Best Public Schools in Zip Code 32204

The 32204 zip code area of Jacksonville, Florida is home to two schools: Jacksonville Classical Academy, a public charter school serving grades K-12, and Central Riverside Elementary School, a traditional public school serving grades PK-5. While both schools serve the same geographic area, they exhibit stark differences in academic performance and student demographics.

Central Riverside Elementary School stands out as a relatively high-performing school, consistently ranking in the top 30% of Duval County elementary schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's test scores in English Language Arts and Math are significantly above the district and state averages, particularly in the upper elementary grades. In contrast, Jacksonville Classical Academy, a public charter school, has a lower 1-star rating and ranks in the bottom 20% of schools statewide, despite performing better than the district and state on some End-of-Course exams.

The two schools also differ in their student demographics, with Jacksonville Classical Academy having a more diverse population and Central Riverside Elementary serving a higher percentage of African American students. Both schools face challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, which may be impacting their academic outcomes. Additionally, while Central Riverside Elementary spends more per student, the performance gap between the two schools suggests that factors beyond just funding are at play in driving student success.