P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School

As a publicly funded K-12 school that is not academically selective, we strive to serve all students while facing the same challenges and constraints that confront all public schools in Florida. Our status as a one-school school district makes it possible to develop and pilot creative educational solutions in response to never-ending demands, and based on new research findings. Funded by the Florida Department of Education, we are uniquely positioned in the College of Education at the University of Florida to collaborate with University of Florida researchers to develop innovative solutions to 21st century challenges for students of all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. As legislated by the Sid Martin Bill (F.S.S. 1002.32), our student population, selected by lottery, represents Florida’s racial and income demographics. Our students commute from more than 30 surrounding small and rural north Florida cities and towns. Establishing a school culture where students from all backgrounds and circumstances come together to learn and grow in a positive, safe, and nurturing environment is a core part of P.K. Yonge’s mission and a source of pride for the school. The diversity of our student population is the foundation of our relevance to the broader conversation about K-12 education. Innovations in teaching, pedagogy, curriculum, and architecture are rooted in our school-based mission, “to design, test, and disseminate best practices in K-12 education.” P.K. Yonge is governed by the University of Florida and functions as its own supervisory school district. The director of P.K. Yonge is responsible for leading the overall operation of the school and advancing the school’s mission as a developmental research school. P.K. Yonge, the College of Education, and the University of Florida share in the mission of advancing the generation and dissemination of knowledge.