Stanton College Preparatory

Posted: May 15, 2025

Stanton gets handed the districts highest performing students (that excel at testing). Stanton doesn't have to work hard to look good on paper. I encourage you to read Reddit posts; it is littered with student regret. Contrary to public perception, elite and ivy league schools are NOT lining up to take Stanton Students. Colleges quickly figure out which High Schools are doing the work while also looking for students with a certain balance or skill development. Stanton students generally don't have either because they are too busy trying to keep a decent GPA.

A heavy work load can be lazy teachers and busy work that doesn't contribute to learning. Teachers often use materials that are dated and error written. Some long gone teacher wrote the content. Students point the errors out but a lazy teacher is not going to change it. Students take the point loss and the teacher with the power dynamics in their favor, chalk the issue up as an annoyance and a problem of the student being gifted and a perfectionist. A chemistry teacher will admit they didn't know the material well enough for a job in the field, a history teacher will tell you they dislike teaching but need a job to pay the bills, and there are the teachers that were education at Stanton with questionable foundations.

Being able to test doesn't mean doing well at Stanton. Stanton pushes a huge number of students out while not providing support in 9th grade. Kids end up back at their local Highschool with impacted GPA's. Impacted GPA means lower instructional level and not being eligible for Duel enrollment. This practice of having a smaller cohort each year at Stanton is bragged about by the principal as if it is a badge of honor to not be in the group that. Stanton is known to the mental health community and notorious for students having mental health issues.

Stanton is DCPS ranking golden child and like other magnet schools, they have their share of teachers that go on temporary assignment (while scary teacher behavior gossip circulates) but then come back! (imagine the culture and acceptance of certain behaviors in this environment)

My Suspicion... Stanton and likely 1 or 2 other schools exist because of money. How do you prevent the brightest kids in a state that has wording in legislation about accelerated academics from going to college early and the DCPS paying for it? How do you keep a GPA low enough that they don't qualify to go to college before they finish High School? Ding Ding Ding..

Posted: May 15, 2025

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Posted: January 31, 2024

This school has way to much work and they don’t care about the kids

Posted: January 31, 2024

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Posted: October 4, 2022

Apparently, this used to be a good school, but over the years it has fallen from a top 25 school to now 75th. Even in Florida it is only the 7th best and given it gets the best of the best students in Duval County, there is something wrong with the direction of the administration. In the last 6 or 7 years the school has been spiraling downwards.

Posted: October 4, 2022

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Posted: January 3, 2022

The students of this school are truly the best of the best, and they are what make Stanton as superb as it is. There is no public nor private school in a many-mile radius that even comes close to comparing to Stanton. However, at Stanton, there are truly some of the best and worst teachers in Florida there. The worst oftentimes comes from an issue of nepotism, which appears to be rampant among the staff at Stanton. Another gripe is that some members of the guidance department of Stanton are incredibly lackluster. Overall, your child, if they can do well at Stanton Prep, will truly be on a path of great success.

Posted: January 3, 2022

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Posted: April 20, 2020

I went there from 1987-1993. It was crucial we had a sense of family in order for kids to go to a magnet school. We encouraged each other to succeed. Learning was enjoyable and exciting. Choosing classes and a path to college was something we looked forward to. We looked to the future and were prepared. We went out into the world with that enthusiasm. I really believe we made and make a difference. I can directly attribute this to the teachers and leadership at Stanton. I love them to this very day.

Posted: April 20, 2020

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Posted: November 27, 2019

I would honestly choose this school over all the other school in Duval. I am attending Stanton so this may be a little bias but this school, with its teachers and staff, provide such a great learning atmosphere where students excel both in life and in academics. Both students and teacher are helpful when you need help and the school offer a rigorous academic standard in which you will have to learn how to manage your time effectively and improve your academic potentials.

Posted: November 27, 2019

The school does give a lot of homework but it's manageable in a way to teach you time management.

Posted: November 27, 2019

Many teacher offers help both inside and outside of class. They are right beside you if you need help.

Posted: November 27, 2019

Posted: November 27, 2019

Everyone has a role within a school, being a leader. Leadership is demonstrated through kindness and potential and is what gives you success. In this school, many student demonstrate qualities of leadership.

Posted: November 27, 2019

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Posted: June 24, 2019

work volume is intense at times. discipline and diligence are left to the kids. This can have a negative result during the high school career, but those that manage it will benefit profoundly at the college level.

Posted: June 24, 2019

As with any school, there are great teachers and some that need improvement. Most of the teachers work well with the kids, and a lot of the curriculum is college based lectures and general discussion rather than just reading from a book.

Posted: June 24, 2019

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Posted: June 24, 2019

My daughter started off roughly, between the pressure of being in high school and not knowing many other kids and, of course, the intense educational curriculum. She wanted to transfer, but the options were limited and risks too great (Paxon was the only viable alternative for public high school, but she was not guaranteed to get in for sophomore year and could have lost her spot at Stanton, which would relegate her to our neighborhood high school). She stuck it out and, in my opinion, is much stronger, more mature and much more prepared for life as a result. Much of this is due to her rather than the school, but the school provided the challenge that is just not available most other places.

Posted: May 29, 2018

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Posted: May 29, 2018

I am a parent of 11th grader who is in the AP curriculum. I am extremely pleased with my child’s experience at Stanton. Stanton is not for all kids, your child needs to be a high academic achiever willing to put in the work. But if they are willing to put in the work, the reward is going to a school where you are surrounded by kids that want to make an impact after high school. Stanton has tremendous school spirit, good athletics, lots of very active clubs, and teachers that are invested in the student’s success. Go to the Stanton website and take a look at the colleges that come onsite to recruit the Stanton kids, it is full of top national colleges. Jacksonville is fortunate to have a high school of this caliber, take it advantage of it if your child fits the academic profile.

Posted: May 29, 2018

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Posted: August 25, 2017

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Posted: August 25, 2017

Very good communication by administration. High caliber of students that want to be at school and are active in their communities and Rob's of clubs and activities-though they are secondary to academics. Qualified Teachers very accessible before and after school for tutoring. It is a demanding curriculum with a tough magnet bus commute-truly college prep. These kids do well in college. Students need to be motivated and responsible to succeed. You cannot stay with Ds and Fs. Clear expectations-demanding, but tools provided. Guidance counsellors strong. Principal Majova is exceptional in taking personal interest in challenged students. School spirit and pride is high. High number of National Merit Scholars proves why this school is ranked high nationally.

Posted: August 30, 2014

it has been a great experience for my son and set him up for college and beyond. The only down side is the sports programs, poorly managed and very unprofessional. I was sorry to see him give up team sports after many years but if the choice is sports or academics I am glad for the academics.

Posted: August 29, 2014

Stanton is wonderful, although it is mentally challenging, they do it for a reason, and that reason is to prepare you for anything that may come. And the fact is that if you do IB, most people tend to skip the first year or two of college, which really saves you money and time in the long run. If you think about it now, the time you're spending on homework and essays and all of the academic work, you'll save that in college and you'll get to be the one doing fun things while others struggle through classes. And in college the classes are so large that you can't possibly get a one on one talk with the professor, but the staff at Stanton are always there to help you. There's so many safety nets instilled for everyone to do as well as they possibly can and the teachers are always there for you to ask questions and try to fully understand. The teachers may seem like they don't like you or they're rooting for you to fail, but they're really just teaching you about the real world and preparing you for that. All the staff is actually quite nice and respectful, especially our principal. She's the absolute best and she really wants us all to succeed. I'm proud to go to Stanton.

Posted: June 23, 2014

When I was here freshman year, everything was fine. I attended LaVilla and knew I didn't want to play an instrument for the rest of my life, so I chose Stanton over Douglas Anderson. I didn't do well in the AP I started out with because I had no choice in the AP I wanted. My worst subject is history. I'm just not good at it. So, I didn't do well, but I did well in all of my other classes. When sophomore year came, it all went downhill very quickly. I was given the worst teachers ever. Everyday, they would complain how the generation of students are getting dumber and dumber and would not help you at all. I have insomnia and I blacked out in one of my classes and when I went to my teacher to apologize for passing out in class, he told me he had no reason to help me. My grades went down as a result. So, many teachers here will put you down rather than try and help you. The education is great, I honestly loved the material I was learning, but I couldn't stand the teachers. They were all very unwelcoming and rude. I guess it was just a bad year, but it was bad enough to make me want to leave, and I left with lifelong anxiety I never had before coming here.

Posted: May 21, 2014

I have to say, this school was one of the worst schools I have ever attended. I attended this school for one year but ended up leaving not because it was too rigorous but because I was bullied and not a single administrator took any action against it. Their only goal is to maintain their academic rating and do not care about injustice or bullying happening in the school. One of the faculty members even tried to buy me off with lunch. I spoke with multiple administrators and because the people who were bullying me were strong in their academics and played sports, they took no action against them whatsoever. Sure, they have great academics but when you have people trying to get rid of your complaints by buying you lunch, it's pathetic. Leaving this school was one of the best things I ever did.

Posted: May 16, 2014

Stanton College Prep is designed to challenge one's mind. It's simple; if you don't want to push yourself, do not attend. You have to be able to push yourself to get through all 4 years. They provide great teachers who motivate and encourage students, even though they seem like they hate you. It is a very hard school, but it teaches you things beyond the textbooks that you can rarely see in neighborhood schools. You meet several people that have complex cultural background, over half of our school is minority. This interaction provides you with an experience that you can not receive in a neighborhood school. Yes, it is stressful and there is a lot of work involved, but if you really want to succeed, or see your child succeed, send them here. I was a Varsity athlete 3 out of my 4 years (10-12) and I currently have a 3.56 GPA unweighted, I take all AP classes, I am a member of National Art Honor Society and National Honor Society, and I dedicate my weekends to volunteering and socializing. Time management is essential. But I suggest starting off in honors courses, and if you can handle that, move on to IB courses.

Posted: October 4, 2013

Alright, I don't know why people complain about the hard work and the lack of connection between students and teachers. I am a Junior currently attending Stanton as an IB student. Honestly, as much as I hate to say it, Stanton is one of the best schools there is. I have a bitter-sweet relationship with this school. The work is overwhelming, and the facility may be a bit old, but besides that, this school is seriously awesome. It has challenged me mentally, and academically. Coming from a not-so-bright middle school did not really prepare me for this type of work. However, I had to force my way through it and now I am actually an OK student. I take pride in attending one of the top schools in the nation and you should too. If you do not want to be here, leave, there is other people willing to take your spot. Also, the teachers are amazing. I don't know what some of the people on here are talking about. Sure there's a few iffy teachers here and there, but a good majority of the teachers I've had have been amazing. If your child is failing, go to tutoring or instill in him a harder work ethic.

Posted: May 29, 2013

I graduated from Stanton several years ago and realize the staff (and expectations due to technology) may have changed, but I believe Stanton is the BEST public school in FL (and surpasses many private schools) in education. It is inclined toward those who are self-motivated and appreciate an opportunity to be challenged, and don't require an extremely high level of communication with teachers. My peer group was very independent we truly learned to work together and support each other for success. Many students are given an opportunity for a challenging level of instruction (that they would not find in their neighborhood school ) without the need for constant parental involvement.

Posted: February 12, 2013

i'm a senior at this school and the experience my vary, if your not a good student or one who cant keep up good work then the 4 years can be hard, im and ib student and at first i had a mixed experience first semester as freshmen, but if you find the correct path it will be a great experience, and the ib is so worth it, the college im going to, cause i did the Ib, I get to skip the first two years of my bachelor's degree, so only two years, but if you you the ib you are most likely skip 1-2 years of college

Posted: December 25, 2012

I am in my third year at Stanton and I can say without thinking twice that Stanton is by far the worst school I have attended. I moved to Stanton from a private school in Jacksonville and I can say that the teachers are not looking out for a student in the same way a teacher would at a school such as Episcopal or Bolles, and that the students found at Stanton cover a broad spectrum from the highly competitive to the druggies. I wish to leave Stanton but sadly as a result of the sky high tuitions at my former private school I am locked into one more year of this horrible school.

Posted: August 28, 2012

This is a really good school and will prepare you for college. It may be overwhelming at first but you will be successful after high school. This is an amazing high school and I highly reccomend it! Hard working students and good enviroment!

Posted: March 18, 2012

Stanton was definitely the best experience of my life. In response to some of the negative posts, I will say that not all teachers respond the minute you email them. However, it is a college prep school and I have found that my professors at FSU certainly don't always respond quicky, if at all. However, everything about the school is just wonderful. Some of the sports are excellent. The theatre department is amazing and always successful. What is more important is the environment. Every student at Stanton is there to learn, and to go to college. Having that sort of positive network of determined and driven students definitely had a positive effect on me. Also, I know many students who were inspired by the mix of various cultures at Stanton. The school spirit is always high, the lack of discipline issues is great, and the guidance department is absolutely phenomenal. Both my brother and myself attended Stanton (he was in IB, I was in honors), and it was the best decision possible. Go Blue Devils!

Posted: January 27, 2012

This school is outstandiing! I really reccomend it! It may not fit some people, but this is a really great school and prepares you for your future!

Posted: January 10, 2012

I'm not sure where the previous posters get their stats. Stanton is the highest rated school in the county, with a graduation rate of 98%. IB graduation rate is similar. We also have the highest AP pass rate in the county, and one of the highest in the country. I am the mother of a senior IB student and an incoming freshman. My son has had great teachers, and while he has worked very, very hard to be successful, has also played four years of a varsity sport, and been involved in all kinds of clubs and activities, both in and out of school, as have all of his friends -- all National Honor Society members. It's quite possible, it just takes work, commitment and good time management. As for counseling, it's far superior to what any of his friends have received in Duval/St. Johns schools, and although he has opted to stay in state - he has many friends going to excellent colleges all over the country. Get the facts before you make decisions. Stanton's a great school!

Posted: January 9, 2012

The peer group is excellent with nice students from all races and backgrounds. The administration staff are very nice but guidance counseling is average since most kids go to Florida colleges. The reason why they are ranked in the top 10 schools is because all of the students are required to take AP exams. Stanton has the worst AP exam pass rate (30%) in the district which is embarrassing since the students are much more capable than that. The teachers are terrible and there are few text books. i.e. Exams results are not returned for a month and the child never knows how they did while studying for finals. 2 chapters of a language were covered in 4 months and the last chapter is covered in one week before the final exam. The teachers are proud of the bad grades they dish out and the students struggle to chase the demands of disorganized teachers. The sports team suffer as many kids that were previous A students are quiting teams and not going out for teams because they stay up until midnight everynight studying when not playing on a team. Playing sports will really hurt your grades here.

Posted: November 11, 2011

Before enrolling your child at Stanton, be sure to educate yourselves more about the success rate. We found out that less than 20% are successful at Stanton. Our straight A child whom attended Stanton for one year still feels that it was the worst year of her academic life, even though she still maintained her high standards. I also, like another parent who has previously commented, felt as though the teachers/staff were very lax with their communication. It's not particularly the curriculum that I complain about, its the staff uncaring attitudes.

Posted: August 24, 2011

Several members of my family including myself graduated from SCPS and went to college. Students that did not suceed at SCPS were unable to maintain the high acedemic and mature expectations. The environment is a college prep atmosphere, teachers counselors should not have to respond to every trivial request.

Posted: June 29, 2011

I am astonished by some of the poor reviews I read. Both my children have attended Stanton and I been extremely happy with the school. I am very pleased my children are around other children who desire to learn and are inspired by outstanding teachers. There are ample opportunities for students who are struggling. However, I do think the curriculum is challenging and not for every child. I teach at a private school in the area, but am very pleased to have my children attending Stanton!

Posted: June 9, 2011

I am astounded by the last couple of comments. They sound like helicopter parents. This is hands down the best high school in the area--including privates. Always rated one of the top 10 public high schools in the nation by US News. Very diverse with a population of very intelligent kids with a wonderful South African principal. Our son has loved the IB program, but the AP track is also terrific. This school sets kids up for success by requiring much from them. Due to the quality of education, among other things, our son is being courted by 3 schools in the Ivy League. Getting in to Stanton is not easy. If you are foolish enough to leave when your kid has been admitted, I feel sorry for you.

Posted: April 10, 2011

Our family is still trying to figure out what all the rave was about with this school. Our child has had the worst experience here in their entire life. We've found the teachers to not be caring and forget about having any of them ever respond to an email or call back. I'm in the same boat as the person who posted below - my child also will not return next school year.

Posted: March 22, 2011

Very little communication between parent/teacher/counselor. My child will not go return next year. While it may fit others, it was not a fit for our family.