Louis S. Sheffield Elementary School

Louis S. Sheffield Elementary School is a K-5 public school in Jacksonville, FL, serving 656 students in the Duval district, with a relatively low poverty rate of 33.84% eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Sheffield stands out as a "science powerhouse" in the district, with 73% of 5th graders proficient in science—17 points above the district average and 13 points above the state average. This consistent strength suggests a focused science curriculum. However, the school's English Language Arts (ELA) scores are more average, hovering near district and state levels, creating an interesting academic profile where one subject excels while another is merely solid. Math performance is consistently strong, especially in 4th grade where 72% of students were proficient, 11 points above the district average. The school has earned a stable 3-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past four years, ranking in the 56th percentile statewide.

Compared to nearby schools, Sheffield is a clear academic outlier. Its low poverty rate contrasts sharply with schools like Fort Caroline Elementary School (71.61% poverty) and Highlands Estates Academy (61.13% poverty), which struggle with high chronic absenteeism and very low test scores. Sheffield's chronic absenteeism rate of 36.2% is better than the district average of 44.8%. However, its closest comparable neighbor, New Berlin Elementary School, located just 1.61 miles away, has a similar poverty rate but outperforms Sheffield in nearly every subject and grade level, particularly in 3rd-grade ELA (78% vs. 59%) and math (78% vs. 58%). While Sheffield is a solid, middle-tier school with a standout science program, its main challenge is improving ELA scores to match its math and science performance and closing the gap with New Berlin.