For the 2025 school year, there are 16 public preschools serving 6,924 students in Gainesville, FL.
The top ranked public preschools in Gainesville, FL are Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School, Caring & Sharing Learning School and Hidden Oak Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gainesville, FL public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the Florida public pre school average of 57%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 54% statewide average). Pre schools in Gainesville have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Florida public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Florida public preschool average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Gainesville, FL (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2525 School House Rd
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 333-2825
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 333-2825
Grades: PK-5
| 699 students
Rank: #22.
Caring & Sharing Learning School
Charter School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1951 Se 4th St
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 372-1004
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 372-1004
Grades: PK-6
| 320 students
Rank: #33.
Hidden Oak Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2100 Fort Clarke Blvd
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 333-2801
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 333-2801
Grades: PK-5
| 735 students
Rank: #44.
William S. Talbot Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5701 Nw 43rd St
Gainesville, FL 32653
(352) 955-6716
Gainesville, FL 32653
(352) 955-6716
Grades: PK-5
| 627 students
Rank: #55.
Kimball Wiles Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4601 Sw 75th St
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6955
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6955
Grades: PK-5
| 830 students
Rank: #66.
Littlewood Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
812 Nw 34th St
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6712
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6712
Grades: PK-5
| 720 students
Rank: #77.
C. W. Norton Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2200 Nw 45th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6765
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 955-6765
Grades: PK-5
| 539 students
Rank: #88.
Alachua Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2802 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-7584
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-7584
Grades: PK-5
| 39 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Idylwild Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4601 Sw 20th Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6709
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6709
Grades: PK-5
| 628 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1250 Ne 18th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6713
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6713
Grades: PK-5
| 444 students
Rank: #1111.
Myra Terwilliger Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3999 Sw 122nd St
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6717
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-6717
Grades: PK-5
| 637 students
Rank: #1212.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3500 Ne 15th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6715
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6715
Grades: PK-5
| 420 students
Rank: #1313.
Lake Forest Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4401 Se 4th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6710
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6710
Grades: PK-5
| 286 students
Rank: n/an/a
2106 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Grades: PK-K
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
3600 Ne 15th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6875
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6875
Grades: PK
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
4556 Sw 75th St
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-7010
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 955-7010
Grades: PK
| n/a students
Gainesville, Florida Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
620 E University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7035
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7035
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Alachua County Superintendent's Office (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
0620 E University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-788
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-788
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
620 E University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7589
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7589
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
312 Nw 16th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-6841
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-6841
Grades: K-5
| 65 students
Character Counts Center (Closed 2015)
Alternative School
1108 Nw 7th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-6840
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-6840
Grades: K-6
| 37 students
2106 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6703
Grades: K-5
| 217 students
620 E University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7050
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7050
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
207 Nw 23rd Ave
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 379-1188
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 379-1188
Grades: K-3
| n/a students
3600 Ne 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32069
(352) 955-6875
Gainesville, FL 32069
(352) 955-6875
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
1717 Ne 9 St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 367-4369
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 367-4369
Grades: 6-8
| 113 students
Horizon Center. Alternative School (Closed 2016)
Alternative School
2802 Ne 8th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-7250
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-7250
Grades: 6-12
| 75 students
125 Nw 23rd Ave Ste 3
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 381-1900
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 381-1900
Grades: 1-5
| 67 students
3500 Ne 15th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6715
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 955-6715
Grades: PK-5
| 531 students
3930 Ne 15 Street
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 336-4777
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 336-4777
Grades: 2-5
| 46 students
Migrant Non-enrolled Students (Closed 2007)
Alternative School
620 E University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7880
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7880
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
620 E University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7300
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 955-7300
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
908 Se Williston Road
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 692-3773
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 692-3773
Grades: 6-8
| 30 students
4180 Ne 15th St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 376-4014
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 376-4014
Grades: 6-8
| 35 students
1700 Se 35th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6714
Gainesville, FL 32641
(352) 955-6714
Grades: PK
| n/a students
1000 Ne 16th Ave Bldg C
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-8838
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-8838
Grades: 6-8
| 70 students
1000 Ne 16th Ave Bldg D, Bldg
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-8838
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 375-8838
Grades: K-5
| 120 students
3501 Ne 12 St
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 373-2747
Gainesville, FL 32609
(352) 373-2747
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Gainesville, FL?
The top ranked public preschools in Gainesville, FL include Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School, Caring & Sharing Learning School and Hidden Oak Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Gainesville?
16 public preschools are located in Gainesville.
What is the racial composition of students in Gainesville?
Gainesville public preschools minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Florida public preschools average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Gainesville are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Gainesville include: Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School vs. Kimball Wiles Elementary School, W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School vs. Lake Forest Elementary School, Kimball Wiles Elementary School vs. Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School
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