Summary:
The 11 schools in Jacksonville's 32211 zip code, serving elementary through high school grades within the Duval and Idea Public Schools districts, present a complex picture where standout successes in graduation and advanced coursework coexist with severe challenges in chronic absenteeism and overall academic proficiency.
Several schools defy the area's low overall performance. Terry Parker High School achieves a remarkable 96.8% graduation rate, far exceeding state averages, despite low test scores—a paradox suggesting strong student support systems. Arlington Middle School is an island of excellence for advanced coursework, with 89% of students proficient in Algebra 1 and 95% in Biology 1, dramatically outperforming district and state averages even as its overall state ranking is low. Arlington Elementary School stands out as the highest-ranked school in the zip code (32nd percentile) and a leader in elementary math, with 76% of 3rd graders proficient. In contrast, Lone Star High School faces a crisis with a 99.4% chronic absenteeism rate, a 40.5:1 student-teacher ratio, and near-zero test scores, while Woodland Acres Elementary School and Arlington Heights Elementary School show relative strength in elementary math compared to ELA.
Chronic absenteeism is a systemic issue, with 8 of 11 schools exceeding 40% absenteeism. The community is predominantly low-income, with free/reduced lunch eligibility ranging from 39% to 72%. There is no clear link between spending and performance; Bridgeprep Academy spends the most per student yet ranks in the 5th percentile. The two non-Duval schools, Idea River Bluff and Bridgeprep Academy, do not show a performance advantage over traditional public schools, indicating that school type matters less than the specific challenges of the student population and school leadership.
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