Summary:
The five schools in Jacksonville's 32244 zip code, all part of the Duval school district, serve primarily elementary students with four elementary schools and one high school, and face significant challenges with chronic absenteeism and academic proficiency.
Chimney Lakes Elementary School stands out as the clear academic leader, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 58th percentile statewide, while the other three elementary schools—Sadie T. Tillis Elementary School, Timucuan Elementary School, and Jacksonville Heights Elementary School—all rank in the bottom 18th percentile or lower. Chimney Lakes also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (39.8%) and the lowest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (46.15%) among the elementary schools, suggesting a strong link between attendance, economic stability, and academic success. In contrast, Jacksonville Heights Elementary is the lowest-performing school with a 0-star rating and the highest per-student spending ($10,843), yet its test scores are consistently 20-30 percentage points below state averages.
The most alarming statistic across the area is chronic absenteeism, with an average rate of 56.9%—far exceeding the state average of 31.4%. Westside High School exemplifies this crisis with a 64.5% chronic absenteeism rate, despite a graduation rate of 93.8% that masks its poor academic proficiency (only 25% of 9th graders proficient in ELA). This disconnect suggests students may be graduating without mastering essential skills. For parents, the data shows that Chimney Lakes Elementary is the strongest choice for elementary education, while the high school and other elementary schools face deep-rooted challenges that require urgent attention to attendance and academic support.
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