Summary:
This analysis examines nine elementary schools in Jacksonville, Florida’s 32209 zip code, all part of the Duval school district, serving grades Pre-K through 8th grade in a high-poverty area where the average free/reduced lunch rate is approximately 81.5%.
The standout school in this area is John E. Ford K-8 School, which consistently ranks in the 26th-32nd percentile statewide and achieved an 80% proficiency rate in Algebra 1 and 87% in Civics, far outperforming its peers. It also has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (51.19%). In contrast, Rufus E. Payne Elementary School shows extreme volatility, dropping from the 53rd percentile (3 stars) in 2024-2025 to the 12th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026, despite having the second-highest per-student spending ($20,797). Tiger Academy (37.3%) and R. V. Daniels Elementary School (32.3%) have the lowest chronic absenteeism rates in the zip code, close to the state average of 31.4%, a significant achievement given their high-poverty demographics.
Key metrics reveal a challenging environment: the average statewide rank for 2025-2026 is a very low 10th percentile, and the average chronic absenteeism rate is a staggering 56.6%, nearly double the state average. Per-student spending averages $15,362 but varies wildly from $10,026 at George Washington Carver Elementary to $27,312 at R. V. Daniels, yet higher spending does not guarantee better results. The most critical issue is chronic absenteeism, with Smart Pope Livingston Elementary and Susie E. Tolbert Elementary School both at a critical 76%. However, there are glimmers of hope, such as Rufus E. Payne achieving 62% proficiency in 3rd-grade Math and Tiger Academy achieving 63% in 4th-grade Math, proving high performance is possible even in this high-poverty context.
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