
The Frazer School owners have signed a contract to lease the Peddie building in the Santa Fe Health Park at 4300 NW 89th Blvd., just around the corner from the Hudson building they previously acquired for an expansion.
The private school, geared toward competitive academics, currently accepts students in grades 3-12, but the expansion will create room for K-2 grade students. The school plans to renovate the Peddie building, which it has leased with an option to buy in the future, to become the Frazer Elementary School.
The 40,000-square-foot elementary school building is expected to have room for about 500 students, while the middle/high school, housed in the 60,000-square-foot Hudson building, should fit about 600.
The school’s director, Will Frazer, said he does not expect to reach those capacities anytime soon, but the school is on a trajectory of growth. He said over a hundred new students are waiting for registration to open this weekend so they can put their names on the rolls.
The school also has about 300 students from the 2024-25 school year who are not graduating, and Frazer said about 90% of them have expressed plans to re-enroll.
The school will open enrollment this weekend, with three open house presentations scheduled at its current location at 1520 NW 34th St. on the following days:
Grades K-5:
- 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17
Grades 6-8:
- 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18
Grades 9-12:
- 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19
The Frazer School’s owner, James Schrader has secured new business partners, which Frazer said allowed the school to grow faster than expected.
He said the school’s focus on academic competition is unique, not just in Alachua County, which leaves it with not much competition from other schools, because few are using the approach.
“It’s going to be extremely rigorous. It’s hard. It’s definitely not for everybody,” Frazer said in a phone interview. “It’s people that want to be pushed, want a lot of rigorous academics, want to find something to compete in academically.”
Frazer said though the school is not meant to appeal to every student and family, many from across the country have still expressed interest. Some have also reached out internationally, but Frazer said the school is not sponsoring visas at this time.
There was enough demand that Frazer said the school leadership chose to add K-2 based on parents asking, wanting their children to be able to attend one school.
The school’s two buildings are set on 26 acres of green land, which Frazer said the school does not own but which provides a “private, comfy feel,” especially when contrasted with the school’s current location across the street from Westwood Middle School and Littlewood Elementary School.
Dreaming dreaming, hard school most kids with As. Are you kidding me lol. This Frazer is living in a wonderland with his hard school and not more than 10% are living. Already magnet shopping for high schools or attending open houses in high schools.
You appear to be having trouble articulating your point, Kenny. Perhaps I can help you (in the interest of being one who truly cares, of course!)…This school is designed for high achievers who are focused on getting a quality, focused education. The focus on math and science is by design as is the selection process. I’m assuming that they do not approach this project as one where everyone teaches to the lowest common denominator. They simply do not have time for fluff or disengaged parents, Kenny. It is obviously not your “cup of tea” so your children (or grandchildren) need not apply and should continue to go to the standard goverrnment schools thast populate the county. We’ll miss you but Frazer will certainly survive.Really.
Will Frazer commenting on a post to defend his school
My child attends the private school inside the same building as the Frazer school and I can tell you that ALL the kids there are Asian or Indian, who already tend to be very competitive in academics. Magnet schools are not competitive enough. These kids are reaching for Ivy League not UF. And their families are competitive. Another family hears your kids are attending Frazer while their kid is at a magnet and they’re going to switch enrollment. Frazer school fits a niche and will succeed within it. Plus, Will Frazer drives Lambos (one green, one red) to work. He’s not dreaming at all.
Is Glory Reitz an official spokesperson or promotion editor for Frazer School? Why is there an article about this school every other month? What makes this school so special compared to public schools? This school is using taxpayer money and weakening the public school system. Parents might not like this comment, but if they put the same effort into public schools (through volunteering and other efforts), wouldn’t that enrich our community? Academic rigor is important, but competitive academics is a misnomer and a recipe for long-term failure.
I completely agree. The best education in the world is not designed around competition; it is centered on learning and collaboration. However, the mindset of many Asians and Indians is heavily focused on competition. This is a major reason why China and India are the way they are today as countries. We excel at memorization, but not necessarily at application.
This school and the woman promoting Frazer make me sick because they fail to understand that competition does not equate to the best education. At Frazer, only a small group of students—less than 10% of the 300 enrolled—are winning competitions. Most of these students had already won past competitions in public schools as well.
The school is challenging, but has been great for our children. They will be very well prepared.
I support the Frazier school. Public education is debased and watered down. So many young people are fictional illiterates incapable of learning on the job and unwilling to put even modest effort into improving their capabilities to become financially independent,