Thomas Jefferson Elementary

Thomas Jefferson Elementary in Jacksonville, FL, serves 468 students in grades K-5 within the Duval County School District, and while it has historically been a high-performing school, it has experienced a notable academic decline in recent years, dropping from a 4-star to a 2-star rating. Despite this, the school remains a relative standout in its immediate area, where many nearby schools like Wayman Academy Of The Arts, Hyde Grove Elementary, and Hyde Park Elementary are ranked in the bottom 10-30% of the state. One key advantage for Thomas Jefferson is its lower chronic absenteeism rate of 37.1%, which is significantly better than the district average of 44.8% and far below the 46-77% rates seen at many neighboring schools, helping it maintain better academic outcomes than its peers.

Another differentiator is the school's lower level of economic disadvantage, with a free/reduced lunch rate of 46.37% that is substantially lower than rates at nearby schools like Biltmore Elementary and Pinedale Elementary, which exceed 80%. However, the school's per-student spending of $10,158 is the lowest among its comparison group, while higher-need schools spend significantly more. Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson's academic decline has occurred alongside improving demographics, such as a decreasing free/reduced lunch rate, suggesting the issue may stem from factors like curriculum or instructional quality rather than poverty alone. A bright spot is the school's 4th-grade English Language Arts program, which has consistently achieved proficiency rates of 59-62% over the past three years, outperforming both the district and state averages.

For parents considering this school, it is helpful to compare it to Whitehouse Elementary, located just 3.76 miles away, which has similar demographics and funding but consistently outperforms Thomas Jefferson in nearly every subject—for example, Whitehouse's 5th-grade science proficiency is 78% versus Thomas Jefferson's 60%. This comparison highlights significant room for improvement at Thomas Jefferson, and the school's leadership could look to its own strong 4th-grade ELA program and Whitehouse's model as guides. While chronic absenteeism is a systemic challenge across west Jacksonville, Thomas Jefferson's relatively lower rate gives it a competitive edge, but the school must urgently address its multi-year academic decline to avoid mirroring the struggles of its neighbors.