--- title: "Duval County Public Schools Athletics" url: https://stacklist.com/card/d33183e0-4b2f-44b2-8b3d-7c9df5afeeda source_url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duval_County_Public_Schools" stack: https://stacklist.com/c/sports/stack/0cbbda17-1a39-49b8-b77c-6a15f8e0c0a3 summary: "Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) is the public school district serving Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida, with 130,278 students across 196 schools and a $3.5 billion budget. As the 20th largest school district in the United States and 6th largest in Florida, it is governed by a seven-member school board and superintendent Christopher Bernier." tags: "duval-county, public-schools, florida, education, school-district, athletics" key_entities: "Duval County Public Schools (organization), Jacksonville, Florida (location), Duval County, Florida (location), Christopher Bernier (person), Charlotte Joyce (person), Florida Department of Education (concept), Florida Standard Assessments (event)" classification: "reference" content_hash: "sha256:c5110c9ca9073266034f240929ef82175cea99e08db7048eca5225b5711f09b7" acp_version: "0.2" token_counts_approximate: 5341 visibility: public agent_accessible: true status: "final" --- # Duval County Public Schools Athletics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Public school district in the United States {{Cite web|url=http://dcps.duvalschools.org/default.aspx/PageID=3D1|title=Duval County Public Schools / Homepage|website=dcps.duvalschools.org}}</ref>"},"established":{"wt":"{{Start date|1933}}"},"country":{"wt":"United States"},"location":{"wt":"1701 Prudential Drive, [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], [[Duval County, Florida|Duval County]], [[Florida]], 32207"},"superintendent":{"wt":"Christopher Bernier"},"schools":{"wt":"196<ref name=INFO />"},"budget":{"wt":"$3.5&nbsp;billion (FY2023)<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://dcps.duvalschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=13833&dataid=105611&FileName=ACFR%20-%20FINAL%2003.04.2024.pdf| title=Annual Comprehensive Financial Report: For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023| p=15}}</ref>"},"us_nces_district_id":{"wt":"<!-- {{NCES District ID||district_name=|access_date=}} -->"},"teachers":{"wt":"8,284<ref name=INFO>[http://dcps.duvalschools.org/domain/5268\"About US\"] DCPS website</ref>"},"free_label":{"wt":"Language"},"free_text":{"wt":"[[English language|English]] or bilingual with [[Spanish language|Spanish]]"},"website":{"wt":"{{URL|https://www.duvalschools.org/}}"},"students":{"wt":"130,278"}},"i":0}}]}'> Duval County Public Schools Location 1701 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville , Duval County , Florida , 32207 United States District information Motto Every School. Every Classroom. Every Student. Every Day. [ 1 ] Established 1933 ( 1933 ) Superintendent Christopher Bernier Schools 196 [ 2 ] Budget $3.5 billion (FY2023) [ 3 ] Students and staff Students 130,278 Teachers 8,284 [ 2 ] Other information Language English or bilingual with Spanish Website www .duvalschools .org Headquarters Duval County Public Schools ( DCPS ) is the public school district that serves the families and children residing in the urban, suburban, and rural areas of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida . As of 2015, the district had an enrollment of over 130,000 students, making it the 20th largest school district in the United States , and the 6th largest school district in Florida. The district's 196 schools are traditional neighborhood and magnet schools, charter schools, and alternative schools, all of which serve students of various needs. The district is managed by the Duval County School Board and the Superintendent, Christopher Bernier. Current Duval County School Board members are Anthony Ricardo, District 1; Vice Chairman April Carney, District 2; Cindy Pearson, District 3; Darryl Willie, District 4; Reginald K. Blount, District 5; Chairman Charlotte Joyce, District 6; and Melody A. Bolduc, District 7. [ 4 ] DCPS has achieved an overall ranking of “B,” according to the Florida Department of Education 's school grade system, which is based on the New Florida Standards and Florida Standard Assessments (FSA) test results. [ 5 ] Its boundaries parallel those of the county. [ 6 ] History [ edit ] In the spring of 1864, J.M. Hawks opened the first free public school in the state, located in Jacksonville. [ 7 ] The school was later branded as the Stanton Normal Institute in 1868, with a student body of 400. Duval County paved the way for public education in Florida by establishing the first stand-alone high school in 1877, and the first large-scale public school transportation system in 1898. [ 7 ] Leadership [ edit ] Duval County School Board [ edit ] Duval County Public Schools is governed by the Duval County School Board, a body of seven elected officers, each board member representing a particular geographic area. School Board districts are somewhat analogous to City Council districts in that there are two council districts in each school board district. Board members are elected every four years with two-term limits, with Districts 4 through 7 elected during midterm election cycles (next in 2026) and Districts 1 through 3 elected during presidential cycles (next in 2028). [ 8 ] Offices [ edit ] The district's administrative offices are primarily located on the south bank of the St. Johns River in a six-story building at 1701 Prudential Drive. [ 9 ] The building was constructed in 1980 and occupied since 1981. The structure is 45-years old and yearly maintenance exceeds $500,000. Since 2005, the district has explored opportunities to leave Prudential Drive. Its sale would allow for a larger, modern headquarters and generate funds for school repairs and replenish the capital reserve fund. It would also support downtown revitalization efforts. [ 10 ] [ 9 ] Superintendents [ edit ] Name Years 2024-present Christopher Bernier 2023-2024 Dana Kriznar 2018–2023 Diana Greene 2017–2018 Patricia Willis 2012–2017 Nikolai Vitti 2007–2012 Ed Pratt-Dannals 2005–2007 Joseph Wise 1998–2005 John Fryer 1989–1997 Larry Zenke 1976–1989 Herb Sang 1974–1976 John Gunning 1969–1974 Cecil Hardesty 1957–1969 Ishmael "Ish" Brant 1953–1957 Iva T. Sprinkle 1941–1953 Daniel Boyd 1933–1941 Robert C. Marshall 1928–1933 R. B. Rutherford 1924–1928 G. Elmer Wilbur Schools [ edit ] 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. [ 11 ] DCPS has used an attendance model of Kindergarten through Grade 5 for elementary schools , Grades 6-8 for middle school and Grades 9-12 for high school since 1991. Before then, Grade 6 was part of elementary school and Grade 9 was part of middle school (called Junior High in DCPS prior to 1988). Pre-Kindergarten education is available to all children from the age of 4 through the Early Learning Coalition of Duval's Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program. [ 12 ] 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 [ edit ] 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. [ 13 ] 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. [ 14 ] 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. [ 15 ] Charter schools [ edit ] Duval County also contains 34 charter schools . [ 16 ] 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 [ edit ] 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. [ 17 ] 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: [ 18 ] 1. Riverside 2. Baldwin (in Baldwin, Florida ) 8. Wolfson 9. Terry Parker 10. A. Philip Randolph 11. Ribault 12. First Coast 15. Ed White 18. Peterson Academy of Technology 19. Raines 20. Westside 22. Jackson 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. [ 19 ] Student enrollment [ edit ] 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% [ 20 ] Student ethnicity [ edit ] African American- 43% Caucasian - 34% Hispanic - 13% Multiracial - 5% Asian - 5% American Indian/Alaskan Native - <1% [ 11 ] Controversies [ edit ] On April 13, 2013, it was reported that towards the end of 2012, a teacher at Cedar Hills Elementary School had students in a 4th grade class write notes stating, "I am willing to give up some of my constitutional rights in order to be safer or more secure." The students were then told to sign the notes. Aaron Harvey, a father of one of the students, found his child's note, written in crayon, and brought it to public attention. [ 21 ] In response, Nikolai Vitti, then the superintendent of Duval County Public Schools, stated "The Justice Teaching activity on constitutional rights that was conducted at Cedar Hills Elementary School is consistent with our efforts to broaden civics-based education and develop critical thinking skills among our students. The lesson builds awareness of First Amendment rights through a partnership with an association of local attorneys. Our possible concern rests with a follow-up activity that may have been conducted after the lesson." [ 22 ] Renaming [ edit ] Following a petition with 160,000 signatures, Nathan Bedford Forrest High School (1959), originally an all-white school named in protest against school desegregation, renamed Westside High School in 2014 after decades of controversy. [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] Robert E. Lee High School was changed to Riverside High School Joseph Finegan Elementary School was changed to Anchor Academy Stonewall Jackson Elementary School was changed to Hidden Oaks Elementary School J. E. B. Stuart Middle School was changed to Westside Middle School Kirby-Smith Middle School was changed to Springfield Middle School Jefferson Davis Middle School was changed to Charger Academy See also [ edit ] Florida portal Schools portal List of schools in Duval County, Florida References [ edit ] ↑ "Duval County Public Schools / Homepage" . dcps.duvalschools.org . 1 2 "About US" DCPS website ↑ "Annual Comprehensive Financial Report: For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023" (PDF) . p. 15. ↑ "School Board" . Duval County Public Schools . Retrieved January 26, 2025 . ↑ Education, Florida Department of. "School Accountability Report" . schoolgrades.fldoe.org . Retrieved January 2, 2017 . ↑ Geography Division (December 23, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Duval County, FL (PDF) (Map). Suitland, Maryland : U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved January 25, 2026 . - Text list 1 2 "Duval County Public Schools Timeline of Major Events" (PDF) . www.jaxcf.org . ↑ "School Board / Contact Board Office" . dcps.duvalschools.org . Retrieved February 18, 2016 . 1 2 Bloch, Emily. "Duval School Board votes to consider selling riverfront property" . jacksonville.com . Florida Times-Union . Retrieved February 14, 2026 . ↑ "District headquarters relocation plans" . duvalschools.org . Duval County Public Schools . Retrieved February 14, 2026 . 1 2 "FL Department of Education : View Report" . fldoe.org . Retrieved January 19, 2019 . ↑ "The Early Learning Coalition of Duval" . ↑ "Access Denied" (PDF) . www.duvalschools.org . Retrieved February 18, 2016 . ↑ "DCPS RECEIVES MILLION DOLLAR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUNDS TO SUPPORT SELECT ELEMENTARY STEM INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND EQUIPMENT" . ↑ "School Choice/ Magnet / Duval Choice" . www.duvalschools.org . Retrieved February 18, 2016 . ↑ "Untitled Page" . www.floridaschoolchoice.org . Retrieved February 18, 2016 . ↑ Mathews, Jay (April 19, 2015). "America's Most Challenging High Schools national top 25 list for 2015" . The Washington Post . ISSN 0190-8286 . Retrieved February 3, 2016 . ↑ Mathews, Jay: "America’s Best High Schools: The Catching-Up List" Newsweek, July 14, 2010 ↑ Burmeister, Caren: “New boundaries, new school changes enrollment” Florida Times-Union, July 30, 2010 ↑ "PK-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL DATA PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS" . October 16, 2020. ↑ Brown, Stephanie (April 14, 2013). "Duval schools: "Possible concern" over 4th grade activity on giving up constitutional rights" . WOKV.com . Retrieved April 19, 2013 . ↑ Malloy, Sade (April 13, 2013). "Jacksonville parents concerned about son's First Amendment lesson" . First Coast News . Retrieved April 20, 2013 . ↑ "Florida high school at last breaks ties with Confederate past" . Tampa Bay Times . December 17, 2013 . Retrieved August 19, 2017 . ↑ Strauss, Valerie (December 16, 2013). "School named after KKK grand wizard to be renamed — finally" . The Washington Post . Retrieved February 22, 2018 . ↑ Pearson, Michael (December 17, 2013). "Florida school will drop Confederate Nathan B. Forrest's name" . CNN . Retrieved February 22, 2018 . External links [ edit ] Duval County Public Schools Official Website School Board information v t e Duval County Public Schools High schools Douglas Anderson Atlantic Coast Baldwin Darnell Cookman Englewood First Coast Fletcher Jackson Mandarin Terry Parker Paxon Peterson Raines Randolph Ribault Riverside Sandalwood Stanton Westside Ed White Wolfson Middle schools Arlington Baldwin Eugene Butler Darnell-Cookman Jefferson Davis Alfred I. DuPont Duncan Fletcher John E. Ford Fort Caroline Matthew Gilbert Highlands James Weldon Johnson Kernan Kirby Smith Lake Shore Landmark Julia Landon College Prep LaVilla School of the Arts Mandarin Mayport Northwestern Oceanway Paxon Jean Ribault Southside Joseph Stilwell J.E.B. Stuart Twin Lakes Academy Elementary schools Abess Park Alimacani Arlington Arlington Heights Atlantic Beach J. Allen Axson Bank of America Learning Academy Bartram Springs Bayview Beauclerc Biltmore Biscayne Brentwood Don Brewer Brookview Richard L. Brown George W. Carver Cedar Hills Central Riverside Chaffee Trail Chets Creek Chimney Lakes Crown Point Crystal Springs Lola M. Culver R. V. Daniels Dinsmore Englewood Enterprise Learning Academy Saint Clair Evans Academy Joseph Finegan Fishweir John E. Ford Fort Caroline Garden City Greenfield Greenland Pines Gregory Drive Hendricks Avenue Highlands Hogan-Spring Glen Holiday Hill Samuel A. Hull Hyde Grove Hyde Park Stonewall Jackson Jacksonville Beach Jacksonville Heights Thomas Jefferson Mamie Agnes Jones Justina Road Kernan Trail Martin Luther King Kings Trail Henry F. Kite Lake Forest Lake Lucina S. P. Livingston Lone Star Long Branch Loretto Love Grove John Love Mandarin Oaks Sallye B. Mathis Mayport Merrill Road Annie R. Morgan Neptune Beach New Berlin Normandy Village North Shore Norwood Oak Hill Oceanway Ortega Parkwood Heights Rufus E. Payne Rutledge H. Pearson Pickett Pine Estates Pine Forest Pinedale Ramona Boulevard Reynolds Lane Andrew A. Robinson Sabal Palm San Jose San Mateo San Pablo Seabreeze Louis Sheffield Southside Estates Spring Park John N. C. Stockton Sadie T. Tillis Timucuan Susie E. Tolbert Twin Lakes Academy Ruth N. Upson Venetia Wesconnett West Jacksonville West Riverside Whitehouse Windy Hill Woodland Acres Carter G. Woodson Alternative schools Grand Park Center Marine Science Education Center Mattie V. Rutherford Alternative Education Center Exceptional student centers Alden Road Exceptional Student Center Mt. Herman Exceptional Student Center Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center Charter schools Global Outreach Charter Academy School of Integrated Academics Tech SOS Academy - Middle SOS Academy - High Wayman Academy of the Arts Pathway Academy River City Science Academy v t e City of Jacksonville General Climate Businesses Downtown Government Famous Jacksonvillians Flag History Mayors Duval County Non-profit organizations Skyscrapers Neighborhoods Beaches Atlantic Beach Jacksonville Beach Mayport Neptune Beach Downtown Brooklyn LaVilla Northbank Southbank Arlington Bayard Baymeadows Deerwood Eastside Garden City Mandarin Murray Hill New Town Nocatee Northside Oakleaf Plantation Oceanway Ortega Riverside and Avondale San Jose San Marco Southside Southpoint Springfield St. Nicholas Sunbeam Tallulah-North Shore Westside Baldwin Suburbs Baker County Glern St. Mary Macclenny Sanderson Clay County Green Cove Springs Lakeside Orange Park Nassau County Amelia Island Callahan Fernandina Beach Hilliard Nassau Village-Ratliff Yulee St. Johns County Butler Beach Crescent Beach Flagler Estates Fruit Cove Hastings Marineland Nocatee Palm Valley Ponte Vedra Ponte Vedra Beach St. Augustine St. Augustine Beach St. Augustine Shores St. Augustine South St. Johns Sawgrass Vilano Beach World Golf Village Events Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Florida–Georgia football game Gate River Run Gator Bowl Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair Jacksonville Film Festival Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament Jacksonville Pride Mug Race Springing the Blues Players Championship World of Nations Celebration Cancelled 2020 Republican National Convention plans Attractions Jacksonville Maritime Museum Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville Museum of Science and History Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Jacksonville Fire Museum Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery Bryan-Gooding Planetarium Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Education Duval County Public Schools Edward Waters University Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville University Jones College UF Health Jacksonville University of North Florida Media WJXT 4 WJCT 7 WTLV 12 WCWJ 17 WPXC 21 WJXX 25 WFOX 30 WBXJ-CD 43 WJAX 47 WJEB 59 EU Jacksonville Jacksonville Daily Record The Florida Star The Florida Times-Union Folio Weekly Jacksonville Business Journal Jacksonville Magazine Metro Jacksonville Transportation Jacksonville Transportation Authority Amtrak CSX Corporation Florida East Coast Railway Rosa Parks Transit Station RailAmerica Jacksonville Skyway Jacksonville International Airport Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport JAXPORT Cruise Terminal Herlong Recreational Airport Cecil Airport State Road A1A I-95 I-295 I-10 US 90 US 17 US 23 US 1 Sports Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Icemen Jacksonville Sharks Super Bowl XXXIX Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Jacksonville Giants Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville TIAA Bank Field VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Parks Fort Clinch State Park Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park Big Talbot Island State Park Little Talbot Island State Park Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park Anastasia State Park Amelia Island State Park Fort George Island Cultural State Park George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park Fort Caroline National Memorial Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Fort Matanzas National Monument Kingsley Plantation Riverfront Plaza Tree Hill Nature Center Jacksonville National Cemetery Palm and Cycad Arboretum Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens Shopping malls St. Johns Town Center River City Marketplace The Avenues Regency Square Mall Orange Park Mall Shoppes_of_Avondale Gateway Town Center Deerwood Village Mall Grand Boulevard Mall Hospitals Baptist Medical Center Downtown Baptist Medical Center Beaches Brooks Rehabilitation Baptist Medical Center South Memorial Hospital Jacksonville Mayo Clinic Florida Naval Hospital Jacksonville Nemours Children's Hospital Speciality Hospital St. Vincent's Medical Center Southside St. Vincent's Medical Center Riverside Ten Broeck Hospital UF Health Jacksonville Wolfson Children's Hospital St. Catherine Labouré Manor Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National United States Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Duval_County_Public_Schools&oldid=1361227684 " Categories : Duval County Public Schools School districts in Florida Government of Jacksonville, Florida Education in Jacksonville, Florida 1864 establishments in Florida School districts established in 1864 Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Use American English from February 2025 All Wikipedia articles written in American English Use mdy dates from July 2023