Sebastian, Florida, a city of 25,759 residents in Indian River County according to the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023, is served educationally by Indian River County Public Schools, the K-12 district responsible for all public elementary, middle, and high school campuses within the city. The district's reach extends across the county, connecting Sebastian students to schools in Vero Beach and surrounding communities. In December 2024, Vero News reported that three Sebastian-area schools received Purple Star designations from Indian River County, a recognition given to schools that demonstrate strong support for military-connected students and families.
For higher education, Sebastian residents are within commuting distance of Indian River State College, a multi-campus institution whose Vero Beach and Fort Pierce campuses serve Indian River and St. Lucie County students across a range of associate, baccalaureate, and certificate programs. Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida maintain regional and online presences accessible to county residents.
School district
Indian River County Public Schools is the single K-12 public school district serving Sebastian and all of Indian River County. The district is governed by an elected five-member School Board, consistent with Florida's constitutional requirement for county-level school board governance. The Superintendent of Schools manages day-to-day district operations under board direction. Sebastian's public schools span elementary, middle, and high school levels, with the city's older students typically attending Sebastian River High School. In December 2024, three schools serving Sebastian-area students were awarded Purple Star designations by Indian River County, a state-level recognition for campuses that support the academic and social transitions of children from military families, according to Vero News.
Schools in Schools in Sebastian, Florida
Sebastian River High School
Sebastian River High School is the public high school serving Sebastian within the Indian River County Public Schools district. The school offers grades 9 through 12 and functions as the primary secondary institution for students in the northern portion of Indian River County. In December 2024, Vero News reported that schools in the Sebastian area received Purple Star designations from Indian River County, recognizing strong support for military-connected students.
Sebastian River Middle School
Sebastian River Middle School serves grades 6 through 8 within the Indian River County Public Schools district, providing the intermediate level of public education for Sebastian students before they transition to Sebastian River High School. The school is among the campuses serving the northern Indian River County area, a community whose median age of 57.6, per the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023, reflects a substantial retiree presence alongside families with school-age children.
Pelican Island Elementary School
Pelican Island Elementary School is a public elementary campus within the Indian River County Public Schools district, serving Sebastian students in the primary grades. The school takes its name from Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1903 as the first federal bird reservation in the United States and located within the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, as documented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The campus serves the city's family population within the broader district structure.
Treasure Coast Elementary School
Treasure Coast Elementary School is a public elementary campus operated by Indian River County Public Schools, serving younger students in the Sebastian area. Indian River County Public Schools administers all public K-12 campuses in the county under the direction of an elected five-member School Board. In December 2024, Vero News documented that three Sebastian-area schools received Purple Star designations recognizing support for military-connected families.
Collier Creek Elementary School
Collier Creek Elementary School operates as a public elementary campus within the Indian River County Public Schools district, serving students in the Sebastian community at the primary grade levels. The district is governed by an elected five-member School Board under Florida's constitutional framework for county-level public education governance, and the Superintendent of Schools oversees operational administration across all campuses, including those serving the Sebastian area.
Indian River State College — Vero Beach Campus
Indian River State College is a multi-campus Florida state college whose Vero Beach campus is the nearest higher education facility accessible to Sebastian residents. The college offers associate degrees, baccalaureate programs, workforce certificates, and continuing education across a range of fields. Indian River State College serves students from Indian River, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Martin counties, providing a regional pathway to post-secondary credentials for graduates of Indian River County Public Schools, including those from Sebastian.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs Used for: Total population, median age, median household income, median home value, housing units, households, owner/renter occupancy rates, poverty rate, unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, educational attainment, median gross rent
- Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge — U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pelican-island Used for: Pelican Island as America's first National Wildlife Refuge, 5,400+ acres of protected waters and lands, location near Sebastian
- Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge: About Us — U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pelican-island/about-us Used for: Establishment date March 14, 1903; Indian River Lagoon estuary description; 156-mile lagoon length
- Pelican Island and the Start of the National Wildlife Refuge System — NPS History https://npshistory.com/brochures/nwr/pelican-island-story.pdf Used for: President Roosevelt's executive order establishing Pelican Island as first federal bird reservation; forerunner to the National Wildlife Refuge System
- Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge — Indian River Lagoon Encyclopedia https://indianriverlagoonnews.org/guide/index.php/Pelican_Island_National_Wildlife_Refuge Used for: Near-extermination of egrets, herons, spoonbills by plume hunters; Paul Kroegel as first refuge manager
- Pelican Island Conservation Society http://www.firstrefuge.org/ Used for: Indian River Lagoon described as most biologically diverse estuary in the United States; Paul Kroegel's role in establishing the refuge
- Sebastian Inlet District — Homepage https://www.sitd.us/ Used for: $1.1 billion regional economic driver claim; Sebastian Inlet District created by Florida State Legislature in 1919
- About Sebastian Inlet District — Sebastian Inlet District https://www.sitd.us/about-sebastian-inlet-district Used for: Inlet as one of five navigable channels connecting Indian River Lagoon to Atlantic Ocean; recreational and ecological description
- The History of Sebastian Inlet — Sebastian Inlet District https://www.sitd.us/the-history-of-sebastian-inlet Used for: Historical infrastructure projects at the inlet
- Sebastian Inlet State Park Economic Impact — Florida State Parks Foundation https://floridastateparksfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Sebastian-Inlet-State-Park.pdf Used for: Economic impact of $74,626,805 and 1,045 local jobs supported by Sebastian Inlet State Park
- Sebastian Inlet State Park — Florida State Parks https://www.floridastateparks.org/Sebastian-Inlet Used for: Park description: surfing at First Peak and Monster Hole, beaches, McLarty Treasure Museum, kayaking, fishing, wildlife
- Sebastian Inlet State Park: Experiences & Amenities — Florida State Parks https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/sebastian-inlet-state-park/experiences-amenities Used for: Three miles of ocean-facing beaches; scuba diving, snorkeling; rock reefs
- Sebastian, Florida — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian,_Florida Used for: City history, economy reliant on tourism, natural areas; 2020 Census population reference; founding details
- Sebastian Inlet — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Inlet Used for: Sebastian Inlet District commission structure; elected commission; non-partisan
- Our History — Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce https://www.sebastianchamber.com/our-history/ Used for: First settlements in 1880s; original name Newhaven; renamed Sebastian 1884; fishing village origins; original commercial fishing families
- Sebastian, Florida facts — Kiddle Encyclopedia https://kids.kiddle.co/Sebastian,_Florida Used for: Founding date 1882; incorporated as city 1923; name origin (St. Sebastian); Thomas New post office history
- Sebastian, Florida — Business View Magazine https://businessviewmagazine.com/sebastian-florida-hidden-gem-treasure-coast/ Used for: Florida East Coast Railway role in development; Fisherman's Landing working waterfront; Riverview Park Master Plan development
- Sebastian, FL Economic Development Information — Scout Cities https://scoutcities.com/states/florida/cities/sebastian-fl Used for: Main economic drivers: tourism/hospitality, healthcare/social assistance, marine industries; retiree population driving healthcare demand
- City Council — City of Sebastian, FL (Official Website) https://www.cityofsebastian.org/266/City-Council Used for: Council-Manager government structure; Mayor and Vice Mayor elected from council members after each annual election
- City Manager — City of Sebastian, FL (Official Website) https://cityofsebastian.org/230/City-Manager Used for: Council-Manager government form; annual budget approximately $25 million
- Riverview Park — City of Sebastian, FL (Official Website) https://www.cityofsebastian.org/facilities/facility/details/Riverview-Park-16 Used for: Riverview Park as primary event and gathering point; location on US-1 along Indian River; list of recurring events
- Riverfront CRA Annual Report 2024 — City of Sebastian, FL https://cityofsebastian.org/Archive/ViewFile/Item/184 Used for: Completed CRA projects: Riverview Park sidewalks, Sign Master Plan, Working Waterfront Shoreline Protection and Commercial Fishing Distribution Center
- Riverview Park project moves forward in Sebastian — WQCS https://www.wqcs.org/wqcs-news/2026-01-21/riverview-park-project-moves-forward-in-sebastian Used for: Sebastian City Council 3-2 vote January 2026 approving Riverview Park renovation (Concept C), keeping Harrison Street open
- Sebastian city council approves Riverview Park upgrades, rejects Harrison Street closure — Sebastian Daily https://www.sebastiandaily.com/business/sebastian-city-council-approves-riverview-park-upgrades-rejects-harrison-street-closure-88900/ Used for: City Council vote details on Riverview Park Concept C; phase details including playground, splash pad, pavilions, parking
- $3,000,000 Riverview Park Improvements — Good News Sebastian https://www.goodnewssebastian.com/3MillionDollarRiverviewParkImprovements Used for: Total project budget over $3 million for Riverview Park; project details
- Sebastian approves FIND grants for riverfront parks — Hometown News TC https://www.hometownnewstc.com/news/indian_river/sebastian-approves-find-grants-for-riverfront-parks/article_d1225872-c685-59c0-b1a2-431754823c37.html Used for: FIND grants totaling $343,250 for Swing & Bench Park and Main Street Boat Ramp; $1.5 million Land and Water Conservation grant
- Sherrie Matthews to Join Sebastian City Council After Opponent Withdraws — Sebastian Daily https://www.sebastiandaily.com/business/sherrie-matthews-to-join-sebastian-city-council-after-opponent-withdraws-83668/ Used for: 2025 city council election; Sherrie Matthews joining council; Kelly Dixon resignation; Christopher Nunn council service since 2020
- Sebastian archives — Vero News https://veronews.com/tag/sebastian/ Used for: Three Sebastian schools awarded Purple Star designations in December 2024
- Sebastian Daily — Local Hometown News https://www.sebastiandaily.com/ Used for: Primary local news outlet description; coverage area including Sebastian, Vero Beach, Fellsmere, Indian River County
- City of Sebastian — Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/cityofsebastian/ Used for: City Hall address: 1225 Main St, Sebastian, FL; phone 772-589-5330
- Sebastian Police Department https://www.sebastianpd.org/ Used for: Municipal police department existence and civic engagement portal
- Sebastian Inlet State Park — Florida Backroads Travel https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/sebastian-inlet-state-park.html Used for: Park covers 1,000 acres; straddles barrier island inlet south of Melbourne Beach; among Florida's most visited parks
- Sebastian Inlet Webcam — Sea Magazine https://seamagazine.com/sebastian-inlet-webcam-live-beach-views-and-surf-conditions Used for: Inlet became reliable water route in the 1930s; created to boost local economy supporting fishing and trade