LaVilla School of the Arts --- Jacksonville, FL


The mission of LaVilla School of the Arts is to prepare our students by ensuring adequate yearly progress (AYP) in core academics to meet the high quality academic and pre-professional arts curricula at the high school level; to nurture knowledgeable life-long supporters of the arts; and to provide in-school and out-of-school opportunities that enhance creativity, aesthetic and critical thinking skills, self-discipline, leadership, teamwork, and an appreciation for diversity.

Vision Statement: LaVilla School of the Arts will prepare all students to achieve success in the arts and academics.

About LaVilla

With a faculty of highly qualified professionals specifically selected for this school, our magnet program is designed for both beginning and advanced students with a sincere commitment to studying the arts. Prior training and experience are not required for selection.

A full academic program is offered at gifted, advanced, standard, and ESE levels. Students take all academic courses required in middle school and have two additional periods of arts instruction every day.

LaVilla is housed in a state-of-the-art facility located downtown on the corner of Beaver and Davis Streets, one block from the LaVilla Museum and Ritz Theatre. The facility has been specifically designed for a visual and performing arts middle school program. Two theatres and a scene shop, dance studios, instrumental and vocal suites, piano lab and visual arts labs are available and designed for this unique program.

LaVilla School of the Arts is the only middle magnet school of the arts in Duval County. Its innovative arts program challenges students to achieve a high standard of artistic performance and academic excellence.

Student life includes attending plays, concerts, and visual arts exhibits. Experts in the arts participate in the program by providing master classes and working with students in creative ways. Students create, perform, and critique within their chosen arts areas, learning critical thinking skills necessary for success in any chosen field of study.

Dedicated teachers help students reach high levels of achievement in the arts and academics.

Enrollment Information: For the school year 2008-2009, our total enrollment is 1115 students. Of those 25.6% are boys, and 74.3% are girls. We have a diverse student population, with 52.3% White, 34.3% Black, 5.2% Hispanic, 3.1% Asian, and 4.8% Multi-racial.

Please review the following general policies:

School begins at 8:10 A.M.; students may be dropped off at 7:45 A.M. to wait in a designated area. Before 7:45 A.M. there is a $5.00 fee for before school care. School is over at 3:10 P.M. No student may be checked out of school after 2:40 P.M. and students not picked up after 3:30 P.M. are charged a late pick-up fee. Activity buses leave LaVilla at 5:00 P.M. for students involved in after school activities (with the exception of students serving detention; they will arrange their own transportation home). Please work out transportation issues with your child before school.

For questions concerning Extended Day Programs (before and after school) contact Community Education at LaVilla 904-633-6069 ext. 108.

For questions regarding Team Up contact Kathy Ford at 633-6069 ext. 138. Team Up begins on September 17, 2008.

Compass Odyssey

You and your student can now access CompassLearning Odyssey, a web-based curriculum enrichment program. Teachers are in the process of assigning tasks to enhance and augment classroom learning. To use at home, go to https://duvalnet.duvalschools.org and use the student's regular school user name and password. Select Compass Odyssey and enjoy the variety of activities and customized learning programs.