Duval School Board must make decision on 3 failing schools by Nov. 15

Duval County Public Schools leaders met to discuss the fate of thousands of students at failing schools.

On Tuesday night, interim Superintendent Patricia Willis presented her “Turn Around” plan to the Duval County School Board, outlining a plan for Matthew Gilbert, Northwestern Middle and Lake Forest Elementary. All three schools received a "D" letter grade in consecutive years.

“The bottom line is that we have an opportunity for Lake Forest Elementary, Matthew Gilbert and Northwestern Middle to select, whether we would decide on a district-run charter, a charter school or an external organization,” School Board President Paula Wright said.

While the school board didn’t reach a decision Tuesday night, we did learn additional schools that could be in jeopardy.

Willis said Arlington Middle, Arlington Heights Elementary, Gregory Drive Elementary, Ramona Elementary and George Washington Carver Elementary must earn a letter grade of a "C" by 2018-2019 or face the same fate as the district’s three currently troubled schools.

The state gave the district until Nov. 15 to make a decision on those three schools. Wright is confident the district can turn those schools around.

“That’s what we did last time. We partnered with an external organization where they managed the teaching and the resources, and the district managed or was responsible for the students and facilities,” Wright said.

There is another category of schools that earned their first "D" and must earn a "C" by the 2019-2020 school year.

Those schools are Sallye B. Mathis, Windy Hill, Rutledge Pearson, Susie Tolbert, Normandy Village and Long Branch.

Cox Media Group