DCPS has
163 regular-attendance schools as of the 2015-16 school year: 102
elementary schools, 24
middle schools, 1 K-6 school, 2
K-8 schools, 2
6-12 schools and 19
high schools. The district also has an
adult education system through its Bridge to Success program and Parent Academy, six dedicated
ESE schools, as well as a hospital/homebound program, virtual school, and six alternative education centers. DCPS has a wide variety of programs available to students within the district, and schools are categorized as either neighborhood, choice, or magnet schools.
Magnet & School Choice All DCPS schools offer at least one choice program, special program, or acceleration program to students. The majority of schools in Duval County are boundary-based and serve students residing within that boundary. Some schools, such as non-dedicated magnet schools serve both neighborhood students as well as students residing outside the school's specified boundary, who are selected via lottery. In February 2016, Duval County Public Schools received a 1.2 million dollar School Improvement Grant for use towards the development of STEM labs in 11 Title-1 schools. A total of 64 schools offer
magnet programs. In addition to the required courses, offer a theme or focus that allows students to explore a special interest, talent or skill in fields such as the arts, aviation, culinary skills, language, law & legal occupations, mathematics, public service, science and technology. Duval County Public Schools contains both dedicated magnets, which do not have set boundaries, and non-dedicated magnets, which are neighborhood schools that also have magnet programs.
Charter schools Duval County also contains 34
charter schools. These schools are located within the boundaries of Duval County, and operate under a state sanctioned contract with Duval County Public Schools. While publicly funded, DCPS does not oversee the daily operations and governance of charter schools. In 2024, 91% of traditional or boundary schools performed at the A, B, or C grade, while 78% of charter schools in Duval County scored an A, B, or C grade.
School standings In 2015,
Stanton College Preparatory School and
Paxon School for Advanced Studies were named of the top 25 most challenging high schools in the United States. Newsweek also publishes a "Catching Up" list of 33 disadvantaged schools nationwide that challenge their students to participate in Advanced Placement programs which offer better instruction and a stimulating curriculum designed to improve academic skills and prepare for college. Because fewer than 10% of those sitting for the exams actually pass, the schools are excluded from the Best High Schools list. For 2010, six of the top 11 schools and twelve of the top 22 were located in Jacksonville: In 2007, the district instituted the
Educators of Change program to identify future teachers among professionals and other individuals who have achieved success outside of the education field. On August 23, 2010,
Atlantic Coast High School opened for the 2010-2011 school year. It was the first new public high school built in the county since 1990 and cost $78 million. The school was constructed primarily to relieve overcrowding at the two largest high schools in Duval County, Sandalwood and Mandarin.
Student enrollment 128,702 Elementary - 56,668 Middle - 21,138 High - 30,455 Exceptional Schools - 1,441 Virtual School - 303 Alternative Schools -2,319 Charter Schools - 11,951 Graduation Rate:
78.8% Student ethnicity African American- 43% Caucasian - 34% Hispanic - 13% Multiracial - 5% Asian - 5% American Indian/Alaskan Native - <1% == Controversies ==