Summary:
In zip code 32656, there is one high school, Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School, serving grades 7 through 12 in the Keystone Heights area, which is part of the Clay County School District.
Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School is a school of contrasts. It has a strong graduation rate of 91.2%, though this is slightly below the district average of 95.0%. The school excels in Civics, with 84% of students proficient, and 8th Grade Math, where 73% are proficient—both well above state averages. However, it struggles significantly in other areas, such as 10th Grade English Language Arts (51% proficiency vs. 61% state average) and 7th Grade Math (44% proficiency vs. 53% state average). The most concerning metric is a chronic absenteeism rate of 39.2%, which is dramatically higher than both the district (26.7%) and state (31.4%) averages. This high absenteeism likely contributes to the school's declining state ranking, which has dropped from the 70th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 60th percentile (3 stars) for 2025-2026.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School offers some bright spots, particularly in Civics and 8th Grade Math, but faces serious challenges with chronic absenteeism and inconsistent performance across grade levels. The school serves a population where 59.61% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating economic challenges that may impact attendance and learning. The middle school years (7th and 8th grade) appear to be a critical point where students struggle, especially in math and English. While the school has dedicated teachers and some strong programs, the high absenteeism rate is a red flag that parents should investigate further, as it directly affects academic outcomes and overall school culture.
Thank you for your feedback!