Public schools in Palatka, FL
11 open public schools with an address in Palatka, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
11
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,281
11 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
18.8:1
Florida median 16.8:1
Charter schools
2
3 virtual
An overview of Palatka public schools
The federal directory lists 11 public schools in Palatka, FL: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 5 combined or other. The 11 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,281 students, an average of 389 per school. The largest campus is Palatka Jr - Sr High School (1,568 students), and the largest elementary school is Kelley Smith Elementary School (776).
Every listed school belongs to Putnam. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 18.8:1, higher than the statewide school median of 16.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools, 3 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 52% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Palatka
Elementary schools in Palatka
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James A. Long Elementary School Putnam | KG–06 | 565 | 18.8:1 | |
| Kelley Smith Elementary School Putnam | KG–06 | 776 | 19.5:1 | |
| The Children's Reading Center Putnam · Charter | KG–06 | 275 | — | |
| William D. Moseley Elementary School Putnam | KG–06 | 558 | 18.6:1 |
Middle schools in Palatka
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences Putnam · Charter | 06–08 | 192 | — |
High schools in Palatka
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palatka Jr - Sr High School Putnam | 07–12 | 1,568 | 23.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Palatka
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mellon Learning Center Putnam · Special Education School | PK–12 | 297 | 17.5:1 | |
| Putnam Virtual Franchise Putnam · Virtual | KG–12 | 22 | — | |
| Putnam Virtual Instruction Program Putnam · Virtual | KG–12 | 0 | — | |
| Putnam Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided) Putnam · Virtual | KG–12 | 26 | — | |
| Teen Parent PK Child Care Program Putnam | PK–PK | 2 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White48%
- Hispanic8.7%
- Black38.2%
- Asian0.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial4.6%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Palatka schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,281 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Palatka
How many public schools are in Palatka, FL?
The current NCES directory lists 11 open public schools with a location address in Palatka: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 5 combined or other. Together they reported 4,281 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Palatka?
All listed public schools with an address in Palatka belong to Putnam. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Palatka?
Palatka Jr - Sr High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Palatka, with 1,568 students in 2024–25 (grades 07–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Palatka?
Yes. 2 of the 11 public schools in Palatka are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Children's Reading Center. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Palatka schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Palatka public schools is 18.8:1, higher than the Florida school median of 16.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Palatka guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Florida cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Florida cities