Nassau County residents will have an opportunity to discuss the future of education at a free community forum Sunday, Oct. 18, at Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture in Fernandina Beach.

The event, "Beyond the Three Rs," is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. at 1430 Park Ave. It is part of Story & Song's "Let's Listen: Healing the Great Divides" series, a 10-month program of community discussions in 2026, according to the Fernandina Observer.

The forum will examine how schools are adapting to a changing society, the challenges facing teachers and curriculum designers, and the role of technology in student learning.

Participants will also discuss where young people should learn practical life skills and what Nassau County schools are doing well or could improve.

Nassau schools rank among Florida's highest performers

The discussion comes as Nassau County continues to rank among Florida's highest-performing public school districts.

Nassau ranked second among Florida's 67 school districts in the state's 2025-26 accountability results, earning 892 points, behind St. Johns County's 910, according to News4JAX.

Thirteen of Nassau County's 14 public schools earned A grades, while one received a B.

The results reflect a statewide accountability system that considers student achievement, academic growth, graduation rates and other measures of school performance.

Florida's overall high school graduation rate reached 92.2% for the 2024-25 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Community discussion series continues

Maureen Kingsley Paschke, whose background includes journalism and public media, moderates the "Let's Listen" series.

She also led the Sept. 27 discussion on art and community, featuring Kaveri Subrahmanyam, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Florida, and Becky Grimes, chair of the Nassau Council of Arts and Culture, according to the Fernandina Observer.

The Theodore and Pauline Cohen Trust sponsors the series, with support from Jeffrey and Shelley Hirshberg.

The Oct. 18 discussion is intended to encourage residents to share perspectives on education and consider how local schools can prepare students for the future.

Admission is free. Event information and registration details are available at storyandsongarts.org. Story & Song can be reached at 904-601-2118.