Education

Education is an important quality of life issue for military families. In the Florida Keys, we have children of all ages whose parents are assigned to NAS Key West or one of the 14 tenant commands. Our mission is to provide parents and students with relevant information and support that will make transitioning to a new school easier. Our School Liaison Officer, whose main focus is to maximize educational opportunities for military members’ children, is available to respond to any questions or concerns about kindergarten through grade 12 education.

Monroe County School District in Key West offers 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school and 1 high school.  A number of private schools are also available.

There are no DOD schools in the Florida Keys. The Monroe County School District, includes 14 public schools located over a 103 mile stretch of islands, from Key West to Key Largo. For the past four years, the district has received an “A” rating (a grade based primarily upon student achievement data from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) from the State of Florida.

Most children of military families will be attending schools in the “Lower Keys,” from Key West to 16 miles north in Summerland Key. There are 4 public elementary schools (pre-k through grade 5) in the city of Key West, including one on the Sigsbee Annex Base. Key West also has one public elementary charter school, one middle school (grade 6 through 8) and one high school. The majority of elementary students will attend the elementary school in their residential zone. Children of active duty military living in military housing (Sigsbee, Trumbo and Truman Annex) usually attend Sigsbee Charter School on the Sigsbee Base. Attendance at Montessori Elementary Charter School is based on a lottery. Once the lottery is held, children can be placed on a waiting list.  Sugarloaf School, a pre-k through grade 8 public school, is located 16 miles north of Key West on Summerland Key.

For those relocating to Marathon or Islamorada, rather than Key West, call the Relocation Assistance -Information & Referral Program Specialist at  305-293-4408; DSN 312-483-4408 for school information for Coral Shores High School [Mile Marker (MM) 90]; Key Largo Elementary (Mile Marker 105), Marathon High School (MM50), Plantation Key Elementary/Middle School (MM90) or Stanley Switlik Elementary (MM48).

Private schools in Key West are faith-related and include Mary Immaculate School (pre-k through grade 8) and Grace Lutheran School (pre-k through grade 4).

Home Education is a parent-directed education alternative. A Home Education Program, as defined in Section 1002.01(1), Florida Statutes, is the "sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent or guardian." The Florida Department of Education provides technical assistance, information, and materials on home education to school districts and parents. For more information regarding home education, contact the Monroe County School District Student Services office at 305-293-1400 x53369 or visit the Florida Department of Education’s website. For toll-free parent information, call 800-447-1636.

Navy College Learning Center

NAS Key West no longer has a Navy College Office on Base

For more information, see the Education-Training (College/Technical) article.

The 2008 Florida Legislature created the School District Virtual Instruction Program requiring school districts to offer a virtual instruction program for students in grades K-12. Visit the web site for information about this new option.

Sunshine State Standards

The Sunshine State Standards are currently under revision by the State Board of Education to review and adopt Next Generation Sunshine State Standards that prepare Florida’s students to effectively engage, communicate, and compete globally with students around the world. Florida’s standards will incorporate important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, innovation, collaboration and communication.

FCAT

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test® (FCAT) is part of Florida’s overall plan to increase student achievement by implementing higher standards. The FCAT, administered to students in Grades 3-11, consists of criterion-referenced tests (CRT) measuring selected benchmarks in mathematics, reading, science, and writing from the Sunshine State Standards (SSS).

General Information

Students are permitted to wear buttons, jewelry, and other accessories (jewelry with spikes or wallets with chains are not allowed). However, any clothing, button, jewelry, or other accessories that contain vulgar, lewd, obscene, or offensive messages or anything else that may lead to substantial interference with school activities, including accessories advocating the use of alcohol, drugs, or making reference to or identifying gangs, etc. (such as removable gold teeth) are not allowed. Trench coats are not allowed. Rain gear or rain jackets must be removed upon entering the building. Hats and sunglasses shall not be worn in the building (sunglasses should also not be worn on the head). Hair curlers, bandannas, or other distracting hair accessories are not allowed. House or bedroom slippers or skate shoes are not an acceptable shoe for school. Hair color that causes a substantial disturbance in class or school activities is prohibited.

DRESS CODE

Guidelines:

• Tops must have sleeves that cover the shoulder. No sleeveless, straps or bare midriff tops are permitted. Shirts and tops must extend over the waist; no skin may be exposed at the belly/waist line; shirts may not be see through.
• Underwear, boxers, or bras without complete covering are prohibited. Sagging pants that expose underwear are not allowed. All pants must be worn at the waist.
• All shorts, dresses, or skirts must be hand length.
• No head coverings of any kind are allowed in the classroom. Bandanas are not to be worn or displayed on campus or school activities.
• Sunglasses are not allowed in the classroom.
• Prohibited tops: strapless garments, tube tops, bare back tops, see through tops or garments, shirts tied at the midriff, strap tops, and muscle/tank shirts. Students may not wear clothing that is either revealing or provocative.
• All items that advertise or encourage the use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco are prohibited. Clothing articles shall not convey messages (writing, pictures, symbols, or logo) that are crude, gang related, sexually suggestive or other things deemed inappropriate for school.
• Spandex leggings, pajamas, house slippers and biker shorts are prohibited at school.
• Students are prohibited from wearing attire that may be used as weapons, such as chain belts, wallet chains, and apparel with spikes.
• Students must wear shoes to school, and at all school related functions.

Horace O’Bryant Middle School

For Horace O’Bryant Middle School, students must wear the approved HOB logo school shirts only. These are available at Ramona’s Shirt Put-on (524 Southard Street, 296-9962) or at the HOB front office (t-shirts available only). Shirt color choices are white, dark green, khaki, light blue, or black (new color!). The cost is $8.00 for short sleeve and $10 for polo style and long sleeve. Shirts may not be purchased from any other location. Shirts may not be layered with any other colored shirts or tied up in the back. Uniform shirts must be worn even underneath the uniform jacket.

Pants, capris, shorts, skirts, skorts – can be pleated or regular fit, cuffed or uncuffed (These should be worn at the waist and may not be rolled up at the cuffs or rolled down at the waist. Shorts, skirts, skorts, and dresses, as a general rule, must not be shorter than the end of the thumb when the arms are straight down by the sides.)

Jumpers, bib overalls – Jumpers and overalls must have both straps buttoned or hooked and the tucked in.

To meet the uniform policy, the above items (pants, shorts, skirts, skorts) must be any solid color. Designs, logos, pictures, or words of any kind are not permitted.

Jackets – HOB logo hooded jackets are available at Ramona’s Shirt Put-on for $13 without a zipper or $18 with a zipper. They are available in all of the uniform colors and are the only allowed jacket at HOB. Hoods should not be worn in the school building.

If a student/family is having financial difficulty with purchasing the above uniform clothing, please notify the office staff, and we will work with you to acquire the necessary items.

Organization shirts/Dress-down Days – Chorus, Band, Executive Board, Student Council, special clubs or groups with approval may wear different colors on specified days or events. On occasion the principal will allow a dress-down day when students may wear clothing other than the prescribed uniform. This will be on special occasions only. The students and/or parents will be notified.

Exceptional Student Education

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) in Monroe County Schools is a division of the Student Services Department, which coordinates district student services with inter-agency efforts designed to provide quality services to address the unique needs of students with gifted, mild, moderate and severe disabilities. Each of the individual site programs is different, yet has one common thread; individualized instruction based the students' needs. The Student Services department can be reached at 305-293-1400 x 53369.

If your child already has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Individual Accommodation plan (504), and/or gifted program plan or program description, please have the school you’re transitioning from send official copies to the Monroe County School where you are registering. It’s a good idea to also bring your own copies.

Child Care and Pre-school

The NAS Key West Child Development Center provides a planned program of developmentally-appropriate activities to promote the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. For information call 305-293-4498.

The Youth Center provides a variety of activities, including dances, sports, tournaments, movies, skating, pool parties, spring and summer school programs, and special events. A available programs After school programs include the School Age Care Program - for ages kindergarten through 12 years old; Teen Program - for ages 13-17; and Open Recreation Program - for ages 10 and up. The Youth Center is a proud affiliate of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. For information call 305-293-4437.

Other after school child care programs and pre-school programs are offered at most schools. For fees, ages, and other information contact individual schools.

Documents Required

Students entering Monroe County Public Schools for the first time must present the following:

• An original birth certificate or alternative
• Social Security Number
• Proof of a current physical examination, including a tuberculosis clinical screening.
• Immunization Records (see Immunization Guidelines)
• Proof of current address

School Age Requirements;

Students entering pre-kindergarten classes must be 4 years old on or before September first. Students entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before September 1. To enter first grade, students must be 6 years old on or before September 1, and should have successfully completed kindergarten.