Jacksonville schools vs. Clay county schools (Middleburg, Orange Park: houses, neighborhoods, buyers)

[mainenavywife]

Is there really that much of a difference between the schools? We are moving down there(husband is active duty Navy) with a 5 year old and 2 year old. Our 5 year old kindergartener has speech problems and is having a few issues due to his speech(reading and spelling).

I went to greatschools.net and it seems like most of the clay county elementary schools are "A" schools and most of Jacksonville's are "C". The middle and high schools are even worse according to that website and a form we received from the Base here in Maine about the schools they were C,D,F whereas clay county's are A,B,C, I dont think there were any Ds.

We have been exclusively looking in Clay county due to the school issues in JAX, but I was looking at JAX the other day and it seems like the houses we want are approximately $10000 less for the same house(sq footage, bath and bedroom amount) as in say Middleburg or Orange Park.

Thanks

[warmthpls]

From what I've learned any of the surrounding counties (Clay, Nassau, St. John's) schools are much better then Jacksonville itself. St. John's seems to have the best. (We're coming down soon

[EricBoyd]

My wife has taught in both Clay and Duval Counties. In her words, it's difficult to compare the two counties, since Duval is SOOO much larger. There are areas of Duval that have all A schools (Mandarin, Beaches, some Southside). But, then you have Westside and Urban schools that really bring down the overall average for the county. My wife found that her Clay school (Lake Asbury Elem) had a lot more parent involvement that where she has taught/counseled in Duval.

[mainenavywife]

Thanks so much both of you. I will start looking in the Mandarin area also

[joninclay]

I wuz edyookated in Dooval, en looke how I turnt out!

(Kidding...I was educated in TN, which is a totally different story! LOL!)

Mandarin is a decent area in Duval County, both for living and for schools.

Both of my kids have been in Clay County schools their whole lives, and the results have been great. Especially for my daughter, who is autistic. The autism program in Clay County is top notch.

[MichaelaG]

One of my pet peeves is generalization ) Use greatschools.com as a resource to research the schools you are interested in and narrow your choices down to a few that you actually visit in person to see for yourself. You want to find a school that's best for your child, not just any "A" school.

Duval County schools aren't all bad. There are a number of excellent schools in this district. Check out some of the Magnet schools,for example. My son attends J Allen Axson, a Montessori school in the Duval Public School system, and we -love- it! Pineforest Elementary is a great school as well and it is nowhere near the more prestigious neighborhoods

Good luck!

[mainenavywife]

Thanks so much. I'll check those out also!

[wb3690]

let me guess you are coming down with the P3 squadrons???

we're coming over in July/August from Hawaii's P3 Squadrons........we're going to live out in the Oakleaf area.

[mainenavywife]

Yes we are part of a P3 squadron. How did you like Hawaii? My husband wants to go there, I DONT!

[mkgolfer]

If you are going to be stationed at NAS JAX, Oakleaf is a great place to live. I have helped many military families stationed at NAS JAX find nice homes. The builders are giving away their inventory homes at a great price these days! I keep a list of them. The prices are good there too, but also everywhere in JAX, it's still a buyers market, even though we've noticed a dramatic difference with MANY buyers coming out of the wood work now a days, since the interest rate is so good. The good deals you're looking at right now, may not be available when you get here.
If you need more help...keep asking questions.
MKGOlfer