Public Schools — Sebastian, Florida

Sebastian is served by five public schools operated within the School District of Indian River County, which earned an A district rating for the third consecutive year in 2024-2025.

Schools at a Glance

Sebastian is served by a cluster of public schools operating under the School District of Indian River County (SDIRC), plus one charter school that functions within the public school framework. As confirmed by NCES Common Core of Data for 2024-2025, the schools serving Sebastian students span every grade level from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, with options including a traditional elementary, a magnet arts program, a middle school offering the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, a charter junior high, a virtual instruction program, and a high school that holds IB World School status.

As of the 2024-2025 school year, the district as a whole earned an A rating for the third consecutive year and ranked 5th among Florida's 67 school districts, according to SDIRC. Sebastian River High School individually earned an A rating for 2024-2025.

Sebastian Elementary School
PK–5 · 312 students
NCES CCD, 2024-2025
Pelican Island Elementary School
PK–5 · 354 students
NCES CCD, 2024-2025
Sebastian River Middle School
6–8 · IB MYP
SDIRC, 2024-2025
Sebastian Charter Junior High
6–8 · 295 students
NCES CCD, 2024-2025
Sebastian River High School
9–12 · 1,777 students
NCES CCD, 2024-2025
Indian River Virtual Instruction Program
KG–12 · 39 students
NCES CCD, 2024-2025

Individual Schools

Sebastian Elementary School serves pre-kindergarten through grade 5 and is designated as a school of the arts within the SDIRC system. NCES enrollment data for 2024-2025 records 312 students. The school operates as part of the district's elementary network and emphasizes arts integration across its curriculum.

Pelican Island Elementary School, also a PK–5 campus, enrolled 354 students in 2024-2025 per NCES data. It is named for Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the federally protected area located in the Indian River Lagoon east of the city.

Sebastian River Middle School, located at 9400 CR 512, serves grades 6 through 8 and is authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, as confirmed by the school's official website. The IB Middle Years Program is a curriculum framework designed for students aged 11 to 16 and is distinct from the IB Diploma Programme offered at the secondary level.

Sebastian Charter Junior High School is an A-rated public charter school serving grades 6 through 8 with 295 students enrolled in 2024-2025 per NCES data. The school has earned recognition at the national level through its Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) program. U.S. News education data for the 2023-2024 school year placed 87% of students at or above proficiency in mathematics and 72% at or above proficiency in reading.

Sebastian River High School, located at 9001 Shark Blvd in Sebastian, serves grades 9 through 12 with an enrollment of 1,777 students as of 2024-2025. The school holds IB World School status, authorizing it to offer the International Baccalaureate programme at the secondary level. For the 2024-2025 school year, Sebastian River High School earned a Florida school grade of A, as confirmed by SDIRC.

The Indian River Virtual Instruction Program, serving students in kindergarten through grade 12, had 39 students enrolled for 2024-2025 per NCES data. It provides a fully online instructional option within the SDIRC system.

District Performance and Ratings

The School District of Indian River County received an A district rating from the Florida Department of Education for the 2024-2025 school year — the third consecutive A — and ranked 5th among Florida's 67 school districts, according to SDIRC. Every school in the district earned either an A or a B grade for 2024-2025, as documented on the district's official website. The district also reported that its Grade 3 English Language Arts achievement ranked second in the state for the same school year.

Graduation rates represent another documented strength. The SDIRC press releases for 2024-2025 document a 96% graduation rate for the 2023-2024 school year, placing the district fourth in Florida. A February 2026 report by Vero News confirmed that Indian River County School District held the highest graduation rate on the Treasure Coast for 2024-2025, with 96% of seniors receiving diplomas. The same report cited an 88% graduation rate for students with disabilities and a 94% rate for economically disadvantaged students in that period.

Budget and Finance

For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the School District of Indian River County maintained its millage rate at 5.753 mils, as reported by Vero News in September 2025 citing the Indian River County Taxpayers Association's annual budget statement release.

In November 2025, Fitch Ratings upgraded the SDIRC long-term Issuer Default Rating to AA, according to Sebastian River Middle School's official news page, which published the district announcement. A Fitch AA rating indicates a very low expectation of default risk and reflects the agency's assessment of the district's financial management and fiscal position at that time.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs Used for: Population (25,759), median age (57.6), median household income ($68,863), median home value ($281,700), median gross rent ($1,414), owner-occupied rate (83.5%), poverty rate (9.4%), unemployment rate (8.5%), labor force participation (51.4%), bachelor's degree or higher (16.9%)
  2. 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 of Pelican Island NWR (March 14, 1903), Theodore Roosevelt executive order, first federal bird reservation, Indian River Lagoon estuary species documentation
  3. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pelican-island Used for: 5,400+ acres of protected waters and lands, America's first National Wildlife Refuge, location near Sebastian FL
  4. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge — Indian River County Official Site https://indianriver.gov/business_detail_T21_R56.php Used for: Paul Kroegel background, German immigrant 1881, bird population observations, Teddy Roosevelt wildlife refuge establishment
  5. About Sebastian Inlet District | Sebastian Inlet District (sitd.us) https://www.sitd.us/about-sebastian-inlet-district Used for: Sebastian Inlet District created by Florida Legislature in 1919; inlet as $1.1 billion regional economic driver; inlet as one of five navigable channels connecting Indian River Lagoon to Atlantic; premier fishing/boating/surfing destination
  6. Frequently Asked Questions | Sebastian Inlet District https://www.sitd.us/frequently-asked-questions Used for: Archie Carr National Wildlife Reserve highest nesting densities of loggerhead sea turtles; green sea turtle habitat; seagrass beds
  7. Home | School District of Indian River County https://www.indianriverschools.org/ Used for: 2024-2025 school year: every SDIRC school earned A or B grade; #2 state ranking in Grade 3 ELA achievement
  8. School District of Indian River County Rises to 5th in Florida | SDIRC https://www.indianriverschools.org/article/2300115 Used for: SDIRC earned A rating as district for third consecutive year; ranked 5th among Florida's 67 school districts; Sebastian River High School is A-rated
  9. 2024-2025 Press Releases | School District of Indian River County https://www.indianriverschools.org/district/press_releases/2024-2025 Used for: SDIRC achieves 96% graduation rate for 2023-2024, ranking #4 in Florida
  10. Sebastian River High School: Home | Indian River County Schools https://srhs.indianriverschools.org/ Used for: Sebastian River High School is an IB World School; address 9001 Shark Blvd, Sebastian FL 32958
  11. Sebastian Elementary School of the Arts | Indian River County Schools https://ses.indianriverschools.org/ Used for: Sebastian Elementary School address and contact; part of Indian River County School District
  12. Sebastian River Middle School | Indian River County Schools https://srms.indianriverschools.org/ Used for: Sebastian River Middle School address (9400 CR 512); IB Middle Years Program for grades 6-8 (confirmed by official school site); district affiliation
  13. News | Sebastian River Middle School https://srms.indianriverschools.org/news Used for: Fitch Ratings upgraded SDIRC long-term Issuer Default Rating to 'AA' in November 2025; 2026-2027 school schedule update
  14. Sebastian Charter Junior High School | Official Website https://www.scjh.org/ Used for: A-rated charter school in Sebastian; FBLA achievements including national recognition
  15. Search for Public Schools — NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-2025 https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&Zip=32948&Miles=20 Used for: Enrollment figures, grade spans, and addresses for Sebastian-area public schools including Pelican Island Elementary, Sebastian Elementary, Sebastian Charter Junior High, Sebastian River Middle, Sebastian River High, Treasure Coast Elementary, Indian River Virtual Instruction Program
  16. Sebastian Charter Junior High School — U.S. News Education https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/florida/sebastian-charter-junior-high-school-268149 Used for: 87% of students at or above proficient in math; 72% at or above proficient in reading (2023-2024 school year)
  17. Sebastian Inlet will see $100-plus million splash of refurbishments in coming years | Vero News https://veronews.com/2024/12/19/sebastian-inlet-will-see-100-plus-million-splash-of-refurbishments-in-coming-years/ Used for: $103 million bridge replacement by FDOT commencing early 2025; $2.5 million jetty repair project; Sebastian Inlet District doubled its budget to nearly $22 million
  18. Project at Sebastian Inlet North Jetty set to begin | MyNews13 https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2024/10/28/project-on-sebastian-inlet-north-jetty-set-to-begin Used for: North Jetty $2.5 million repair project details; storm damage from Milton; granite boulders and sheet pile seawall construction
  19. Sebastian Inlet State Park | Florida State Parks https://www.floridastateparks.org/Sebastian-Inlet Used for: Dredging project resuming at Sebastian Inlet State Park as of October 16, 2025; temporary closures at multiple park areas
  20. City Manager | Sebastian, FL — Official Website https://www.cityofsebastian.org/230/City-Manager Used for: City Manager appointed by City Council; serves as Chief Operating Officer; 'Life on the Lagoon' tagline
  21. City Clerk | Sebastian, FL — Official Website https://www.cityofsebastian.org/222/City-Clerk Used for: City Clerk Jeanette Williams, MMC; Charter Officer role; elections official and records management liaison
  22. Charter Review Committee | Sebastian, FL https://www.sebastianpd.org/256/Charter-Review-Committee Used for: Charter Review Advisory Committee organizing in 2025 and meeting in 2026; committee role to review charter and recommend changes
  23. A System-Wide Effort to Restore Florida's Indian River Lagoon | NOAA Fisheries https://fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/system-wide-effort-restore-floridas-indian-river-lagoon Used for: Indian River Lagoon generates $28.3 billion in local economic activity annually; supports 128,400 jobs and $8.3 billion in wages; Balmoral Group economic study
  24. County schools' grad rates highest on Treasure Coast | Vero News http://veronews.com/2026/02/05/county-schools-grad-rates-highest-on-treasure-coast/ Used for: Indian River County School District highest graduation rate on Treasure Coast in 2024-25; 96% of seniors receiving diplomas; graduation rates for students with disabilities (88%) and economically disadvantaged (94%)
  25. Pelican Island and the Start of the National Wildlife Refuge System | NPS History https://npshistory.com/brochures/nwr/pelican-island-story.pdf Used for: March 14, 1903 executive order establishing Pelican Island as first federal bird reservation; plume hunting context; forerunner to national wildlife refuge system
Last updated: May 1, 2026