Education in Leon County began with the establishment of a private school, the Leon Academy for Boys, in 1821. This was four years prior to the incorporation of Tallahassee. The Leon Academy for Girls, also a private school, was established in 1831. However, it was not until 1856 that the first public school was opened at Woodville. The first Lincoln High School was opened in 1876 and served grades 1 through 12. This school was closed in 1970. The new Lincoln High School opened in 1975-76 and serves grades 9 through 12. The first large elementary school, Caroline Brevard, was built in 1924. The original Caroline Brevard building was eventually sold to the State and the money from the sale was used to construct the present Caroline Brevard. In 1934, the district purchased from the Primitive Baptist Church of Florida what was then called Griffin College, a private, boarding institution for grades 1 through 12. In 1955, the new Griffin Junior High was completed and occupied on the ten-acre site where it now stands. The school, which is now a middle school, has also been an elementary school. In 1972, the administration moved from the courthouse to the present site on Pensacola Street.

Local efforts for a kindergarten program began in 1905 when a law suggested by the Tallahassee Woman’s Club was introduced and passed by the Legislature. The first public kindergarten provided in Leon County, in 1916, cost $1,600 to build and equip. Kindergartens were discontinued at Caroline Brevard and Sealey in 1941. The present kindergarten program was initiated in 1968 with 21 classes in 11 schools. 

The Leon County School district has been an accrediated school district (currently accredited with Cognia) since 1914.