Duval County Public Schools earns historic ‘A’ grade from state

By Michelle Vecerina

Duval County Public Schools has achieved its first-ever “A” grade from the state, marking what district leaders are calling a “transformative year of academic achievement” with 99% of its schools now rated A, B, or C, according to state data.

The district’s total score reached 763 points, the highest on record, as schools across the county showed significant improvement, with some jumping two letter grades or more.

Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier attributed the success to the collective efforts of instructional staff, principals, school board and district leaders, and community partners, operating under the mantra, “Duval Delivers.”

“These results aren’t just a reflection of test scores — they’re a reflection of vision, leadership, and relentless effort at the school level,” Bernier said. “Duval Delivers because our schools delivered.”

Key improvements highlighted by the district for the past year include:

• The first-ever district-wide “A” grade in Duval’s history.
• An increase in A, B, and C rated schools from 91% to 99%.
• A rise in “A” and “B” schools jumping from 46% to 65%.
• A drop in D and F schools from 12 last year (11 D’s and 1 F) to just two D’s and no F’s this year. Annie R. Morgan Elementary, which received an “F” last school year, improved to a “C.”
• Graduation rates for traditional public schools have climbed 86.5% in 2014-15 to 95.3% currently, reflecting long-term progress.

Among individual school successes:

• 45 schools increased their letter grade by one or more, while 10 schools improved by two full letter grades, including Andrew Jackson High (C to A), Jean Ribault High (C to A), and Annie R. Morgan Elementary (F to C).
• Andrew Jackson High and John E. Ford earned their first-ever “A” ratings, while Ed White High School achieved its first “B”.

The district credits several initiatives for driving this improvement:

• The Principal Institute, a leadership development program, fostered a “results-driven mindset.”
• Partnerships with Turn Around Solutions and MGT Consulting Group provided targeted strategies for struggling campuses, helping schools like Matthew Gilbert and Woodland Acres improve.
• Leadership realignments, placed effective leaders in high-needs schools.

“Leadership drives culture. Culture drives behavior. Behavior drives results,” Bernier said. “We embedded that at every level of the organization. And now we’re seeing what happens when leadership and culture align.”

To maintain momentum, Duval County Public Schools plans a year-long communications campaign titled “Duval Delivers,” which will feature school success stories and instructional best practices throughout the 2025-2026 school year.