Duval

The Duval County school district in Florida encompasses 199 schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools, serving a diverse student population across the Jacksonville area. This analysis highlights standout schools, key metrics, and interesting findings to help parents understand the educational landscape.

Top-performing schools like Stanton College Preparatory and Jacksonville Beach Elementary School consistently rank in the 99th to 100th percentile statewide, with near-perfect test scores, 100% graduation rates, and very low chronic absenteeism. In contrast, schools like KIPP Impact Academy and KIPP V.O.I.C.E Academy face significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 1-3% with critically low test scores and high chronic absenteeism rates exceeding 50%. The district's magnet schools, including Paxon School/Advanced Studies and Douglas Anderson School Of The Arts, are islands of high performance, while charter school performance varies widely, with River City Science Academy excelling and others like Duval Charter School At Westside struggling.

Key metrics reveal that Duval County ranks 54th out of 70 Florida districts, with a graduation rate of 94.3% slightly above the state average, but a chronic absenteeism rate of 44.8% significantly higher than the state's 31.4%. There is a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and performance, with schools like Cornerstone Classical Academy showing remarkable efficiency with low spending and high test scores. Interestingly, several high-poverty high schools like William M. Raines High School boast graduation rates above 95%, despite low test scores, suggesting effective student support programs. The "beach advantage" is evident, with schools in beach communities consistently outperforming others, while chronic absenteeism remains a systemic crisis across the district.