Highlands Middle School

Highlands Middle School in Jacksonville, FL, serves 685 students in grades 6-8 within the Duval school district, and recent data reveals a school facing significant challenges, particularly a dramatic spike in chronic absenteeism that has reached 59.5%—nearly double the district average and far above the state average.

The most pressing issue at Highlands is its chronic absenteeism crisis, which skyrocketed from 16.4% in 2022-2023 to 59.5% in 2023-2024. This directly correlates with steep declines in academic performance, especially in math, where 6th-grade proficiency dropped from 55% to 24% over two years. While the school serves a predominantly low-income population (61.31% eligible for free/reduced lunch), its struggles are not solely tied to poverty. For example, nearby Somerset Academy-Middle Eagle Campus, just 0.29 miles away, serves a higher percentage of low-income students (78.53%) yet outperforms Highlands in nearly every subject, including 7th-grade math (50% vs. 20%) and 7th-grade ELA (58% vs. 23%). This suggests that school culture and instructional strategies play a critical role.

Despite these challenges, Highlands has a notable bright spot: its Algebra 1 program, where 79% of students are proficient, significantly exceeding both district (61%) and state (63%) averages. This indicates the school effectively supports its advanced math students, even as general math instruction struggles. With per-student spending ($8,934) similar to better-performing peers like Springfield Middle School ($8,878), the issue isn't funding but how resources are used. For parents, the key takeaway is that Highlands has potential, but addressing the absenteeism crisis and translating the success of its advanced math program to all students will be essential for improvement.