Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary schools in Jacksonville, Florida (zip code 32216), all part of the Duval school district, serving grades PK through 5 (with one extending to 8th grade) and ranging from 380 to 579 students.
River City Science Elementary Academy is the clear academic leader, consistently earning 4 or 5 stars and outperforming district and state averages in all subjects, with an average proficiency of about 79%. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (24.3%) and the lowest per-student spending ($8,925), showing that success is driven by factors beyond money. In contrast, Duval Charter Scholars Academy has the highest economic need (84% free/reduced lunch) and the highest chronic absenteeism (53.1%), correlating with its low performance. Love Grove Elementary School is the lowest performer (40% average proficiency) despite spending the most per student ($15,120). Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School is the most improved, jumping from the 8th to the 45th percentile in one year, with 5th-grade science scores soaring from 36% to 67%.
Chronic absenteeism is a major issue, with five of six schools exceeding the state average of 31.4%. The charter school label is not a guarantee of quality, as River City Science excels while Duval Charter Scholars struggles. Holiday Hill Elementary School offers the smallest class sizes (13.1:1) and the lowest economic need (42% free/reduced lunch), while Greenfield Elementary School has high spending ($12,127 per student) but below-average test scores. Overall, parents should prioritize school-specific data over general labels, as performance varies widely even within the same zip code.
Thank you for your feedback!