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Highlands Estates Academy

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2167^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Highlands Estates Academy is a public elementary school in Jacksonville, FL, serving 692 students in grades PK-5 within the Duval County School District, and it faces significant challenges that set it apart from nearby schools.

The school's academic performance is critically low, with proficiency rates roughly half of the district and state averages. For example, only 24% of 3rd graders are proficient in ELA, compared to 51% in the district and 60% statewide. This is a persistent trend, placing the school in the bottom 3% of all Florida elementary schools. In stark contrast, nearby schools like Oceanway Elementary School and San Mateo Elementary School perform at or above state averages. A major driver of this struggle is an extreme chronic absenteeism rate of 64.1%, the highest in the area and nearly double the district average. This rate has been climbing steadily, creating a vicious cycle where students miss learning, fall behind, and become further disengaged.

Despite spending more per student ($15,761) than higher-performing neighbors like Biscayne Elementary School ($8,840), the school achieves the lowest results, indicating a breakdown in how resources are used. There is a glimmer of hope in 4th grade math, where 52% of students are proficient, and a positive trend of declining poverty rates (from 77% to 61% in two years). However, these bright spots are currently overshadowed by the urgent need to improve attendance and academic engagement.

692

Students ?

18.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,967

Per pupil spending ?

61.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1000 Depaul Dr
Jacksonville, FL 32218

(904) 696-8754

District: Duval

Students who attend Highlands Estates Academy usually attend:

Middle:	Highlands Middle School
High:	First Coast High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

69.4%

Hispanic:

14.3%

White:

9.8%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (34% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (64% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg56%

Florida avg62%

2,167^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

110^th of 118Elementary Schools in the Duval

54^th of 70Duval 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
2026	8.2	2167 of 2240	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	20.2	1902 of 2258	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.2	2150 of 2256	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.4	1952 of 2240	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.9	2044 of 2219	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.0	2051 of 2247	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.5	2080 of 2182	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.1	2060 of 2118	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	8.5	2027 of 2112	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	7.8	2008 of 2087	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	29.7	1518 of 2064	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	30.2	1483 of 2029	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	20.2	1662 of 1984	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	12.1	1828 of 1985	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	18.5	1655 of 1919	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.8	1622 of 1847	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	25.9	1401 of 1789	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	19.8	1515 of 1786	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	7.4	1606 of 1688	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math44%-21 vs state

Science27%-33 vs state

English Language Arts26%-35 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highlands Estates Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highlands Estates Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1000 Depaul Dr	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 696-8754	692	38	18.2	61.1%	68 (9.8%)	480 (69.4%)	99 (14.3%)	6 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.3%)	8.2	2167^th of 2240 public elementary schools	3.3%		20.2	1902^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	15.8%	265	24.0	24.0	30.0				41.0	52.0	39.0				27.0				$10,967	$1,788	$9,179
Seaside Charter North Campus	Public, Charter	PK, KG-7	1429 Broward Rd	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	Yes	No	No	No	(904) 973-2743	496	29	17.1	41.1%	252 (50.8%)	117 (23.6%)	70 (14.1%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (10.5%)	22.1	1868^th of 2240 public elementary schools	16.6%		21.9	1851^st of 2258 public elementary schools	18.0%	17	41.0	55.0	54.0	52.0	45.0	54.0	31.0	38.0	45.0	39.0	14.0	49.0	49.0	37.0	58.0	61.0	$8,948	$269	$8,680
Somerset Academy-Elementary Eagle Campus	Public, Charter	K-5	2100 Dunn Ave	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	Yes	No	No	Yes	(904) 551-3292	324	15	21.6	85.5%	14 (4.3%)	287 (88.6%)	16 (4.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.9%)	38.4	1443^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	35.6%		33.3	1546^th of 2258 public elementary schools	31.5%	103	62.0	63.0	36.0				71.0	61.0	47.0				21.0				$9,497	$1,541	$7,957
Biscayne Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12230 Biscayne Blvd	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 714-4650	818	40	20.4	55.1%	40 (4.9%)	686 (83.9%)	50 (6.1%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	35 (4.3%)	54.2	1036^th of 2240 public elementary schools	53.8%		47.6	1169^th of 2258 public elementary schools	48.2%	133	51.0	45.0	64.0				66.0	84.0	81.0				53.0				$9,552	$1,096	$8,457
Garden City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2814 Dunn Ave	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 924-3130	390	22	17.7	63.1%	39 (10.0%)	293 (75.1%)	35 (9.0%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.9%)	22.4	1862^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	16.9%		26.6	1739^th of 2258 public elementary schools	23.0%	123	55.0	48.0	54.0				41.0	47.0	34.0				43.0				$10,259	$1,172	$9,088
San Mateo Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	600 Baisden Rd	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	No	(904) 696-8750	520	25	20.8	39.6%	210 (40.4%)	206 (39.6%)	58 (11.2%)	11 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.5%)	56.7	970^th of 2240 public elementary schools	56.7%		59.4	896^th of 2258 public elementary schools	60.3%	74	66.0	64.0	68.0				74.0	54.0	63.0				54.0				$8,840	$396	$8,444
North Shore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5701 Silver Plz	Jacksonville	32208	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 924-3081	614	30	20.4	78.2%	49 (8.0%)	509 (82.9%)	27 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	26 (4.2%)	21.9	1878^th of 2240 public elementary schools	16.2%		25.3	1777^th of 2258 public elementary schools	21.3%	101	27.0	36.0	40.0				62.0	60.0	49.0				41.0				$9,869	$1,204	$8,665
Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4346 Roanoke Blvd	Jacksonville	32208	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 924-3077	758	40	18.9	75.5%	46 (6.1%)	649 (85.6%)	34 (4.5%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.3%)	31.4	1638^th of 2240 public elementary schools	26.9%		37.7	1428^th of 2258 public elementary schools	36.8%	210	36.0	53.0	47.0				52.0	67.0	63.0				42.0				$9,661	$921	$8,740
Sallye B. Mathis Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3501 Winton Dr	Jacksonville	32208	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	Yes	(904) 924-3086	366	26	14.0	71.3%	22 (6.0%)	319 (87.2%)	16 (4.4%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	13.6	2068^th of 2240 public elementary schools	7.7%		15.7	2020^th of 2258 public elementary schools	10.5%	48	33.0	41.0	56.0				44.0	32.0	48.0				33.0				$15,645	$2,469	$13,175
Oceanway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12555 Gillespie Ave	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 696-8762	728	38	19.1	44.0%	301 (41.3%)	234 (32.1%)	108 (14.8%)	20 (2.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (8.5%)	54.4	1033^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	53.9%		64.2	777^th of 2258 public elementary schools	65.6%	256	66.0	50.0	64.0				70.0	55.0	66.0				68.0				$9,891	$944	$8,947

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Estates Academy

What schools do graduates of Highlands Estates Academy attend?

Students who attend Highlands Estates Academy usually go on to attend:

Middle : Highlands Middle School
High : First Coast High School

What is the racial makeup of Highlands Estates Academy?

Students at Highlands Estates Academy are 69% African American, 14% Hispanic, 10% White, 5% Two or more races.

What district is Highlands Estates Academy in?

Duval

Is Highlands Estates Academy a good school?

Highlands Estates Academy ranks in the bottom 3.3% of Florida elementary schools.

How many students attend Highlands Estates Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 692 students attended Highlands Estates Academy.

Rate Highlands Estates Academy!

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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.