St. Johns County schools to consolidate to cut costs

St. Johns Technical High School will join with St. Augustine High School to create a new Early Career Program

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

St. Johns Technical High School will join with St. Augustine High School beginning in the 2026–27 school year, creating a new Early Career Program aimed at expanding academic and career options for students. The move is intended to give St. Johns Technical High School students access to more instructional resources, extracurriculars and specialized career pathways while keeping a personalized 'small school' feel on a larger campus.

Why it matters

The district is facing financial challenges due to the voucher system pulling money away from public schools. The consolidation is expected to save the district around $3 million, but more cuts are still needed to address the budget shortfall.

The details

The St. Augustine High School Early Career Program will connect students to First Coast Technical College, allowing some ninth- and 10th-graders to begin advanced technical training and earn clock hours or certifications aligned with post-secondary career goals. Students entering 11th or 12th grade in 2026–27 will focus on finishing graduation requirements at St. Augustine High School while taking career-focused coursework through First Coast Technical College. The district will also move the Gaines Alternative School to the St. Johns Technical Center site, which is expected to save an additional $3 million.

  • The consolidation will begin in the 2026–27 school year.
  • Current St. Johns Technical High School students will be automatically accepted into the St. Augustine High School Early Career Program for 2026–27 if they choose to enroll.

The players

Brennan Asplen

Superintendent of St. Johns County School District.

First Coast Technical College

A technical college that will partner with the St. Augustine High School Early Career Program to provide advanced technical training and certifications for students.

Gaines Alternative School

An alternative school that will be moved to the St. Johns Technical Center site as part of the consolidation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Last year we had 51,000 students. This year we have over 51,000 students, but we have less money. So where is it going? Where is the revenue going even though our expenses are increasing? It is the voucher system.”

— Brennan Asplen, Superintendent (jaxtoday.org)

“When we do that, we won't need the full complement over at that school, over at the Hamlin School. So that's going to save us as well. When you put both of those together, we save about $3 million.”

— Brennan Asplen, Superintendent (jaxtoday.org)

“Even though we have to make cuts and work through some of those things, we've done that before and we'll continue to do that and be strong.”

— Brennan Asplen, Superintendent (jaxtoday.org)

What’s next

Current St. Johns Technical High School students will receive specific registration steps from the current technical school team in the coming days to enroll in the St. Augustine High School Early Career Program for the 2026-27 school year.

The takeaway

The consolidation of St. Johns Technical High School and St. Augustine High School is a cost-saving measure driven by the district's financial challenges due to the impact of the voucher system. The new Early Career Program aims to provide students with expanded academic and career options while maintaining a personalized learning environment.