BLIND HIGH SCHOOL (FSDB) St. Augustine 1.2 mi 5.9
CATHEDRAL PARISH SCHOOL St. Augustine 1.5 mi 6.2
ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL St. Augustine 1.7 mi 4.7
R J MURRAY MIDDLE SCHOOL St. Augustine 1.6 mi 7.2
FIRST COAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE St. Augustine 1.7 mi
ST. JOHNS TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL St. Augustine 1.7 mi 6.6
ST. JOHNS VIRTUAL FRANCHISE St. Augustine 1.7 mi 5.2

Neighborhood 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
53 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

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
Data Year
2022–2023

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.

Read our full methodology

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.