A.Quinn Jones Center

A. Quinn Jones Center is a small alternative school in Gainesville, FL, serving 95 students in grades 6-12 within the Alachua district, where over 84% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school faces significant challenges that set it apart from nearby schools. Its academic performance ranks in the 0th percentile statewide, while nearby F. W. Buchholz High School ranks in the 75th percentile. The graduation rate is just 15.4%, compared to 93.7% at Gainesville High School and 95.6% at Buchholz. Chronic absenteeism affects 73.9% of students—more than double the district average of 31.6% and far higher than Eastside High School (32.9%). Despite these struggles, the school spends $41,111 per student, over five times the spending at Buchholz ($8,066) and four times that at Gainesville High ($9,049). The student-teacher ratio is a low 6.6:1, suggesting small class sizes that have not translated into academic success.

The school’s consistent underperformance over the past decade points to deep-rooted issues beyond funding. The nearby Pace school (1.5 miles away) shows similar struggles with high absenteeism (84.2%) and a small, at-risk population, indicating a broader community challenge. Interestingly, the Alachua Eschool (Virtual Franchise), which shares the same address, achieves a 66.7% graduation rate and lower absenteeism (53.3%), suggesting that alternative learning models may better serve some students. For parents, this school’s data highlights a crisis in attendance and outcomes that requires urgent, targeted intervention.