St. Johns County School District Announces Plans to Construct New K-8 Campus on Land Dedicated by Freehold Communities within Shearwater

February 3rd, 2022

The site near the southern border of Shearwater, Freehold’s premier residential masterplan in St. Augustine, will accommodate district’s newest K-8 school.

AUGUSTINE, Florida – The St. Johns County School District (SJCSD) has announced plans to construct its newest K-8 campus on land dedicated by Freehold Communities within Shearwater, the premier residential community in St. Augustine, Florida. The brand-new school will be built on 26 acres previously transferred by Freehold to the district, and once open, it will be easily accessible from County Road 210 and County Road 16A. It will also be a short walk, bike or golf cart ride for families living within Shearwater.

Freehold Communities is an affiliate of Freehold Capital Management, the Boston-based fully integrated real estate investment and development firm.

According to the SJCSD, the new, soon-to-be-named school is planned to open for the 2023-24 school year. It will hold about 1,500 students and is anticipated to relieve overcrowding at nearby Freedom Crossing Academy, Timberlin Creek Elementary School and Switzerland Point Middle School.

“This new K-8 school will greatly benefit the current and future residents of Shearwater and the county as a whole,” said Andrew Smith, Southeast Division President for Freehold Communities.  “A big part of the tremendous growth we are seeing in the region is due to the quality of schools here. In fact, St. Johns County was recently rated the number-one school district in Florida. We are pleased to be able to provide the land and incorporate the school site into our community. As with all Freehold Communities, high-quality amenities are what distinguishes Shearwater from other places to live. The new school will be the ideal complement to Shearwater with its focus on community and lifestyle benefits.”

Just 30 minutes from both Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Shearwater is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and active families. The community encompasses more than 1,500 acres is planned for a total of 2,778 homes. It includes 13-miles of walking trails through 600-acres of preserved habitat, parks, fields, lakes and canoe/kayak access to Trout Creek.

The Kayak Club features a Lazy Bird River, Fitness Lodge, The Perch 3-Story Slide Tower, four Har-Tru tennis courts, a resort-style lagoon and multi-lane lap pool, commercial spaces, and multiple entertaining areas.

New homes for sale at Shearwater are currently available from David Weekley Homes, Dream Finders Homes and Lennar with prices ranging from the $300,000s to $700,000+. In addition, the community features two neighborhoods of brand-new homes available for lease by 360 Communities, another affiliate of Freehold Capital Management.

For more information on Shearwater, please visit ShearwaterLiving.com.

About Freehold Communities

Freehold Communities is currently developing over 23,000 residential units within mixed-use and master-planned communities in Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, and California. Freehold creates Vital Communities® that embrace healthy living, engagement, connectivity, stewardship, and distinctive home design. As it evaluates opportunities, the company focuses on the right planning, the right properties and the right partners. Beginning with comprehensive research to gain insight into the unique needs, trends and preferences in the local market, Freehold carefully considers each property to determine how to best maintain its beauty and character to create a Vital Community by partnering with quality, creative builders who share Freehold’s philosophy of offering niche solutions and unique, timeless designs. To learn more, visit FreeholdCommunities.com.