Best Jacksonville Area School Districts [2023 Updated]

For many families with young children who are relocating to the Jacksonville area, the quality of the nearby school districts are often among the most important criteria when choosing a neighborhood. Luckily, Jacksonville is home to several top-rated school districts, and students of all ages have the opportunity to receive an excellent public school education. Jacksonville area school districts prioritize not only academics, but extracurricular activities like sports, clubs, and the arts. 

St. Johns County School District

St. Johns County School District is located in St. Augustine, and is rated the number one best school district in the state of Florida. The district services students in grades kindergarten through twelve through twenty-eight elementary schools, seventeen middle schools, and twelve high schools. St. John’s is also ranked number two on the list of the best school districts for Athletes in Florida.

St. Johns County’s Ponte Vedre High School is one of the best in the state for college prep, and 63% of students participate in the Advanced Placement, or AP program. St. Johns County offers a nurturing, enriching environment and an excellent opportunity to excel in both reading and math.

Clay County School District

Located in Green Cove Springs, Clay County School District is one of the most coveted school districts in the area. Clay County is home to an astounding thirty-eight elementary schools, thirteen middle schools, and fourteen high schools. Students perform well academically, but the district is also known for its diversity as well as student participation in sports, clubs, and other activities.

Clay County services students in pre-k through twelfth grade, and with a 20 to 1 student-teacher ratio, parents can have peace of mind knowing that their children are receiving personalized attention. Fleming Island Elementary School, Lakeside Junior High, and Oakleaf High School are some of the most beloved schools within the district.

Nassau County School District

Nassau County School District is situated in Fernandina Beach, and while it’s smaller than some of Jacksonville’s other top school districts, it rivals them in performance. Nassau County educates students in pre-k through grade twelve, and students benefit greatly from the low 18 to 1 student to teach ratio.

Nassau County boasts a ranking of number eight for districts with the best teachers in Florida, and the impact those teachers make is clear in the student’s high proficiency ratings in both reading and math. Students of the Nassau County School District go on to attend major universities including the University of North Florida, University of Florida, and Florida State University. Fernandina Beach High School, Hilliard Middle/Senior High School, and Hilliard Elementary school are only a few of the district’s noteworthy schools.

Duval County Public Schools

Duval County Public Schools is ranked as the third most diverse school district in the state of Florida, giving its students the rare and invaluable opportunity to be surrounded with other students from a myriad of backgrounds. The district is astonishingly large, and services over 126,000 pre-k through twelfth grade students.

Athletes thrive in the Duval County Public School District, and the average graduation rate is a respectable 87%. Some of the most acclaimed schools in the district include Hendricks Avenue Elementary School, James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School, and Stanton College Preparatory High School. Students in the Duval County Public School District also enjoy clubs and other after-school extracurricular activities.

Baker County School District

Macclenny is home to Baker County School District, which is one of the smallest in the region. Baker County School District services approximately 5,000 students, aged pre-k to twelfth grade. With such a small student body, Baker County is able to achieve an impressively low 19 to 1 student to teacher ratio. Some of the students’ favorite schools in the Baker County School District include MacClenny Elementary School, Baker County Middle School, and Baker County Senior High School.

Students of the Baker County School District are heavily involved in sports, and the district is ranked number seventeen for athletes in the state of Florida. Students achieve admission to some of the best universities in Florida, including the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, and University of Central Florida.