Best Schools in Jacksonville, Florida
311 schools · 155 Elementary · 26 Middle · 47 High · 83 Other
Choosing a school in Jacksonville?
Use this page to compare every school in Jacksonville by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Oak Hill Academy
Elementary · Duval. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Samuel W. Wolfson High School
High · Duval. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Clay Hill Elementary School
Elementary · Clay. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Jacksonville for 2026 are Oak Hill Academy (9.2/10), Samuel W. Wolfson High School (8.9/10), and Clay Hill Elementary School (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 186 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
311
193 public · 118 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$252,686
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
311
193 public · 118 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$252,686
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 54% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Jacksonville schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Jacksonville
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 186 rated schools; 311 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Hill Academy | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Samuel W. Wolfson High School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Clay Hill Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Abess Park Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 5 | J. Allen Axson Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Duval Charter School at Southside | 8.4 / 10 |
| 7 | James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Kernan Trail Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Stanton College Preparatory | 8.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $66,368
- Median home value
- $252,686
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Jacksonville compares
Florida rank
#230 of 286
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Florida avg (6.3)
Median household income
$66k
89% of Florida median
Schools in this city
279
Education Snapshot
Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville serves approximately 140,134 students across 296 schools in 4 districts. The average MySchoolScout composite rating of 5.8/10 — based on 263 scored schools — trails the Florida state average of 6.3/10 by half a point. The level mix leans elementary: 151 elementary campuses against 45 high schools and 26 middle schools, plus 74 combined or alternative programs. Forty-three charter schools sit alongside traditional district schools, giving families a meaningful layer of choice. On income, Jacksonville's median household figure of $64,530 runs 15% below the Florida state median of $75,487; 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Both the composite score and the median income land below Florida state averages, and with 4 distinct districts, school quality is far from uniform — where a family lives within Jacksonville shapes which campuses are realistically available.
Duval runs Jacksonville's public schools
193 public schools. Duval is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Jacksonville is a Duval school (188 of 193).
Among 186 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 1.9 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Jacksonville, not a citywide average.
43 of the 193 public schools are charters (22%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Duval188 public · 97%
- Clay2 public · 1%
- Idea Public Schools2 public · 1%
- Osceola1 public · 1%
About Schools in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida gives parents a large and genuinely varied public school system to work through. With 184 ranked public schools and an average score of 5.6 out of 10, the city lands squarely in the middle of the performance range — meaning the difference between a strong and a weak assignment can be substantial depending on where a family lives.
The top tier is real but selective. Only 35 schools, or 19% of the city's ranked public schools, score 7 or higher out of 10. That concentration matters when families are drawing attendance boundaries or weighing a move. Central Riverside Elementary School leads the city with a 9.1, followed closely by River City Science Academy at Mandarin (8.8), Oak Hill Academy (8.6), River City Science Elementary Academy (8.5), and John Stockton Elementary (8.4). The top five are all elementary schools, and the River City Science network places two campuses in that group — worth noting for families who plan ahead to middle school.
The elementary tier is where Jacksonville's strongest options cluster. Parents with school-age children in the early grades have the most to gain from location and school-choice research, since several high-scoring elementaries are accessible through magnet or charter enrollment rather than address alone. The citywide average of 5.6 reflects a broad middle band of schools performing near or just below state expectations, with a tail of lower-scoring campuses that pull the mean down.
For practical planning, the 19% figure is the number to hold onto. In a city this size, one in five schools clears the high-performance bar — which means high-scoring options exist across multiple zip codes, but they are not the default. Families who rely solely on their neighborhood assignment have a meaningful chance of landing in the average band. Jacksonville rewards active research: cross-referencing school scores against enrollment windows, magnet lottery deadlines, and district transfer policies can open access to the top tier regardless of home address.
Elementary Schools
155 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 253 students · Pre-K–8th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 450 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 524 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 4 | 468 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 5 | 1,019 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.4 |
| 6 | 638 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.2 |
| 7 | 447 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 8 | 792 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 9 | 804 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 |
| 10 | 376 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
Show all 155 elementary schools in Jacksonville
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 957 students · 6th–8th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 861 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 384 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 993 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 1,084 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 1,143 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 1,022 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 8 | 875 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 9 | 611 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 10 | 875 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
Show all 26 middle schools in Jacksonville
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
47 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 978 students · 9th–12th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 1,283 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 1,285 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 989 students · 6th–12th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 837 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 1,331 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 1,053 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 |
| 8 | 978 students · 6th–12th | 6.3 |
| 9 | 667 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 10 | 232 students · 6th–12th | 6.3 |
Show all 47 high schools in Jacksonville
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
83 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 858 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 760 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.3 |
| 3 | 213 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 95 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 7.0 |
| 5 | 244 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.6 |
| 6 | 164 students · 4th–12th | 5.5 |
| 7 | 1,246 students · Kindergarten–11th | 5.2 |
| 8 | 931 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.0 |
| 9 | 127 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.9 |
| 10 | 88 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.7 |
Show all 83 other schools in Jacksonville
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida · 311 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 29 ZIP codes
Median Income
$66,368
Median Home Value
$252,686
Median Rent
$1,337/mo
Population
944,062
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
17.4%
Community Profile
Jacksonville has a median household income of $66,368. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $252,686, with a median rent of $1,337/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.4%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Florida
- Elementary
- 155
- Middle
- 26
- High
- 47
- Other
- 83
Resources
Other Major Cities in Florida
Top metros statewide by school count.
Featured Rankings
See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Jacksonville, Florida
How many schools are in Jacksonville, Florida?
Jacksonville has 311 schools, including 193 public and 118 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Jacksonville, Florida?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Jacksonville is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Jacksonville, Florida?
The top-ranked school in Jacksonville on MySchoolScout is Oak Hill Academy with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Jacksonville, Florida?
The top-ranked elementary school in Jacksonville on MySchoolScout is Oak Hill Academy with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Jacksonville, Florida?
The top-ranked middle school in Jacksonville on MySchoolScout is James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best high school in Jacksonville, Florida?
The top-ranked high school in Jacksonville on MySchoolScout is Samuel W. Wolfson High School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
How many school districts serve Jacksonville, Florida?
Jacksonville is served by 4 school districts: Idea Public Schools, Clay, Duval, Osceola.
What is the education level in Jacksonville, Florida?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Jacksonville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Jacksonville, Florida?
The median household income in Jacksonville is approximately $66,368 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Jacksonville, Florida?
Yes, Jacksonville has 118 private schools alongside 193 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Foundation Academy with a score of 9.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Jacksonville, Florida?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Jacksonville is 25.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Jacksonville, Florida?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Florida School Choice Guide: Public vs Private vs Charter — What the Data Showsguides
- Florida School Vouchers 2026: How to Compare Your Options Before the April 30 Deadlineschool choice
- Moving for Schools: How to Find the Best Schools Before You Relocateguides
- AI in Schools Keeps Making Headlines. Here's What's Actually Going On.ai in education
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Florida Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.