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Highlands Middle School

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

1069^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,205 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 11% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Highlands Middle School is a public magnet middle school in Jacksonville, Florida, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 689 students. The school is part of the Duval school district, which is ranked 54 out of 67 districts in Florida and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Highlands Middle School has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Florida middle schools over the past several years.

Highlands Middle School faces significant challenges, including extremely high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 30.9% to 59.5%, well above the district and state averages. The school also consistently underperforms the district and state on standardized tests, with only 25-37% of students proficient in FAST English Language Arts and Math, compared to 48-60% at the district level and 55-60% statewide. Additionally, Highlands has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 67.05% to 74.31%, indicating a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students.

When comparing Highlands Middle School to nearby schools in the Duval district, it becomes clear that Highlands is one of the lowest-performing schools in the area. For example, James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School, located just 6.76 miles away, consistently ranks in the top 10% of Florida middle schools and outperforms Highlands across all academic metrics. Despite the relatively high per-student spending at Highlands, the school has not shown significant improvement in its academic performance or statewide ranking over the past several years, suggesting the need for a comprehensive and targeted approach to address the unique challenges facing the school.

685

Students ?

22.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,934

Per pupil spending ?

61.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10913 Pine Estates Rd E
Jacksonville, FL 32218

(904) 696-8771

District: Duval

Racial breakdown:

African American:

75.5%

Hispanic:

9.8%

White:

9.2%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 13th percentile in 2014 → 11th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (36% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (60% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

District avg50%

Florida avg58%

1,069^th of 1,205

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 11%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

17^th of 26Middle 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	14.7	1069 of 1205	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.9	945 of 1196	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.3	907 of 1177	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.4	940 of 1148	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.9	1002 of 1136	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.0	981 of 1099	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.8	940 of 1035	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	18.9	857 of 1031	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.0	863 of 997	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	14.6	871 of 999	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	14.9	819 of 956	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	19.8	734 of 897	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	16.5	750 of 891	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	17.9	699 of 839	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	20.7	630 of 780	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	27.4	569 of 740	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	20.5	599 of 736	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	22.5	530 of 675	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	17.0	518 of 602	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	24.6	474 of 593	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Algebra 181%+21 vs state

Civics56%-15 vs state

Science32%-17 vs state

Math31%-25 vs state

English Language Arts28%-29 vs state

5.0

1 rating

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4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Highlands Middle 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)		EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Biology 1 (2025)	EOC US History (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 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 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 Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highlands Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	10913 Pine Estates Rd E	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	Yes	(904) 696-8771	685	31	22.0	61.3%	63 (9.2%)	517 (75.5%)	67 (9.8%)	5 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	28 (4.1%)	14.7	1069^th of 1205 public middle schools	11.3%		23.9	945^th of 1196 public middle schools	21.0%	124			25.0	28.0	31.0			37.0	17.0	37.0		32.0	81.0				56.0	$8,934	$1,166	$7,769
Somerset Academy-Middle Eagle Campus	Public, Charter	6-8	2100 Dunn Ave	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	Yes	No	No	Yes	(904) 503-0661	177	9	19.6	78.5%	9 (5.1%)	150 (84.7%)	11 (6.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.4%)	34.2	832^nd of 1205 public middle schools	31.0%		32.9	825^th of 1196 public middle schools	31.0%	7			50.0	50.0	43.0			55.0	60.0	23.0		25.0	78.0				58.0	$9,866	$1,461	$8,405
Jean Ribault Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3610 Ribault Scenic Dr	Jacksonville	32208	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	Yes	(904) 924-3062	530	33	16.0	70.8%	27 (5.1%)	457 (86.2%)	34 (6.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.9%)	16.8	1049^th of 1205 public middle schools	12.9%		17.5	1033^rd of 1196 public middle schools	13.6%	16			30.0	36.0	36.0			36.0	28.0	38.0		22.0	87.0				63.0	$12,483	$1,706	$10,778
Oceanway School	Public	6-8	143 Oceanway Ave	Jacksonville	32218	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 714-4680	828	43	19.2	47.3%	282 (34.1%)	376 (45.4%)	80 (9.7%)	26 (3.1%)	6 (0.7%)	4 (0.5%)	54 (6.5%)	28.9	903^rd of 1205 public middle schools	25.1%		34.6	799^th of 1196 public middle schools	33.2%	104			41.0	43.0	43.0			44.0	24.0	59.0		32.0	79.0		95.0		72.0	$9,607	$1,107	$8,501
The Bridge To Success Academy Middle School	Public	4-8	5443 Moncrief Rd	Jacksonville	32209	Duval County	Duval	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(904) 924-3035	388	20	19.4	79.9%	25 (6.4%)	327 (84.3%)	28 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	9.6	1113^th of 1205 public middle schools	7.6%					(n/a)	6.0	20.0	28.0	22.0	22.0	10.0	5.0	19.0	36.0	27.0	15.0	13.0					34.0	$12,344	$2,449	$9,895
Springfield Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2034 Hubbard St	Jacksonville	32206	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	No	(904) 630-6600	850	40	21.2	44.1%	77 (9.1%)	674 (79.3%)	46 (5.4%)	12 (1.4%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	36 (4.2%)	47.9	626^th of 1205 public middle schools	48.0%		44.6	665^th of 1196 public middle schools	44.4%	39			57.0	51.0	56.0			64.0	51.0	31.0		48.0	83.0	77.0	94.0		69.0	$8,878	$901	$7,976
Mattie V Rutherford Alt Educational Center	Public	4-8	1514 Hubbard St	Jacksonville	32206	Duval County	Duval	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 630-6782	67	12	5.5	86.6%	4 (6.0%)	55 (82.1%)	5 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.5%)	2.2	1191^st of 1205 public middle schools	1.2%		2.5	1184^th of 1196 public middle schools	1.0%	7			11.0	8.0	9.0			11.0	11.0	9.0		0.0				10.0	23.0
Young Mens/Womens Leadership Academy At Eugene J Butler	Public, Magnet	6-8	900 Acorn St	Jacksonville	32209	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	Yes	(904) 630-6900	281	15	18.7	71.2%	17 (6.0%)	236 (84.0%)	19 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.2%)	13.6	1077^th of 1205 public middle schools	10.6%		15.4	1048^th of 1196 public middle schools	12.4%	29			25.0	28.0	27.0			23.0	23.0	43.0		37.0	71.0				61.0	$13,962	$1,472	$12,491
James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3276 Norman E Thagard Blvd	Jacksonville	32254	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	No	(904) 693-7600	980	43	22.7	23.6%	290 (29.6%)	400 (40.8%)	93 (9.5%)	132 (13.5%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	60 (6.1%)	88.8	91^st of 1205 public middle schools	92.4%		88.1	107^th of 1196 public middle schools	91.1%	16			83.0	84.0	80.0			85.0		76.0		89.0	82.0	97.0	82.0		95.0	$8,163	$581	$7,582
Fort Caroline Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3787 University Club Blvd	Jacksonville	32277	Duval County	Duval	No	Yes	No	Yes	(904) 745-4927	401	22	18.2	50.6%	74 (18.5%)	256 (63.8%)	39 (9.7%)	8 (2.0%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	19 (4.7%)	26.5	926^th of 1205 public middle schools	23.2%		24	940^th of 1196 public middle schools	21.4%	14			42.0	41.0	43.0			39.0	50.0	34.0		31.0	59.0		100.0		53.0	$11,370	$1,160	$10,210

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Middle School

How many students attend Highlands Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 685 students attended Highlands Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Highlands Middle School?

Students at Highlands Middle School are 75% African American, 10% Hispanic, 9% White, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Highlands Middle School in?

Duval

Is Highlands Middle School a good school?

Highlands Middle School ranks in the bottom 11.3% of Florida middle schools.

Rate Highlands Middle 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.