Westview K-8

Westview K-8 in Jacksonville, FL, is a large public school serving 1,221 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade within the Duval school district, where a majority of students (58%) qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Westview K-8 presents a complex picture. On one hand, it has a severe chronic absenteeism rate of 58%—the highest in the area and nearly double the state average—which is likely a primary driver of its low performance in core subjects like reading and math. For example, only 33% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 60% statewide. On the other hand, the school shows a remarkable "tale of two schools" in its test scores: a select group of students in advanced courses like Algebra 1 and Geometry significantly outperform both district and state averages (82% proficient in Algebra 1 vs. 63% statewide). This suggests the school effectively accelerates a small, high-performing subset of students while the majority struggle with grade-level fundamentals. Despite spending $12,158 per student—higher than nearby schools like Chimney Lakes Elementary ($9,631)—its core academic outcomes remain among the lowest in the comparison group.

Compared to its neighbors, Westview K-8 is a mixed bag. It outperforms the nearby Duval Charter School at Westside in almost every subject, particularly in advanced courses. However, it lags far behind Chimney Lakes Elementary, a 3-star school with lower poverty (46%), lower absenteeism (39.8%), and much higher proficiency in standard subjects (70% vs. 33% in 3rd Grade ELA). The school's inconsistent year-over-year test scores also point to a lack of stable instructional programs. For parents, the key takeaway is that without a drastic intervention to improve daily attendance, Westview K-8's overall academic standing is unlikely to improve, despite its pockets of excellence in advanced coursework.