Summary:
In zip code 32211, there is one middle school, Arlington Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in Jacksonville, Florida, within the Duval County school district.
Arlington Middle School presents a unique and uneven academic profile. The school is a standout for its exceptional performance in advanced high school-level courses, with 89% of students proficient in Algebra 1 and 95% in Biology 1 on the 2025-2026 End-of-Course exams—rates that far exceed both district and state averages. However, this success contrasts sharply with very low proficiency in grade-level core subjects. For the same year, only 17% of 8th graders were proficient in Science, and English Language Arts proficiency across all grades ranged from just 24% to 29%, roughly half the state average. This "two schools" phenomenon suggests that while a small cohort of advanced students thrives, the majority struggle to meet grade-level benchmarks. The school's overall state ranking is consistently in the bottom 10% of Florida middle schools (8th percentile for 2025-2026), reflecting this core academic challenge.
Key metrics provide additional context. Chronic absenteeism stands at 30.9%, which is significantly better than the district average of 44.8% and near the state average, a positive sign given that 63% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The student-teacher ratio is 19.5 to 1, and per-student spending is $11,263. While the school has shown slight, inconsistent improvement in some areas from the previous year, the large achievement gaps in Civics (46% proficiency) and 8th Grade Science (17% proficiency) raise concerns about readiness for high school. The spending level does not appear to be translating into strong outcomes for the majority of students, highlighting questions about resource allocation and instructional effectiveness.
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