Summary:
Zip code 32256 in Jacksonville, Florida, is home to two high schools—Atlantic Coast High School and Duval Charter High School At Baymeadows—both part of the Duval school district, serving grades 9-12 in a suburban area with a mix of traditional and charter options.
Duval Charter High School At Baymeadows stands out as the top academic performer in the area, ranking 243rd out of 838 Florida high schools (71st percentile, 4-star rating) for 2025-2026, a significant jump from its 2024-2025 rank of 337. It excels in test scores, surpassing state averages in Biology (84%), Geometry (68%), and 10th Grade ELA (63%), and spends $9,312 per student—$937 more than its counterpart. In contrast, Atlantic Coast High School boasts a near-perfect graduation rate of 99.5%, well above the district (94.3%) and state (92.2%) averages, but its state ranking has declined to the 58th percentile (348th), driven by lower test proficiency, especially in Algebra 1 (44% vs. state 63%). Both schools face a critical challenge with chronic absenteeism: Duval Charter reports 59.4% and Atlantic Coast 48.9%, far exceeding the state average of 31.4%, which undermines their otherwise strong outcomes.
Key takeaways for parents include a clear trade-off: Duval Charter offers stronger academic growth and test scores, particularly in STEM subjects, while Atlantic Coast excels at ensuring students graduate. Both schools struggle with Algebra 1 proficiency, a foundational skill gap that could impact future math and science success. Duval Charter serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (46.86% free/reduced lunch) compared to Atlantic Coast (27.54%), yet its upward trajectory in state rankings suggests effective resource allocation. Overall, families in 32256 should weigh academic rigor and growth at Duval Charter against the near-guaranteed graduation rate at Atlantic Coast, while noting that chronic absenteeism is a systemic issue requiring attention at both schools.
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