Summary:
The city of Atlantic Beach, Florida, is served by six public schools within the Duval school district, including four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, with a total enrollment of approximately 2,530 students and a notable focus on specialized marine and coastal science programs.
For parents, the standout school for academic excellence is Atlantic Beach Elementary School, which consistently ranks in the top 10% of Florida elementary schools and boasts exceptional test scores, such as 96% proficiency in 3rd-grade math and 82% in 5th-grade science. In contrast, Mayport Elementary School, located just a mile away, shows lower performance (67% in 5th-grade science) and higher chronic absenteeism (36.6% vs. 18.4%). The Mayport Coastal Science Middle School is a unique standout for its specialized performance, achieving 100% proficiency in Geometry and 99% in Biology 1 on End-of-Course exams, though its overall state ranking is solid at the 59th percentile. Meanwhile, Seaside Charter K-8 School has the lowest poverty rate (4.55%) but a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 48.7%, while Anchor Academy performs in the middle tier with 78% proficiency in 5th-grade science.
A critical point of concern is the Marine Science Education Center, a small high school of 25 students that faces severe challenges, including a 0% graduation rate, 85.4% chronic absenteeism, and the highest poverty rate (52%), despite having the highest per-student spending ($32,909) and lowest student-teacher ratio (8.3:1). City-wide, chronic absenteeism averages 42.9%, well above the state average of 31.4%, indicating a systemic issue that affects most schools. Overall, Atlantic Beach offers a mix of high-performing elementary options and a specialized middle school, but families should be aware of the significant disparities in outcomes and resources across the district.
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