Lavilla School Of The Arts

Lavilla School Of The Arts is a magnet middle school in downtown Jacksonville, FL, serving 972 students in grades 6-8 and standing out as a high-performing option within the Duval district, which ranks in the bottom third of Florida districts. The school has maintained a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for nearly a decade, consistently ranking in the 75th to 85th percentile statewide. This is a stark contrast to many nearby schools, where proficiency rates in core subjects are often 30 to 50 percentage points lower. For example, Lavilla's ELA proficiency ranges from 76-85%, while schools like Jean Ribault Middle School (38-40%) and Lake Shore Middle School (27-39%) lag far behind. The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 28.2%, compared to the district average of 44.8% and rates exceeding 80% at schools like Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School.

However, Lavilla is not the top academic performer in its immediate area. Two nearby college prep magnets, Julia Landon College Preparatory & Leadership Development S and James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School, both hold 5-star ratings and rank in the top 5% of the state, outperforming Lavilla in nearly every academic metric. For instance, while Lavilla's 8th-grade science proficiency is 68%, James Weldon Johnson achieves 89%. This means families considering Lavilla should weigh its strong arts focus against the even higher academic outcomes offered by these college prep options. Interestingly, Lavilla spends less per student ($9,692) than many lower-performing neighbors, such as Young Mens/Womens Leadership Academy At Eugene J Butler ($13,962), suggesting efficient use of resources.

One notable area of concern is 8th-grade math, where only 44% of Lavilla students were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—well below the state average of 61% and the district average of 53%. This is a sharp contrast to the school's otherwise stellar performance and may be partly explained by high-performing math students taking Algebra 1 (where the school scores 89%), leaving a less advanced cohort in standard 8th-grade math. Overall, Lavilla serves a relatively affluent student body, with only 24.9% qualifying for free or reduced lunch, compared to rates above 70% at nearby schools like The Bridge To Success Academy Middle School (79.9%). This combination of strong academics, low poverty, and efficient spending makes Lavilla a compelling choice for families seeking a well-rounded arts education in a challenging district.