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Ruth N. Upson Elementary School

Q: Is Ruth N. Upson Elementary School a good school?

Ruth N. Upson Elementary School ranks 380 th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

380^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 83% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Ruth N. Upson Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 332 students in grades PK-5 in Jacksonville, Florida, which is part of the Duval School District. Despite being in a lower-ranked school district, this school consistently outperforms the district and state averages on standardized tests, with 75% of 3rd graders proficient or better in ELA and 77% in math, compared to 51% and 59% for the district, respectively.

While the school has seen high chronic absenteeism rates in recent years, ranging from 30.9% to 44.8%, this is still lower than the nearby schools, which all had 31.4% chronic absenteeism in 2023-2024. The school also serves a relatively high percentage of students from low-income families, with 58.13% to 68.7% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which is higher than the nearby Central Riverside Elementary School (56.16%) and Fishweir Elementary School (32.03%), but lower than some other nearby schools.

The increase in spending per student at Ruth N. Upson Elementary, from $9,765 in 2020-2021 to $12,040 in 2023-2024, suggests the Duval School District is investing more resources in the school, which may be contributing to its strong academic performance. Overall, Ruth N. Upson Elementary School stands out as a strong-performing school within a lower-ranked district, and continued focus on addressing attendance and supporting the unique needs of its student population will be crucial for the school's continued success.

317

Students ?

18.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,392

Per pupil spending ?

49.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1090 Dancy St
Jacksonville, FL 32205

(904) 381-7485

District: Duval

Students who attend Ruth N. Upson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lake Shore Middle School
High:	Riverside High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.9%

African American:

37.9%

Hispanic:

9.1%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Ruth N. Upson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 27th percentile in 2014 → 83rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (73% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 17% of Florida elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 56 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school73%

District avg53%

Florida avg58%

380^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 17%▲ up 26 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to top 17% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 120Elementary Schools in the Duval

54^th of 67Duval among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2025	81.5	380 of 2258	83.2%	★★★★☆
2024	76.9	484 of 2256	78.5%	★★★★☆
2023	81.2	382 of 2240	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	66.7	697 of 2219	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	77.6	480 of 2247	78.6%	★★★★☆
2019	70.8	593 of 2182	72.8%	★★★★☆
2018	63.6	745 of 2118	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.6	665 of 2112	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.3	885 of 2087	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	30.4	1506 of 2064	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	34.9	1365 of 2029	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	47.9	1044 of 1984	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	60.1	837 of 1985	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	51.4	1006 of 1919	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	27.0	1448 of 1847	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	36.7	1211 of 1789	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	21.0	1487 of 1786	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	15.7	1476 of 1688	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Science78%+23 vs state

Math77%+16 vs state

English Language Arts68%+12 vs state

3.7

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, December 12, 2017

I have no complaints on my child's teachers. So far they have been amazing. The office staff however are the snobbiest and rudest people I've met. They bully the parents and students themselves, so how can you ask them to stop a child from bullying??? The principal would rather tell you to go to the superintendent, than to try and solve problems herself. Not a way to lead others. There are so many first year teachers at this school and I know why. When your leader of the school acts the way she does, I'm sure it's hard to keep the good employees!!!! Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Thursday, June 7, 2012

You know your kid had a good year and a great teacher when he's so upset the year is over he's crying about missing his teacher! I'm so thankful for teachers like Mr. Dowen and that Alex had a great experience in 2nd grade! It just goes to show you what an impact a teacher can have on a kid, good or bad!
Cheers to you Mr.D! Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, January 26, 2012

My son attends this school, and he loves it. As a parent I am impressed as well. This school is like a hidden gem in our neighborhood. Teachers and staff have always been receptive to any questions or concerns I have had. We are fortunate to live in this neighborhood, and this school is a big part of the reason why. Close Quote

Schools Near Ruth N. Upson Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)			FAST Math (2025)			Statewide Science Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ruth N. Upson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1090 Dancy St	Jacksonville	32205	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 381-7485	317	17	18.6	49.5%	136 (42.9%)	120 (37.9%)	29 (9.1%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	28 (8.8%)	81.5	380^th of 2258 public elementary schools	83.2%		76.9	484^th of 2256 public elementary schools	78.5%	104	75.0	63.0	65.0	77.0	75.0	78.0	78.0	$10,392	$1,332	$9,059
Wayman Academy Of The Arts	Public, Charter	K-5	1176 Labelle St	Jacksonville	32205	Duval County	Duval	Yes	No	No	Yes	(904) 695-9995	153	10	15.3	100.0%	3 (2.0%)	143 (93.5%)	3 (2.0%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.3%)	1.8	2241^st of 2258 public elementary schools	0.8%		20.5	1890^th of 2256 public elementary schools	16.2%	351	8.0	15.0	7.0	23.0	25.0	27.0	7.0	$14,176	$993	$13,183
Fishweir Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3977 Herschel St	Jacksonville	32205	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	No	(904) 381-3910	442	22	20.0	29.4%	223 (50.5%)	113 (25.6%)	53 (12.0%)	13 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (8.8%)	80.8	391^st of 2258 public elementary schools	82.7%		82.9	343^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	84.8%	48	75.0	67.0	71.0	85.0	79.0	57.0	77.0	$9,536	$487	$9,049
Pinedale Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	4228 Dignan St	Jacksonville	32254	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	Yes	(904) 381-7490	482	32	15.0	71.0%	74 (15.4%)	318 (66.0%)	53 (11.0%)	7 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	27 (5.6%)	10.8	2131^st of 2258 public elementary schools	5.6%		7.4	2198^th of 2256 public elementary schools	2.6%	67	42.0	31.0	33.0	39.0	35.0	29.0	26.0	$16,372	$2,593	$13,779
Ramona Boulevard Elementary School	Public	K-5	5540 Ramona Blvd	Jacksonville	32205	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 693-7576	292	14	20.8	76.4%	36 (12.3%)	193 (66.1%)	36 (12.3%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	21 (7.2%)	30.4	1630^th of 2258 public elementary schools	27.8%		30.9	1598^th of 2256 public elementary schools	29.2%	32	39.0	50.0	33.0	58.0	49.0	45.0	52.0	$11,148	$1,043	$10,105
West Riverside Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2801 Herschel St	Jacksonville	32205	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	No	(904) 381-3900	369	24	15.3	47.4%	104 (28.2%)	78 (21.1%)	163 (44.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (5.7%)	57.2	947^th of 2258 public elementary schools	58.1%		60	859^th of 2256 public elementary schools	61.9%	88	57.0	54.0	59.0	63.0	59.0	77.0	54.0	$10,566	$1,068	$9,499
Hyde Park Elementary School	Public	3-5	5300 Park St	Jacksonville	32205	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 381-3950	272	13	20.9	70.2%	29 (10.7%)	187 (68.8%)	40 (14.7%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (4.4%)	12.4	2095^th of 2258 public elementary schools	7.2%		10.5	2142^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	5.1%	47	34.0	49.0	30.0	28.0	45.0	22.0	28.0	$11,790	$1,896	$9,894
Central Riverside Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2555 Gilmore St	Jacksonville	32204	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	Yes	(904) 381-7495	347	23	15.0	49.6%	52 (15.0%)	242 (69.7%)	34 (9.8%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.0%)	78.5	441^st of 2258 public elementary schools	80.5%		77	480^th of 2256 public elementary schools	78.7%	39	66.0	65.0	72.0	65.0	76.0	81.0	79.0	$11,787	$1,356	$10,431
Annie R. Morgan Elementary School	Public	K-5	964 Saint Clair St	Jacksonville	32254	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 381-3970	192	17	11.2	75.0%	19 (9.9%)	144 (75.0%)	18 (9.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.7%)	12.4	2097^th of 2258 public elementary schools	7.1%		4.1	2231^st of 2256 public elementary schools	1.1%	134	26.0	22.0	22.0	50.0	43.0	39.0	31.0	$15,828	$3,199	$12,629
Reynolds Lane Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	840 Reynolds Ln	Jacksonville	32254	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 381-3960	158	10	15.8	63.3%	19 (12.0%)	90 (57.0%)	36 (22.8%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (6.3%)	10.3	2142^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	5.1%		11.8	2113^th of 2256 public elementary schools	6.3%	29	54.0	22.0	13.0	42.0	34.0	16.0	26.0	$14,458	$1,901	$12,558

Frequently Asked Questions about Ruth N. Upson Elementary School

How many students attend Ruth N. Upson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 317 students attended Ruth N. Upson Elementary School.

What district is Ruth N. Upson Elementary School in?

Duval

Is Ruth N. Upson Elementary School a good school?

Ruth N. Upson Elementary School ranks 380^th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Ruth N. Upson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Ruth N. Upson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lake Shore Middle School
High : Riverside High School

What is the racial makeup of Ruth N. Upson Elementary School?

Students at Ruth N. Upson Elementary School are 43% White, 38% African American, 9% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races.

Rate Ruth N. Upson Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.