Jean Ribault High School

The 2025-2026 High School Acceleration Program application may be completed through the Focus Parent Portal Account beginning Sunday, December 1, 2024 and will close Thursday, January 16, 2025.

Parents that do not have a Focus Parent Portal Account may create an account by visiting Technology Services and then follow the directions for creating an account. Parents will use their email address and create their own password. Once an account has been created, parents will need to visit their student's middle school within 21 days and present ID for the middle school to approve their Focus Parent Portal account or provide their ID electronically to a school administrator and request approval.

Parents that have forgotten their password, have trouble creating a new Focus Parent Portal Account, or experience technical issues may contact the Help Desk (904) 348-5200 or email Email PGA Support. The Help Desk is available Monday – Friday from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM and on Weekends from 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM. 

Once the application opens, parents may access the application by logging into their Focus Parent Portal Account. On the left-hand side select your Grade 8 child. Then select "High School Acceleration Programs Application." 

Parents/Guardians should read the application carefully. Review the pre-populated information and verify that their address is correct in Focus. If the address is incorrect, parents may correct the address through their child’s current middle school by providing two proofs of address in person or via email to a school administrator. Address changes cannot be made at the District office.

If your child is not currently enrolled in a Duval County Public School OR is without test scores and/or grades in the Duval County Public School system (Focus), you must provide official copies of your child’s standardized test score reports from Grade 7, Final Grade 7 Report Card, and Grade 8 Report Card showing Quarter 1 and 2 grades at the time of application submission. Applications missing information will not be processed. If accepted, non-DCPS students must provide an official transcript once final grades have been posted for the school year.

On the application, parents may make up to two (2) choice selections; however, they may choose to make one (1) selection only. Parents should be sure that if a second selection is made, it is a selection that both the parent and their child will be happy with should they be offered a seat. 

For assistance with completing the High School Acceleration Programs Application, please contact the Office of School Choice at Email School Choice or visit them at 4037 Boulevard Center Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207, First Floor.

Information for the 2025-2026 application process will be available in October.   

• Sunday, December 1, 2024: HSAP application opens at 8:00 AM in the Focus Parent Portal

• Thursday, January 16, 2025: HSAP application closes 

• Friday, February 14, 2025: Decision notifications will be sent to the email address associated with the Focus Parent Portal Account used to complete the application

• Friday, February 21, 2025: Legal Parents/Guardians wishing to cancel their child's HSAP seat should email Email HSAP by this date 

The Late HSAP application will be available through the Parent Focus Portal beginning Friday, March 14, 2025. Please see the late application windows below.

To be considered for an acceleration program students must meet all of the following criteria. Applicants must: 

• be proficient in Reading based on the Grade 7 FAST/PM3,  Grade 7 PMA2/PMA3, OR Grade 7 Spring Exact Path;  

• be proficient in Math based on the Grade 7 FAST/PM3, Grade 7 PMA2/PMA3; OR Grade 7 Spring Exact Path;

• be enrolled in or have already completed Algebra I; and 

• earn a minimum of 70 points.

Not meeting one of these criteria automatically makes a student ineligible to be considered for an acceleration program. For each program, all eligible applicants will be scored based on the point system below, ranked from 100 points down to 70 points, and offered seats in that order until seats are filled. For nondedicated magnet schools, zoned students will be placed first. 

• 0-36 points – Grade 7 Core Academic Final Grades (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies)

  • A = 9 pts, B = 6 pts, C = 3 pts

• 0-34 points – Grade 8 Core Academic Grades (Quarter 1 & 2 English, Math, Science, and Social Studies)

  • A = 4.25 pts, B = 3.25 pts, C = 2.25 pts

• 0-30 points – Standardize Test Scores in both Reading and Math

Transportation for students attending an Acceleration Program outside of their attendance area school shall be the responsibility of the student’s parent/guardian. All questions regarding transportation should be directed to the Transportation Department at (904) 858-6200. Transportation is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM until 4:30 PM.