Duval County Public Schools, the 20th largest school system in the nation, serves about 127,500 students. The system is run by a seven-member Board of Education, who are elected for four-years terms, and who appoint the superintendent. A magnet school program permits students to choose to attend specialized schools in such areas as language, arts, or mathematics. The Duval County Public Schools enforce a mandatory uniform policy for elementary and middle school students throughout the district.
The following is a summary of data regarding the Duval County public schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.
Total enrollment: approximately 127,500
Number of facilities
elementary schools: 104
junior high/middle schools: 25
senior high schools: 17
other: 3 exceptional student centers, 5 special schools, 2 academies of technology, and 7 charter schools
Student/teacher ratio: 17:1
Teacher salaries
minimum: $31,000
maximum: $60,489
Funding per pupil: $5,672
There are 103 private schools in the Jacksonville area, with an enrollment of more than 15,000 students. Included are boarding schools and day schools, both coeducational and single sex. Many of these schools are church-related and some are for students with special needs.
Public Schools Information: Duval County Public Schools, 1701 Prudential Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32207; telephone (904)390-2126
Nine institutions of higher learning serve the Jacksonville area. In addition, several satellite campuses, such as the Columbia College Navy Campus, established at naval bases also serve the civilian population. The University of North Florida, a state school, enrolls more than 12,000 students, and the privately run Jacksonville University has 2,100 students. The University of Florida in nearby Gainesville has 16 colleges and four schools. Florida Community College at Jacksonville has a student population of 41,000 full-time and part-time students, making it one of the largest such institutions in the country. Other higher education facilities include historically African American Edward Waters College; Jones College, specializing in business and computers; and St. Johns River and Lake City community colleges. There are five vocational/technical schools, including Florida Technical College and ITT Technical Institute.
The Florida Coastal School of Law and satellite campuses of Webster, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical, Central Michigan, Southern Illinois, and Florida A&M universities, and of St. Leo and Columbia colleges also serve Jacksonville-area students.
The Jacksonville Public Libraries include the main library, 20 branches, and one bookmobile. The library has nearly 2 million volumes and subscribes to more than 2,400 periodicals. Special collections are devoted to Floridiana, music, and genealogy. There are at least 19 other libraries in the city. Some are affiliated with higher educational institutions, while others are associated with religious groups, research centers, or the U.S. Navy. Their collections focus on such areas as art, science, health care delivery, law, business, education, and liberal arts.
The Center for Local Government Administration, First Coast Technology Park, Center for Public Leadership, and the Institute of Police Technology and Management are associated with the University of North Florida. Jacksonville State University conducts research on mathematics and on business and economics.
Public Library Information: Jacksonville Public Libraries, 122 North Ocean Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202-3374; telephone (904)630-2665