News Summary
Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) has reached a historic milestone by earning an A grade for the first time, significantly improving from a B grade. Governor Ron DeSantis announced this achievement during his visit to Oceanway Elementary School. DCPS led educational progress in Florida, with impressive gains in student performance. The district plans to celebrate this accomplishment through a year-long campaign titled ‘Duval Delivers,’ designed to highlight school success stories and enhance community engagement in education.
Jacksonville – Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) has achieved a historic milestone by earning an A grade for the first time ever, as announced by Governor Ron DeSantis during a recent visit to Oceanway Elementary School. This significant achievement marks a notable progression from the previous B grade held by the district.
In the 2024-2025 school year, DCPS was among 28 school districts across Florida that achieved an A grade. In addition, 31 districts received a B grade, while only eight managed to secure a C grade. Importantly, there were no districts that received a D or F grade, indicating an overall improvement in educational standards across the state.
This year, DCPS have registered considerable gains in student performance. Notably, language arts scores for grades 3-10 saw a remarkable increase of 21 percentage points, while math scores for grades 3-8 surged by 44 percentage points. As part of their efforts to enhance educational quality, ten schools in the district improved their ratings by two letter grades, including Andrew Jackson High, Annie R. Morgan Elementary, Holiday Hill Elementary, Jean Ribault High, Landmark Middle, Long Branch Elementary, Northwestern Legends Elementary, Oceanway Elementary, Pickett Elementary, and Rufus E. Payne Elementary.
Governor DeSantis attributed these advancements to the implementation of a new Progress Monitoring Testing system three years prior. This system allows for evaluations at the beginning, middle, and end of the academic year, providing ongoing data. This data enables teachers and parents to effectively support students throughout their education journey. Recognizing the contributions of educators, the governor also introduced a new incentive program for teachers that includes a civics certification curriculum linked to a $3,000 bonus for participation.
In line with these improvements, the state budget for teacher salaries has increased to $1.36 billion, reflecting a rise of $102 million compared to the previous year, aimed at further supporting educational professionals and their initiatives.
In response to its historic A rating, DCPS is set to launch a year-long communications campaign titled “Duval Delivers.” This campaign aims to celebrate and promote school success stories and exemplary instructional practices across the district. Superintendent Christopher Bernier indicated that the improved grades are crucial for economic growth and attracting new families and businesses to the area.
Throughout its history, DCPS has received six B grades and five C grades. The district’s new A rating signifies a major turnaround after more than two decades of striving toward this goal. Education activists have praised the improvement, commending the dedication and hard work exhibited by educators and administrators within the district. The community is encouraged to participate in ongoing conversations about the future and quality of education in Duval County.
This significant shift towards improved educational grading in Duval County highlights the district’s commitment to enhancing student performance and educational outcomes. It signals a positive trend not only for the local community but also for the broader educational landscape in Florida.
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Additional Resources
- Jacksonville.com: Duval County Becomes an A School District
- First Coast News: Duval County School District Earns First A Grade
- Jacksonville.com: Duval Delivers Celebrates First A Grade
- News4Jax: Jacksonville Organizations Push Back Against DCPS’s Updated DEI Policy
- News4Jax: DCPS Goes from B to A District
- Wikipedia: Duval County School District
- Google Search: Duval County School District A grade
- Google Scholar: Duval County education improvements
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education in Florida
- Google News: Duval County School District news
