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A New Private School Is Rising in Ponte Vedra: What to Know About Kingsminster
If you've driven along Palm Valley Road recently, you may have noticed activity on the grounds of St. Francis-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, just north of Nocatee. That's the future home of Kingsminster Ponte Vedra, a new independent Christian school that broke ground this year and is set to open its doors in August 2027.
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Photo Credit: Ponte Vedra Recorder
From County Plans to Groundbreaking
The project first appeared in St. Johns County planning documents under the working name Episcopal School of Ponte Vedra. In mid-2026, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a special use permit for the campus, clearing the way for construction to begin. The school will sit on 11 leased acres within the 45-acre St. Francis-in-the-Field property at 895 Palm Valley Road.
The total project is valued at roughly $38 million, with initial building permits set at $18.35 million. Once complete, the campus will include a 78,000-square-foot, two-story academic building designed in what planners describe as a "modern gothic" style, blending traditional church architecture with modern school facilities.
What the Campus Will Offer
Kingsminster is organized around four pillars: academics, spiritual life, fine arts, and athletics. Planned amenities include a dedicated chapel, a podcast studio, and an athletic wing with a gymnasium, a full-size soccer field, and a six-lane running track.
County planners also required the developer to account for traffic. With an estimated 3,500 daily vehicle trips expected once the school reaches capacity, the site plan includes substantial on-site stacking lanes designed to keep drop-off and pick-up congestion off Palm Valley Road.
Map view from Google of Location
Who the School Is For
Kingsminster will open as a K-7 school in its first year, adding 8th grade in year two, with no immediate plans for a high school. At full capacity, the school expects to enroll between 800 and 850 students. Tuition is projected to average around $19,000 annually, with K-5 closer to $18,500 and grades 6-8 closer to $20,000. Final pricing will be released by January 2027.
While the school is rooted in the Episcopal tradition, with daily chapel and faith formation built into the schedule, it will operate as an independent, non-covenant school open to families of all faith backgrounds. It also plans to participate in Florida's school choice voucher programs, including Step Up Scholarships, which could make it accessible to a wider range of local families than a typical private school price tag might suggest.
Behind the Project
Kingsminster is being developed by Outreach Education, led by veteran educational developer Taylor Smith, with Jack Hall serving as founding Executive Director. The project has drawn a board of trustees with deep ties to Florida education and civic life, along with a founding team focused on getting the academic program, athletics master plan, and founding faculty in place well ahead of opening day.
Why It Matters for Nocatee and Ponte Vedra
New schools tend to be one of the clearest signals of where a community is headed, and Kingsminster's arrival says a lot about the continued growth just north of Nocatee. For families already in the area, it adds another K-8 option to an already competitive local school landscape. For those considering a move, it's one more data point in what's becoming one of the most sought-after school corridors in St. Johns County.
Groundbreaking began in spring 2026, with the academic program buildout, admissions events, and open houses expected to ramp up through the rest of the year ahead of a planned August 2027 opening.
Posted by Jennifer Heller on
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