Jacksonville's educational landscape is served primarily by Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), a district coextensive with the consolidated city-county boundary. The district operates an extensive magnet and advanced-curriculum network that, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2026 rankings as reported by Action News Jax, places four DCPS high schools among Florida's top 26. At the postsecondary level, the University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville together serve tens of thousands of students within city limits, and Jacksonville University operates as an independent private institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs.
School district
Duval County Public Schools is the sole traditional public K-12 district serving Jacksonville, governed by an elected Duval County School Board and administered by Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier, appointed by unanimous board vote in May 2024 following a nationwide search, as reported by News4Jax. The National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data records 12,292 total staff for the 2024–2025 school year. In 2024, the Florida Department of Education assigned DCPS an overall B grade under a new state scoring model, with 91 percent of traditional boundary schools earning A, B, or C grades, per the official DCPS announcement. By 2025, DCPS advanced to an A — the first A grade in district history, according to News4Jax. On the facilities side, Duval County voters approved a half-penny sales tax in 2020 to fund school construction and renovation; the DCPS new schools tracking page documents replacement projects for Spring Park and Pickett elementaries among those underway, while First Coast News reported that rising construction costs have prompted school board deliberations over consolidations alongside new builds.
Schools in Schools in Jacksonville, Florida
Stanton College Preparatory School
Stanton College Preparatory School is a magnet high school within Duval County Public Schools, drawing students citywide. According to U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2026 Best High Schools rankings, as reported by Action News Jax, Stanton ranked sixth in Florida and 65th nationally — the highest-ranked school in the DCPS system. The college-preparatory curriculum serves students selected through the district's magnet application process.
More on Stanton College Preparatory SchoolPaxon School for Advanced Studies
Paxon School for Advanced Studies is a magnet high school operated by Duval County Public Schools. U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2026 Best High Schools rankings, as reported by Action News Jax, placed Paxon 18th in Florida and 151st nationally. The school emphasizes advanced academic coursework and draws applicants from across the consolidated city-county area through the DCPS magnet selection process.
More on Paxon School for Advanced StudiesSamuel W. Wolfson High School
Samuel W. Wolfson High School is a public high school within Duval County Public Schools. U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2026 Best High Schools rankings, as reported by Action News Jax, ranked Wolfson 23rd in Florida and 232nd nationally. The school operates as part of the DCPS system serving Jacksonville's consolidated city-county area and is documented among the top-performing high schools in northeast Florida.
More on Samuel W. Wolfson High SchoolDarnell Cookman Middle/High School
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School is a combined middle and high school campus within Duval County Public Schools' magnet network. U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2026 Best High Schools rankings, as reported by Action News Jax, placed Darnell Cookman 26th in Florida. The school's combined grade configuration spans middle and high school levels, serving students through the DCPS magnet application process.
More on Darnell Cookman Middle/High SchoolDouglas Anderson School of the Arts
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts is a performing arts magnet high school operated by Duval County Public Schools, drawing students from across the consolidated city-county area. The school offers focused programs in visual art, music, theater, and dance, functioning — as the research brief notes — as a community institution within Jacksonville's cultural life. Students apply through the DCPS magnet selection process for admission to discipline-specific programs.
More on Douglas Anderson School of the ArtsUniversity of North Florida
The University of North Florida was established in 1969 and opened in 1972, according to the Florida Board of Governors. The institution enrolls nearly 17,000 students on a 1,000-acre campus within Jacksonville's city limits. UNF operates Division I athletics and hosts cultural events open to the broader community. As a member of the State University System of Florida, it is governed by the Florida Board of Governors and a local Board of Trustees.
More on University of North FloridaFlorida State College at Jacksonville
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is a public state college serving Jacksonville with multiple campuses across the consolidated city-county area. Per the institution's official website, FSCJ offers Associate of Arts degrees, Associate of Science degrees, bachelor's degrees, career certificates, adult basic education, and dual enrollment options for Duval County high school students — providing a range of pathways from workforce training through transfer-ready undergraduate preparation.
More on Florida State College at JacksonvilleSources
- U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023 https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs Used for: Population (961,739), median age (36.4), median household income ($66,981), poverty rate (15%), unemployment rate (4.5%), labor force participation (76.2%), median home value ($266,100), median gross rent ($1,375), owner/renter occupancy rates, educational attainment (21.6% bachelor's or higher)
- City of Jacksonville — NLC Report on City-County Consolidation https://www.jacksonville.gov/city-council/docs/reports/consolidation-task-force/nlc-citycountyconsolidation.aspx Used for: Consolidation history: overlapping services, declining tax base, suburban population shift as rationale for merger
- City of Jacksonville — Consolidation History (Rinaman document) https://www.jacksonville.gov/city-council/docs/consolidation-task-force/consolidation-history-rinaman Used for: Pre-consolidation civic dysfunction, discredited schools as documented civic failure
- News4Jax — Jacksonville and Duval County Consolidated 55 Years Ago https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/09/29/the-city-of-jacksonville-and-duval-county-consolidated-into-one-government-55-years-ago/ Used for: Consolidation referendum vote count (54,493 to 29,768), effective date October 1, 1968
- Duval County Public Schools — 2024 School Grades Announcement (Official) https://dcps.duvalschools.org/article/1691907 Used for: DCPS overall B grade in 2024, 91% of traditional schools earning A/B/C, Florida DOE new scoring model, Superintendent Bernier quote, 3 percentage points from A
- News4Jax — DCPS Earns First-Ever A Grade, 2025 https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2025/07/07/dcps-went-from-a-b-to-an-a-district-this-year-heres-how-all-northeast-florida-school-districts-performed/ Used for: DCPS achieving first-ever A district grade in 2025, Superintendent Bernier statement on collective effort
- Action News Jax — Top High Schools Jacksonville Area 2025–2026 (U.S. News & World Report) https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/top-high-schools-jacksonville-area-2025-according-us-news-world-report/WIFGV5UOEREONJ3DLQD5E4BHEY/ Used for: Stanton College Prep No. 6 FL / 65th nationally; Paxon School for Advanced Studies No. 18 FL / 151st nationally; Wolfson High No. 23 FL / 232nd nationally; Darnell Cookman No. 26 FL
- News4Jax — Duval County School Board Names Christopher Bernier Superintendent https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2024/05/23/duval-county-school-board-to-announce-pick-for-new-dcps-superintendent-thursday-morning/ Used for: Bernier appointment as DCPS superintendent, unanimous school board vote, May 2024, nationwide search
- NCES Common Core of Data — Duval County Public Schools District Detail 2024–2025 https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=1200480 Used for: DCPS total staff count of 12,292 for 2024–2025 school year
- Florida Board of Governors — University of North Florida https://www.flbog.edu/university/university-of-north-florida/ Used for: UNF established 1969, opened 1972, 1,000-acre campus, enrollment of nearly 17,000 students
- Florida State College at Jacksonville — Official Website https://www.fscj.edu/ Used for: FSCJ program offerings: AA degrees, AS degrees, bachelor's degrees, career certificates, dual enrollment for high school students, adult basic education
- City of Jacksonville Office of Economic Development — Jacksonville's Military Presence https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/office-of-economic-development/about-jacksonville/jacksonville%E2%80%99s-military-presence Used for: Military installations: NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, Kings Bay, Camp Blanding, Naval Aviation Depot, Marine Corps Blount Island Command; Florida Military & Defense Economic Impact Summary January 2024
- Navy MWR Jacksonville — NAS Jacksonville Overview https://www.navymwrjacksonville.com/ Used for: NAS Jacksonville acreage (3,800+ acres), location on St. Johns River, 100+ aircraft
- Duval County Public Schools — New Schools Tracking Page (half-penny sales tax) https://dcps.duvalschools.org/newschools Used for: Half-penny sales tax voter approval 2020, construction projects underway including Spring Park and Pickett elementary replacements
- First Coast News — Which Schools Will Duval Close to Manage Construction Costs https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/education/which-schools-will-duval-close-to-manage-soaring-construction-costs-dcps-westside-high-atlantic-beach-elementary/77-3b110a16-174a-4fed-b009-70cf3aadd300 Used for: Budget pressures, enrollment-driven school consolidation considerations, Pickett Elementary details, school board deliberations on facility plan
- News4Jax — Duval County School Board Master Facility Plan Final Vote, November 2024 https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2024/11/04/ahead-of-final-vote-on-master-facility-plan-duval-county-school-board-lays-out-long-term-focus-for-new-builds-closures/ Used for: Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary opening 2027–28, facility plan updates, schools removed from current half-penny plan, long-term build schedule