Twin Lakes Academy Elementary School

Twin Lakes Academy Elementary School is a public school in Jacksonville, FL, serving 809 students in grades PK-5 within the Duval County School District, and it has experienced a significant decline over the past decade, dropping from a solid mid-tier performer to the 23rd percentile statewide.

The most pressing issue at Twin Lakes is a severe chronic absenteeism crisis, with 48.1% of students chronically absent in the 2023-2024 school year—far higher than the state average of 31.4% and dramatically worse than nearby high-performing schools like J. Allen Axson Elementary School (18.9%) and Chet's Creek Elementary School (24.2%). This absenteeism problem is strongly linked to the school's academic struggles, as its state ranking fell from the 65th percentile in 2016 to its lowest point in 2026, while nearby schools like Mandarin Oaks Elementary School have climbed to the 72nd percentile. The school particularly struggles in 5th grade, where only 43% of students are proficient in math and 46% in science, compared to district and state averages around 60%.

Despite these challenges, there is a bright spot: 4th-grade math has been a consistent strength, with 66% of students proficient in the most recent year, outperforming both the district and state averages. This suggests effective instruction in that grade that could serve as a model for improvement. The absenteeism problem is not unique to Twin Lakes, as nearby charter schools like Duval Charter At Baymeadows (42.4%) and Duval Charter School At Mandarin (43.5%) also face high rates, indicating a broader community challenge. For parents, the key takeaway is that Twin Lakes' leadership must prioritize aggressive attendance interventions as the foundational step to reversing its academic trajectory, as nearly half the student body missing critical instruction makes sustained progress difficult.