Murray Hill Jacksonville Schools: What Parents Need to Know About Riverside Avenue Elementary and Beyond

Murray Hill School Zones: Which Schools Serve This Neighborhood

Murray Hill is primarily zoned for Riverside Avenue Elementary (grades K-5), which enrolls approximately 480 students and earned a C grade from the Florida Department of Education in 2023-2024. The school serves a diverse student population with a notable arts integration program and active parent-teacher organization.

Homes north of Edgewood Avenue may fall into the Fishweir Elementary zone, which serves portions of Murray Hill, Riverside, and Avondale. Fishweir enrolls around 650 students and also earned a C grade. It's housed in a 1920s building that's undergone multiple renovations and maintains a strong community reputation despite state rating fluctuations.

For middle school, Murray Hill students attend Landon Middle School (B grade, approximately 1,100 students), located on Riverside Avenue near Memorial Park. High schoolers are zoned for Robert E. Lee High School (C grade, approximately 1,400 students), which offers IB, AP, and career academy programs including engineering and culinary arts.

If you're comparing Murray Hill to nearby neighborhoods, Ortega vs Riverside Jacksonville covers how school zones differ across the river and what that means for family buyers.

Riverside Avenue Elementary: Performance Data and What It Actually Means

Riverside Avenue Elementary's C grade reflects state testing performance, but parents should look beyond the letter. The school's 2023-2024 data shows 52% of students scoring proficient or above in English Language Arts and 48% in math—below the Duval County average of 56% and 55% respectively.

What matters more for most families: the school offers full-day pre-K, an active PTA that fundraises for field trips and classroom supplies, and a location within walking or biking distance for most Murray Hill homes. The campus underwent HVAC and playground upgrades in 2022, and the building is in better physical condition than many older Duval County elementary schools.

Class sizes average 18-22 students per teacher, which is typical for Duval County elementaries. The school has a full-time art teacher, music teacher, and media specialist, plus after-school programs through the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.

For context on what neighborhood school ratings mean for property values, Five Points Jacksonville gentrification shows how changing demographics and school performance can shift buyer demand in adjacent neighborhoods.

Fishweir Elementary: The Other Murray Hill Option

Fishweir Elementary serves the northern edge of Murray Hill along with chunks of Riverside and Avondale. It's earned a C grade for the past two years, with similar proficiency rates to Riverside Avenue Elementary—53% in reading and 50% in math.

The school has a more established parent community and typically stronger volunteer participation, partly because it serves some of Riverside's higher-income blocks. The building itself is historic (built 1925) with character that some families love and others find outdated despite renovations.

Fishweir offers gifted programming for students who qualify and has partnerships with local arts organizations for enrichment. If you're buying on the Murray Hill/Riverside border, confirm which elementary zone your address falls into—it's not always intuitive, and realtors occasionally get it wrong.

The school's location near Five Points means walkability for older students and easier access to after-school activities. For buyers considering the broader Riverside area, Riverside Jacksonville walkability breaks down how proximity to schools and daily services affects livability.

Landon Middle School and Lee High School: What to Expect

Landon Middle School (grades 6-8) is one of Duval County's better-performing middle schools, earning a B grade in 2023-2024. It offers STEM magnet programs, advanced coursework, and a more engaged parent community than many Jacksonville middle schools. The school sits on Riverside Avenue near Boone Park, making it accessible for Murray Hill families.

Robert E. Lee High School is a comprehensive high school with 1,400+ students and a C grade. It offers International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment through Florida State College at Jacksonville, and career academies in engineering, culinary arts, and health sciences. The school's facilities are dated but functional, with recent upgrades to athletic fields and technology infrastructure.

Lee High's graduation rate sits around 82%, which is slightly below the county average of 87%. The school has active sports programs (football, basketball, track) and a competitive marching band. Students who want specialized programs often apply to magnet schools like Douglas Anderson School of the Arts or Paxon School for Advanced Studies, both accessible from Murray Hill.

Private and Magnet School Options for Murray Hill Families

Many Murray Hill parents supplement or replace zoned schools with private or magnet options. Riverside Presbyterian Day School (pre-K through 8th grade) is less than two miles from most Murray Hill homes and offers a college-prep curriculum with tuition starting around $12,000 annually. San Jose Episcopal Day School (pre-K through 6th) is another nearby option with similar tuition and a smaller class size focus.

For high school, Bishop Kenny High School (Catholic, co-ed) is a popular choice with tuition around $13,500 per year. It's located in Arlington but draws students from across the Southside and Riverside areas.

Duval County's magnet school system offers tuition-free alternatives if your student qualifies. Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (grades 6-12) requires an audition but provides specialized training in visual arts, music, dance, theatre, and creative writing. Paxon School for Advanced Studies (grades 6-12) is IB-focused and admission is lottery-based with academic criteria.

Magnet school transportation is provided by Duval County, but routes can mean 45+ minute bus rides. Most Murray Hill families who use magnets drive their kids or carpool.

How School Zones Affect Murray Hill Home Values

Murray Hill's school assignments have less impact on property values than in suburban neighborhoods where schools are A-rated and a primary selling point. Most buyers here are prioritizing location, home character, and price over school performance—but families with school-age kids still ask.

Homes within walking distance of Riverside Avenue Elementary or Fishweir sell slightly faster than those requiring a drive or bus route, simply because of convenience. But the 10-15% price premium you'd see in Mandarin or Nocatee for A-rated schools doesn't exist in Murray Hill.

For families who prioritize education, the trade-off is clear: you're getting a walkable, affordable, character-filled neighborhood with average schools, or you're moving to the suburbs for better-rated schools and a car-dependent lifestyle. There's no right answer—it depends on your family's priorities.

If you're weighing Murray Hill against other urban neighborhoods, selling a home in Murray Hill Jacksonville explains what buyers are actually looking for and how school ratings factor into offers.