JACKSONVILLE

From its stunning beaches and magnificent parks to its sunny weather and diverse neighborhoods, it’s easy to see why Jacksonville, FL, is one of the country’s top 25 best places to live. But, before you rent a UHaul, there are a few things to know about moving to Jacksonville. 

Consider Jacksonville the cultural meeting point of its neighbors—a combination of the American South and sub-tropical Florida. All of these influences give this capital city a distinct vibe that’s more youthful and vibrant than most Florida beach towns. 

Before moving, you should know these basic facts about Jacksonville as a city:

* City size: By land area, Jacksonville isn’t just the largest city in Florida—it’s the largest city in the continental USA. The entire city stretches over 840 square miles!

* Population: Jacksonville is both the biggest and most populated city in Florida, with over 890,000 residents. Also, the average age of residents skews lower than most of the state—36 years for Jacksonville, compared to 42 years for all of Florida.

* Environment: At its heart, Jacksonville is a waterfront city. Between the Atlantic Ocean coast and its many rivers, you can explore up to 1,100 miles of shoreline and 22 miles of beaches. Jacksonville also has the nation’s largest urban park collection, with over 80,000 acres of gorgeous forests, marshlands, and wetlands.

* Cost of living and economy: In Jacksonville, you’re getting a good bang for your buck. The cost of living in Jacksonville is 17% lower than the national average. And, with its younger population, Jacksonville is incredibly welcoming to young professionals and job seekers.

Schools become the first and most important aspect of residing in a community. So here we go, let's learn more about schools in Duval County. Compare schools side-by-side, search by address, or just browse all that our district’s schools have to offer. 

Public School Districts Serving Jacksonville

The Jacksonville area offers a range of public schools for children from preschool through twelfth grade. The majority of public schools for Jacksonville students are part of the Duval County Public School District. It's one of the state's central metro school districts, serving nearly 130,000 students.

The Duval County Public School District has more than 200 schools. Listed below is the number of schools per type:

* Elementary: 98

* Kindergarten through eighth grade: 2

* Middle: 23

* Sixth through twelfth grade: 2

* High School: 19

* Charter: 35

* Exceptional Centers: 6

* Alternative schools: 8

* Virtual: 1

The district has approximately 11,500 full-time staff, including 7,800 teachers. District schools include the Marine Science Education Center for high school students studying Marine Biology, provided through a partnership with Florida State College at Jacksonville. The Oak Hill Academy on Daughtry Boulevard South is a Jacksonville public school for students with autism spectrum disorders or related disabilities. The Duval Virtual Instruction Academy is the district's virtual school open to students in grades kindergarten through twelve.

The public school district offers students a range of curriculum studies, access to visual and performing arts education, college prep, and a wide selection of extra-curricular and athletic opportunities. Bus transport may be available for students living two or more miles from the school they attend.

Other public school districts that residents of the Jacksonville metro area may have access to include but are not limited to the St. Johns County School District and the Clay County School District.

Jacksonville Charter Schools

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools defines charter schools as "independently-operated public schools that have the freedom to design classrooms that meet their students' needs. All charter schools operate under a contract with a charter school authorizer, usually a nonprofit organization, government agency or university, that holds them accountable for the high standards outlined in their "charter."

There are 35 charter schools in Jacksonville, Florida. These schools serve grades from kindergarten through twelfth, and each has its governing board. These schools include:

* 24 elementary and kindergarten through eighth-grade schools

* Duval Charter High at Baymeadows

* Global Outreach Charter Academy High School

* Three alternative high schools: Biscayne, Lone Star, and Mycroschool

* The Florida Cyber Charter Academy at Duval County (a virtual school)

Charter schools are open to all students in the Jacksonville area and residents living in the Duval County Public School District. Some schools may be specifically designed for certain ages or offer specific areas of study, like the Wayman Academy of the Arts, an elementary school with a Fine Arts focus. The River City Science Academy provides a STEM focus across four campuses, while BridgePrep Academy features a Spanish program, Calle de la Lectura, designed for grades kindergarten through fifth.

Jacksonville Charter Schools

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools defines charter schools as "independently-operated public schools that have the freedom to design classrooms that meet their students' needs. All charter schools operate under a contract with a charter school authorizer, usually a nonprofit organization, government agency or university, that holds them accountable for the high standards outlined in their "charter."

There are 35 charter schools in Jacksonville, Florida. These schools serve grades from kindergarten through twelfth, and each has its governing board. These schools include:

* 24 elementary and kindergarten through eighth-grade schools

* Duval Charter High at Baymeadows

* Global Outreach Charter Academy High School

* Three alternative high schools: Biscayne, Lone Star, and Mycroschool

* The Florida Cyber Charter Academy at Duval County (a virtual school)

Charter schools are open to all students in the Jacksonville area and residents living in the Duval County Public School District. Some schools may be specifically designed for certain ages or offer specific areas of study, like the Wayman Academy of the Arts, an elementary school with a Fine Arts focus. The River City Science Academy provides a STEM focus across four campuses, while BridgePrep Academy features a Spanish program, Calle de la Lectura, designed for grades kindergarten through fifth.

Colleges and Universities Near Jacksonville

Higher education in and near Jacksonville spans multiple campuses for private and public colleges and universities. Residents seeking this level of education may find both two- and four-year schools that range from traditional campuses to schools for specific career paths. In the Downtown Jacksonville area, Florida State College is a public, two-year school with more than 20,000 enrolled undergraduate students. The Florida Career College is also a two-year school located just south of the Beltway off Youngerman Circle.

Jacksonville University is a private, four-year, liberal arts college located along the St. Johns River. The sprawling campus is adjacent to the Arlington Manor neighborhood and the Lake Lucina area. The Chamberlain University College of Nursing is also a private, 4-year school located near Interstate 95 and north of the Concorde Career Institute, a Jacksonville two-year school.

The University of North Florida calls Jacksonville home as well. This public, four-year college has approximately 14,000 undergraduate students and 2,400 graduate students. UNF is a popular school for students pursuing degrees in healthcare fields like nursing and health administration. The university is located east of I-295 and north of Highway 202.

The Edward Waters University and Trinity Baptist are both private, four-year colleges in the city of Jacksonville. In the nearby town of Orange Park is the two- to four-year St. Johns River State College and the two- to four-year Fortis College.

Forwarding your mail is an important step in the moving process. 

There are so many details to worry about when you are about to move, it’s a relief to know that changing your address is one of the quickest and simplest moving task you will have to complete. You can complete the address change by visiting your local post office or by going online to the U.S. Post Office Movers Guide. There is a $1.00 fee for completing the process online.

The post office recommends that you file your address change at least two weeks prior to your move, but not anymore than three months. Once the change is complete, you will receive a conformation (either mail or email) depending on how you went about the process.

Remember that forwarding is only temporary, you will want to let all of the relevant people and businesses in your life know that your address has changed. Don’t forget to include:

* Friends and family

* Banks

* Magazine subscriptions

* Utility Company

* Employer

* Insurance Provider

Here's 5 simple ways to get powered up! JEA is Jacksonville's power provider and is located in Jacksonville, Florida, where they proudly serve an estimated 478,000 electric, 357,000 water, 279,000 sewer customers and 15,000 reclaimed water customers.

Your new home in Jacksonville will really start to feel like home once you have your electric, phone, cable and internet set up. Often it can take up to a week to get appointments set up and paperwork in, so be sure to start the process before you move. Below are some tips and tricks to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

1. Start the Set Up Process Before You Move

You want to get started on setting up your utilities before you move. To give yourself sufficient time to get everything in order, begin the process about two weeks before your move.

2. Figure Out What’s Included In Your Rent

Find out from your apartment which services are included in your rent. If your services are not included, be sure to ask what the unit is wired for and if services such as satellite TV are allowed.

3. Cancel Existing Services

With all the excitement surrounding the move to your new apartment, don’t forget to cancel the utilities in your existing home. If you are moving in town, check with your current provider to see if you may be able to transfer your services as opposed to canceling them. Transferring services will be much less stressful than trying to set up all new services before you move.

4. Account For Associated Fees

When setting up new utilities, the company may charge a fee anywhere from $50 to $300. This fee could be treated as a deposit for future bills, or returned to you at the end of your service. No matter the provider you choose, there Is a good chance they will run a check on your credit. Also, don’t forget to negotiate or ask for discounts and specials. Companies offering cable and utilities have a lot of competition, so there may be incentives if you commit to signing.

5. Save Money If You Bundle

If you are able to find a company that will bundle your cable, and internet you might be able to save a lot of money. Not only does bundling save money, but it also makes bill paying a cinch, since all services come together in one monthly statement.