Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Highlands Estates Academy

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1902^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Highlands Elementary School is a public elementary school in Jacksonville, Florida, serving 396 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Duval School District, which is ranked 54 out of 67 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Highlands Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of Florida elementary schools over the past decade, with a current ranking of 1902 out of 2258 schools.

Highlands Elementary faces significant challenges, including extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, well below-average academic performance in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, and a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. For example, in 2024-2025, only 31% of 3rd graders were proficient in ELA, compared to 51% in the district and 57% statewide. The school also spends significantly more per student ($15,761 in 2023-2024) compared to nearby schools, which range from $9,502 to $14,741 per student, without seeing improved academic outcomes.

When comparing Highlands Elementary to nearby schools in the same district, such as Oceanway Elementary and Sallye B. Mathis Elementary, it is clear that Highlands is an outlier in terms of academic performance and other key metrics. Addressing the school's attendance challenges and ensuring resources are effectively targeted to support the specific needs of its student population should be top priorities for the school and district.

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%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Highlands Estates Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 3rd percentile in 2018 → 16th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 16th (2025) from a 3rd-percentile low (2018)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (40% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg53%

Florida avg58%

1,902^nd of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▲ up 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 4% (2016) to bottom 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

86^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	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 (2024-2025) ?

Math49%-11 vs state

Science42%-13 vs state

English Language Arts30%-26 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Highlands Estates Academy and help other families decide.

Rate Highlands Estates Academy

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Highlands Estates Academy

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)	EOC Civics (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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	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%)	20.2	1902^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	15.8%		10.2	2150^th of 2256 public elementary schools	4.7%	248	31.0	30.0	29.0			44.0	54.0	51.0			42.0		$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%)	21.9	1851^st of 2258 public elementary schools	18.0%		15.4	2022^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	10.4%	171	55.0	52.0	42.0	47.0	35.0	41.0	32.0	16.0	23.0	49.0	40.0	58.0	$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%)	33.3	1546^th of 2258 public elementary schools	31.5%		17.8	1962^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	13.0%	416	55.0	46.0	35.0			62.0	56.0	40.0			39.0		$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%)	47.6	1169^th of 2258 public elementary schools	48.2%		42.5	1277^th of 2256 public elementary schools	43.4%	108	42.0	47.0	45.0			65.0	80.0	73.0			40.0		$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%)	26.6	1739^th of 2258 public elementary schools	23.0%		21.5	1867^th of 2256 public elementary schools	17.2%	128	54.0	41.0	39.0			49.0	44.0	51.0			35.0		$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%)	59.4	896^th of 2258 public elementary schools	60.3%		63.7	782^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	65.3%	114	66.0	64.0	57.0			69.0	54.0	54.0			60.0		$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%)	25.3	1777^th of 2258 public elementary schools	21.3%		16.6	1993^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	11.7%	216	25.0	37.0	34.0			67.0	52.0	50.0			29.0		$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%)	37.7	1428^th of 2258 public elementary schools	36.8%		23.9	1804^th of 2256 public elementary schools	20.0%	376	29.0	42.0	48.0			46.0	70.0	65.0			50.0		$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%)	15.7	2020^th of 2258 public elementary schools	10.5%		17.6	1966^th of 2256 public elementary schools	12.9%	54	38.0	42.0	45.0			40.0	45.0	31.0			21.0		$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%)	64.2	777^th of 2258 public elementary schools	65.6%		49.5	1103^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	51.1%	326	62.0	51.0	62.0			61.0	73.0	67.0			67.0		$9,891	$944	$8,947

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Estates Academy

What district is Highlands Estates Academy in?

Duval

Is Highlands Estates Academy a good school?

Highlands Estates Academy ranks in the bottom 15.8% of Florida elementary schools.

How many students attend Highlands Estates Academy?

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

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 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

Rate Highlands Estates Academy!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

FLFlorida Elementary School Rankings

FLFlorida District Rankings

Schools in Jacksonville, FL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Highlands Estates Academy!

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.