DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – Duval County Public Schools will hold a meeting Monday evening to discuss possibly consolidating schools in the district.
The school district wants community feedback before merging Mayport Elementary and Anchor Academy. If approved, hundreds of students across the city could be affected.
The consolidation plans are part of the district’s ongoing effort to address enrollment imbalances and make the best use of school facilities. Several consolidations have already been set for the 2026 school year, including the merger of Hyde Grove Elementary into Hyde Park Elementary.
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Mayport Elementary and Anchor Academy are just about four minutes apart. Mayport has roughly 436 students and 29 teachers, while Anchor Academy has about 340 students and 18 teachers.
The district is exploring whether to merge the two schools, which has raised questions from parents, alumni, and school leaders.
Last week, the district held a public meeting inside the gym at Mayport Elementary School to explain the proposal and hear feedback from the community.
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Some families voiced concerns that combining the schools could take away the military-focused support.
“Well, this school has a, I mean, it’s a coastal Academy, the sea coastal academy, you know, they have a science lab with a touch tank. Anchor doesn’t have that. They have a gifted program. Anchor doesn’t have that. They have a lot of programs here that Anchor can’t support. And so why remove a school that has these programs that anchor Academy doesn’t have?” Kate Dewey, a parent from Mayport Elementary School, said.
Another consolidation will see Hidden Oaks Elementary merging into Cedar Hills Elementary in 2026. If boundaries remain unchanged, Cedar Hills could reach full capacity. To address this, the proposal shifts part of Cedar Hills’ boundary to Jacksonville Heights.
Parents and community members will have a chance to weigh in tonight at a public meeting happening at Anchor Academy at 6 p.m.
School board members could vote on a recommendation in November.