Featured image for “Grit and gain: How Duval Schools looks to curb chronic absenteeism”
The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
May 29, 2024

Grit and gain: How Duval Schools looks to curb chronic absenteeism

More than 27% of Duval County Public Schools students have missed at least four weeks of class this academic year.…

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Leaders in the Beaches communities are urging Duval County Public Schools not to make changes to schools in their communities. l Element5 Digital, Unsplash
April 16, 2024

Beaches leaders fight to preserve schools

Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach city councils voted to oppose the closure or consolidation of schools in their communities.…

Featured image for “Duval parents groups file no objections to textbooks”
The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
February 5, 2024

Duval parents groups file no objections to textbooks

Moms for Liberty and the Public School Defenders both reviewed science and social studies textbooks approved by Duval County Public…

Featured image for “Graduation rates hit record highs across First Coast”
The late Mary Ella Sams, left, helps Akira Roberson put on her graduation gown on May 23, 2023. Roberson was among 7.052 Duval County Public Schools students who graduated in the 2022-23 academic year. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 24, 2024

Graduation rates hit record highs across First Coast

In Duval County, 87.2% of students graduated in the 2022-23 academic year, the highest percentage in a nonpandemic year.…

Featured image for “Spring Park and Englewood communities seek clarity on school renovations”
Englewood Elementary Principal Hope Tepper speaks with parents during a working group meeting Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, inside the media center at Spring Park Elementary. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 17, 2024

Spring Park and Englewood communities seek clarity on school renovations

Some parents remain concerned about the size of the rebuilt Englewood and Spring Park elementary schools as well as who…

Featured image for “New grades set baseline for schools; St. Johns ranks 2nd in Florida”
December 13, 2023

New grades set baseline for schools; St. Johns ranks 2nd in Florida

Though the two scores are not apples-to-apples comparisons, all five Northeast Florida school districts earned the same grade they had…

Featured image for “Introducing the applicants for Duval schools superintendent”
Duval County School Board member Darryl Willie reviews the qualifications for superintendent that the board will consider this fall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 17, 2023

Introducing the applicants for Duval schools superintendent

Here’s a rundown on the 10 candidates for Duval County Schools superintendent. The School Board will consider them Wednesday.…

Featured image for “First new school opens in Duval under half-cent sales tax”
Rutledge H Pearson Elementary School sign l Steven Ponson
August 10, 2023

First new school opens in Duval under half-cent sales tax

Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School is the first new school to open in Duval County since 2011.…

Featured image for “Duval wants 1,000 Black and brown male teachers; it’s having a hard time keeping the ones it has ”
Jorge Estevez and Eligio Calatayud are Spanish teachers at Mandarin High School. Education is their second career, Estevez, left, had a background in law enforcement and Calatayud, right, spent decades in the financial services industry. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 4, 2023

Duval wants 1,000 Black and brown male teachers; it’s having a hard time keeping the ones it has 

Duval’s is facing dual challenges of attracting and retaining its male teachers as it tries to diversify staff to reflect…

Featured image for “OPINION | Duval Schools headquarters must stay Downtown”
The Duval County School Board administration building. Michael Rivera at Wikipedia
December 14, 2021

OPINION | Duval Schools headquarters must stay Downtown

Duval County Public Schools’ announcement that it plans to sell its Southbank headquarters and relocate is welcome news for those…

December 13, 2021

OPINION | When are we going to get back to normal?

My son lied to me about wearing his mask. He lied for nearly two weeks straight. I had been sending…

Featured image for “Duval students are growing more diverse, so DCPS wants teachers to be, too”
At San Jose Elementary in the Lakewood area, 45% of the student body are considered English language learners.
November 10, 2021

Duval students are growing more diverse, so DCPS wants teachers to be, too

When Ingrid Carias began working in the Duval County Public School system around 2014, there were about 5,500 students the…