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Decision day for Duval Co. Public Schools: many schools to be consolidated so far, voting continues

Jacksonville, Fla. — The Duval County School Board decided the fates of six schools on will vote Monday evening.

They voted on the school consolidation plan. This vote follows months of public meetings about DCPS’s Master Facilities Plan, which the district says will reduce operating costs and be a better use of the voter-approved half-cent facilities tax.

Here is a list of elementary schools that were approved for consolidation for the 2025-26 school year:

  1. Annie R. Morgan Elementary into Biltmore Elementary, a unanimous vote
  2. Susie Tolbert Elementary into S. P. Livingston Elementary, 6-1 vote
  3. Kings Trail Elementary into Beauclerc Elementary, a unanimous vote

A vote for Don Brewer Elementary to consolidate into Merrill Road Elementary happened, but an amendment delayed the consolidation to the 2026-27 school year to determine which school to merge into.

Traffic was the driving force in delaying the merge.

“Understand the financial strains we’re in – concerns with 67 accidents and 2 deaths in our area,” Dr. Kelly Coker said in the meeting.

A decision for Geroge Washington Carver Elementary and Rufus E. Payne Elementary will be made in 2026-27 too.

Hidden Oaks into Cedar Hills have also been recommended for consolidation in the 2025-26 school year.

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Related: DCPS could close six elementary schools next year, others removed from closure list

Future consolidations could include:

1. 2026-27: Hyde Grove K-2 into Hyde Park Elementary 2. 2026-27: Long Branch Elementary into R.L. Brown Elementary 3. 2026-27: Anchor Academy into Mayport Elementary 4. 2026-27: Joseph Stilwell Middle into Ed White, which becomes a 6-12 grade school 5. 2027-28: Love Grove Elementary splits into a new school at Hogan Spring-Glen Elementary in 2027-28 or Spring Park Elementary. 6. 2027-28: Englewood Elementary splits into a new school at Hogan Spring-Glen Elementary or Spring Park Elementary. 7. 2027-28: S.A. Hull Elementary into a new school at Pickett Elementary 8. 2027-28: Reynolds Lane Elementary into a new school at Pickett Elementary 9. 2029-30: Whitehouse Elementary into Thomas Jefferson Elementary 10. 2029-30: Gregory Drive Elementary into Charger Academy, which becomes an elementary school 11. 2029-30: Normandy Village Elementary, into Charger Academy, which becomes an elementary school 12. 2030-31: Ortega Elementary into a new school at Venetia Elementary 13. Between 2029 and 2034: Arlington Elementary will merge into multiple area schools based on boundary changes in the area. 14. Between 2029 and 2034: Arlington Heights Elementary will merge into multiple area schools based on boundary changes in the area.

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Some of the district’s oldest schools will be rebuilt:

1. Southside Estates Elementary (Under construction; opening 2025-26 school year) 2. Ribault High (Under construction; opening 2025-26 school year) 3. Baldwin 6-12 (Project begins 2026. No completion date set.) 4. Spring Park Elementary (Opening 2027-28 school year) 5. Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary (Opening 2027-28 school year) 6. Pickett Elementary (Opening 2027-28 school year) 7. Venetia Elementary (Opening 2030-2031school year) 8. Raines High (Project expected in the 2029-2034 timeframe) 9. Lake Lucina Elementary (Project expected in the 2029-2034 timeframe) 10. Westside High (Project expected in the 2029-2034 timeframe)

Schools that will NOT be rebuilt include:

1. Beauclerc Elementary 2. Eugene Butler 3. George Washington Carver Elementary (closing) 4. Englewood Elementary (closing) 5. Garden City Elementary 6. Holiday Hill Elementary 7. Kings Trail Elementary (closing) 8. Smart Pope Livingston Elementary 9. Sallye B. Mathis Elementary 10. Reynolds Lane Elementary (closing) 11. San Jose Elementary 12. San Mateo Elementary 13. Seabreeze Elementary 14. Louis Sheffield Elementary 15. Whitehouse Elementary (closing) 16. Windy Hill Elementary

The board will vote on the plan at the meeting on Monday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. Action News Jax will have a crew there. Check back here for updates.

Related: Parents, teachers pack first DCPS consolidation meeting at Fletcher High School

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