Information about Holy Nativity

You do not have to be Episcopalian to be admitted to Holy Nativity Episcopal School. Our spiritual life is welcoming to all. We proudly provide an exceptional education to students of diverse religious, cultural, racial, and economic backgrounds. At Holy Nativity, we embrace diversity and we do it each and every day.

With over 2000 private schools in Florida, Holy Nativity Episcopal School is one of only 158 independent schools accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS). As part of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES), we are proud to join all Episcopal schools in welcoming families of all religions, races and national origin. More information about our accreditation can be found in the Accreditation section on our website.

Holy Nativity Episcopal School begins with three-year-olds (children must be 3 years old on or before September 1st) and continues through the 8th grade.

All applicants are welcome to apply for our need-based financial aid. These annually awarded scholarships are for tuition only, other fees are the responsibility of the applicant. Scholarship applications are strictly confidential.   

HNES does not accept any government vouchers or funding for tuition, including the HB1 funding passed in the 2023 Florida legislative session.  As an independent school, Holy Nativity does not want to be beholden to the potential oversight, mandates, reporting, audits, or requirements associated with the acceptance of State or Federal government scholarship programs and/or vouchers.  As a school serving grades Jr PreK - 8th, we take pride in our status as an Independent Episcopal School, determining our curriculum, program, experiences, and efforts to do “what’s best for our students.”  (For additional information on Tuition Assistance, see below.)

Apply for financial aid

Currently we contract with Golden Corral to provide lunch for our school. Students also have the option of bringing a lunch from home. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join their student for lunch, adult options are also available.

 School Lunch Information

 Dress Code Policy

While a student at Holy Nativity, your child will take a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA®. MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Teachers use results to tailor classroom lessons and set goals for students.  MAP Growth tests are unique and adapt to your child’s responses to measure your child’s knowledge. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of where your child is on their learning journey— regardless of whether they are on, above, or below their grade level.
 INFORMATION ABOUT MAP GROWTH

A...................................100-92

B....................................91-83

C.....................................82-74

D......................................73-65

F.............................64 or below 

Yes, our parents’ support is central to the excellence of Holy Nativity Episcopal School. 

At Holy Nativity, we believe that strong family involvement is an essential part of a thriving school community. Our Parent Council plays an important role in bringing families together, supporting our teachers and students, and advancing our shared commitment to academic achievement and character development.

Parent Council meetings are announced in advance through the HNES Happenings, and all parents are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Throughout the year, our Parent Council organizes a variety of special events and traditions, each led by dedicated parent volunteers. These include Boohoo-Yahoo Breakfast, Grandfriends’ Day, Walk-a-Thon and Carnival, the Annual Campout, Mother-Son Kickball Tournament, Daddy-Daughter Dance, and the School Store.

These events provide wonderful opportunities for our students and families to connect, celebrate, and create lasting memories together while strengthening the sense of community that makes Holy Nativity so special.

Interested in getting involved? Please contact our Parent Council Chair, Rebecca Windham, to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how you can be part of our Parent Council.

Contact Parent Council

The middle school education we offer has never been more important. HNES students excel in our rigorous academic environment where personal accountability is stressed and intellectual effort is applauded. Equally important, during this particularly challenging period in students’ lives, Holy Nativity provides a path for middle school students to develop a secure sense of who they are; we welcome and count on strong partnerships between parents and teachers; and our middle school offers students meaningful opportunities for service to the community. Holy Nativity is the starting point for a lifetime of success.

Once in high school, HNES students consistently become school leaders, class officers, outstanding athletes, stars of the arts, accomplished members of the band and top academic members of their class. 

We encourage you to check out our Holy Nativity Facebook Page, where we often proudly share photos of some of our students’ high school successes.  

Upon finishing our middle school curriculum, all our 8th-grade students are accepted, and seamlessly transition, into our local high schools' advanced academic programs. 

Graduates from Holy Nativity not only excel in various subjects but also demonstrate proficiency in note-taking, time management, and exam preparation. When questioned about their readiness for high school after their time with us, our alumni consistently respond with an emphatic "Yes!"

At Holy Nativity, we prioritize seamless communication with our dedicated team of teachers and administrators. Expect prompt responses to phone calls and emails, effortless scheduling of conferences, and round-the-clock accessibility to our data information system, FACTS.

School Directory with email addresses

Many HNES parents and grandparents join their children for chapel on Wednesday mornings. Our chapel begins at 8:20 for Jr. Pre-K through 3rd grade and 8:55 for grades 4th-8th.  There are times when families especially like to attend chapel, including a child’s birthday blessing, special awards, performances, Rite 13 and more. 

Yes, prospective parents are welcome to attend our Wednesday morning chapel program. Please call the office, (850) 747-0060, to make arrangements for a visit to the school.

Holy Nativity  has 2 classes per grade level, Jr. Pre-K – 5th grade.  

In 6th – 8th grades, In 6th - 8th grades, some classes in the schedule are determined by students' academic needs.  This includes developing a math progression that allows for academic growth and prepares the student for continued success.

Our maximum class sizes are: 

Jr PreK - 10 

PreK - 16

K - 3rd grades - 16 

4th - 8th grades - 18

Students in Jr. Pre-K - 5th grade have separate teachers for Music, Technology, Spanish, Art, PE and Library Skills. 

Middle school students have required classes in PE and Religion.  They can choose from variously offered electives including Art, Performance Music, Running Club, Tennis, Technology, Crafts, Math Counts, Directed Study, Costume and Design, Yearbook, Life Hacks, Strategic Games, Soccer, and Student Government Association.

Spanish instruction begins in Jr. Pre-K and continues through 5th grade as a required course. It is also offered as an elective for middle school students. French is introduced in middle school as an elective option. We further enrich our Spanish program through cultural learning and celebrations such as Las Posadas and Cinco de Mayo.

Holy Nativity provides before and after school care, BASE, billed on an hourly basis from 7:00 AM until 8:00 AM and after school until 5:30 PM.  

The school day begins at 8:00 AM and the school office hours are 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. 

Classes end at different times based on the students' school grade. 

All classes begin at 8:00 AM 

Jr. Pre-K and Pre-K – 8:00 AM until Noon

K and 1st grade – 8:00 AM until 2:45 PM

2nd grade through 8th grade – 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM

The school day begins at 8:00 AM for all students.

The school day ends at different times based on the students' school grade level.

Jr. Pre-K and Pre-K – 8:00 AM until Noon

K and 1st grade – 8:00 AM until 2:45 PM

2nd grade through 8th grade – 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM