Ocean Palms Elementary School

355 Landrum Lane

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

School District

St. Johns
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 28, 2024

Ocean Palms is a top notch elementary school that offers a superb foundation for all children who attend. Principal Cantwell, her admin team, and the teachers, take the time to know each child and create a learning environment that meets each child’s needs and allows them to flourish. My son recently told me that there is no other school that he would want to go to, except Ocean Palms!
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2023

My children are 6 years apart, when one graduated from Ocean Palms the other started, and this totals 12 years at Ocean Palms. This quiet elementary school in North East Florida offers wonderful teachers and staff to guide children through the learning process easily and effortlessly. My son graduated from Ponte Vedra High School and noticed that the students who went to Ocean Palms with him were all Cum Laude, Magna Laude, and Suma Cum Laude! He said, " Ocean Palms is doing something right!" and he was correct. The Art from Ocean Palms hangs framed in my living room today. My kids were given a strong foundation in education at Ocean Palms Elementary School!
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2023

Shocked that there is one bad review. We moved here and researched before coming to this school. My son has absolutely thrived at Ocean Palms since moving here. We love it.
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2021

The staff and teachers are awesome!!. They go the extra mile to help students and welcome new parents to the school with open arms. The principle always has a smile and her 1st priority is the students needs.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2021

The love, compassion, and talent found in the teachers at Ocean Palms Elementary is beyond compare! My daughter has grown academically and emotionally because of the fabulous, quality instruction provided by OPE. Anyone who spends a small moment in the school can see how much the teachers truly care about the students. They look for ways to engage students in unique and fun ways that motivate them to learn. Everyone is friendly and smiling. The quality of work produced by students (of all ages) is outstanding. The academics are challenging and push my daughter to be curious and learn more. The provide unique instruction and encourage project based activities. My daughter is thrilled to go to school each day and learn with her teacher! They offer a variety of Resource classes. They create music through song and instruments, they love to read and explore books, they learn to appreciate exercise and movement, and produce colorful works of art. My daughter is on a 6 day resource rotation (almost every week). The teachers and staff are caring and know the individual needs of their students. You cannot find a better school! Thank you Ocean Palms!
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2018

I can’t believe this school has such positive reviews. We moved into this school zone from out of state largely based on online reviews and regret it! My child’s kindergarten year was horrible. The teachers get too much freedom and there is zero oversight by the principal. My son spent hours every day watching TV in class - Jack Hartmann videos, Berenstain Bears, Wild Kratts, etc.. It would be nice if there was more hands-on learning instead of video watching. The GoMath Florida book came home COMPLETELY BLANK at the end of the year, but my child had memorized all the math songs from creepy Jack Hartmann. And at the end of the year parent/teacher conference, our teacher admitted to not evaluating my child’s reading in OVER 3 MONTHS. This is educational malpractice. I made multiple attempts to discuss these issues with the principal, only to be given the runaround by her secretary, and the principal was very reluctant to agree to an in-person meeting. My student also did not have a single class party all year. Other KG classes had parties, just not ours. Our teacher also referred to herself as “mean” when she “had to yell” at the kids. Sorry, but any Kindergarten teacher who feels the need to yell at small children shouldn’t be teaching Kindergarten. The resource classes are a joke. The STEAM class only meets once a month and most resources only meet 1-2 times a month. I guess you can technically say you have art, music, computer, etc even if the students only go once a month. This month’s STEAM class included watching a video on deep sea creatures and writing two sentences about it. It’s disappointing that they are using that precious time to watch yet another video. For STEAM night, the PARENTS built robots and displayed them in the cafeteria like it was some big accomplishment. Of course, Ocean Palms took photos and plastered them in their newsletter, claiming that the Kindergarteners built them in STEAM class. For a school that claims to focus on Character Pillars, this type of behavior is ironic. This school does everything it can to look good on paper, but there’s not much substance to back it up.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2018

The kids, the teachers, and the leadership are all amazing! Ocean palms is organized and keeps in constant communication with the parents. We have had a fantastic experience so far and are proud to be a part of this family!
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2012

The teachers and staff at OPE are among the most exceptional educators that I, as a mother of three, have found after being at 3 other highly ranked elementary schools (in CT, GA, and FL). This school actually cares about the kids, as well as their families, and most importantly education. Its not clear what drives the motivation and dynamics at this school, but the consistency of their passion is reflected in my kids willingness and enthusiasm to learn. Whatever my kids take away from their grammar school years, my one hope is that they are instilled with a true love for learning and I am certain that this is the institution where they will find that love!
Submitted by other on February 20, 2012

I am a Ocean Palms "graduate" and out of all the schools that i have attended Ocean Palms is by far the best! The teachers are outstanding and personally care about each of their students, which is a rarity in most schools today. There is a lot of parent involvement (PTO, etc...) and the students are very nice. Overall an awesome place to send your child.
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2011

Ocean Palms is awesome. My son loves the school and so do I. We are so fortunate to live in such a wonderful county that enables us to enjoy such a wonderful school.