Annual grades for local schools and districts have been issued and local school officials seem pleased with the results.
Officials at the Duval County Public Schools say the district improved in all areas and kept the B grade it has had for 10 years.
Such improvement is further evidence that competition through school choice improves so-called “traditional schools.” Florida leads the nation in school choice and for the past 20 years, parents have been choosing options other than traditional schools.
But there are schools that persistently resist efforts to improve. They are, with the most recent grades:
| Ramona Boulevard Elementary School | C |
| Northwestern Legends Elementary | F |
| Susie E. Tolbert Elementary School | C |
| Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School | D |
| George Washington Carver Elementary | C |
| Arlington Middle School | D |
| Martin Luther King Jr Elementary School | D |
None of these schools are on the list of schools to be closed. Why not?
In addition to its low grade, Gilbert is one of the oldest school buildings in Jacksonville.
Originally, the district planned to build 28 new schools and rebuild many others, at a cost of $1.91 billion. But the estimated cost soared to $3.91 billion and the district now plans to build fewer schools, close more and change others to different grade levels. This will change the feeder patterns to the city’s high schools. It is necessary because the district is losing students and operating at about 82 percent capacity.
With fewer schools, fewer teachers will be needed, and there is the possibility of lowering property taxes slightly. Since the school district claims it has difficulty in hiring teachers, this should help alleviate the problem.
Some parents are protesting some of the planned closings because they don’t want to lose neighborhood schools. If they can demonstrate a better alternative, presumably the politicians and bureaucrats will listen. Or not.
Bottom line is schools need to close because all of them are no longer needed and many are too old. One reason fewer are needed is that parents finally have choices and are exercising them.
As the state Dept. of Education said in 2015, “School choice is not about one type of school or system being better than another. It is about providing unique flexibility for parents and students, and giving families greater choice in educational opportunities. Diversity in school structure and programs is crucial to Florida’s goal of preparing all students for college, career, and life. Constructive competition and greater accountability provide incentive for all schools to improve, and that will always benefit the students and parents.”
