Waterleaf Elementary
Jacksonville, FL 32225
Phone: (904) 565-8000
District: Duval
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades PK,KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 619 students
Waterleaf Elementary, a public school located in Jacksonville, FL, serves grades PK-5 in the Duval County Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Waterleaf Elementary is a public school located in Jacksonville, FL. 619 students attend Waterleaf Elementary.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 8/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education, and using 2025 Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education. |
| Student Growth | 9/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Florida Department of Education. |
Posted: April 1, 2023
Posted: April 1, 2023
Posted: April 1, 2023
My son loved going to Waterleaf. Great neighborhood school!!!
Posted: April 1, 2023
Posted: April 1, 2023
Posted: April 1, 2023
Posted: April 1, 2023
Posted: April 1, 2023
Posted: October 3, 2020
Great! Love the Principal and staff. Would recommend to anyone!
Posted: October 3, 2020
Posted: October 3, 2020
I have two kids who have gone (one currently enrolled) and every teacher we have had has been fantastic!
Posted: October 3, 2020
They make this part of the discussion every morning on their morning news show
Posted: October 3, 2020
Posted: October 3, 2020
Bullying is talked about regularly and doesnt seem to be an issue at this school.
Posted: March 14, 2018
bullying. This school needs to do better!
Posted: March 14, 2018
Posted: March 14, 2018
Posted: March 14, 2018
Posted: March 14, 2018
Posted: March 14, 2018
Posted: March 14, 2018
Posted: March 5, 2018
I could not ask for a better experience for my sons kindergarten year. His teachers and principal believe in him and make him feel important and very able. He is so happy every day to go to school and has great pride in his school. What a positive experience and we are excited to see our son grow and learn at Waterleaf School.
Posted: March 5, 2018
Posted: March 5, 2018
My sons kindergarten teacher is truly amazing! She is kind, understanding and really cares for her students. I dont think I could ask for a better teacher for my son.
Posted: March 5, 2018
Posted: March 5, 2018
The principal at this school is absolutely amazing. She is always available for questions and makes an effort every morning to say hi to each student. She is sincere and kind. She is motivating and believes in the success of the students and school.
Posted: March 5, 2018
Posted: March 5, 2018
Posted: July 19, 2017
The bystander effect goes on all day long. No one speaks up for these kids being bullied and depression is becoming relavent.
Posted: July 19, 2017
All classes need to be staffed better. Kids sitting are slipping through the cracks with oversized classes and trying to fix the problem with 2 teachers in the room.
Posted: July 19, 2017
The teachers are miserable and do not get a long with each other. This reflects directly on the leadership of the school.
Posted: July 19, 2017
They teach to a test. If a student expresses an interest in particular subjects, teachers don't allow them to explore more on those topics.
Posted: July 19, 2017
Bullying is not reprimanded in any way. Both teachers and students treat people badly and nothing is done about it.
Posted: July 19, 2017
It has had its good years, but as my child gets older the school is not meeting her educational needs. She doesn't want to go to school and kids are bullying her. Nothing was budging done to help her.
Posted: July 19, 2017
Homework isn't covering what the children do in class. They come home confused.
Posted: September 14, 2015
Posted: September 14, 2015
Posted: September 14, 2015
Posted: September 14, 2015
My boy went to Waterleaf since the day that they opened the school. He immediately loved it. The school has a gated entrance to our neighborhood and they guard for the kids safety. Lovely halls, very clean environment, modern classrooms. The school principal is involved in most activities and overall all teachers project a youth spirit of camaraderie and participation. They have multiple extra activities and most students and parents attend. Their teaching style allows progress for students at all levels. My son enjoyed being there until his fourth grade and we wish to get that level of care and education in our new place.
Posted: June 11, 2014
My children have been in this school since it opened. It has charm and a fa ade of greatness. My children have been bullied and physically hurt on the premises and the school does not record any Incident reports. Teachers have been heard talking bad about ESE and CSS students. If you are a parent that likes to live in the school with your child then you are welcome. I am thankful my Children are out of this school.
Posted: April 17, 2014
As a parent I am concerned. I have a child in this school and I am an active parent. I speak to my friend's and hear what their children go though. I feel this school took on too many IEP and ESE students and my child suffers from having to wait and the individual attention is taken off the whole for the 3-4 children in the class that need one on one. It would be different if they had two teachers in the inclusion classroom. I am not that impressed with how the teacher's are cramming our kid's for weeks before Tests and they change their schedule just to help them pass! If the learning environment must change that drastically then it begs me to wonder if they know what they are doing to start with! I have it a two because the school is beautiful and the PTA works hard to help support our kid's.
Posted: April 17, 2014
Waterleaf Elementary is a great school. Two of my grand kids attend the fourth grade and we are very please with the teachers and specially with the principal. They try to include theater and music to the students, that is very important to their development, Thanks to them and the cooperation of the parents .
Posted: April 1, 2014
My son has attended Waterleaf for two years and we really love it and feel lucky be be blessed with such a wonderful school of caring teachers and administrators.
Posted: April 29, 2013
Let me start by saying I absolutely love this school. The principle is very involved, caring, and will fix any issue that arises quickly. This is my daughter's first year of school and I wanted to be absolutely sure she had an excellent experience with a good atmosphere. The school's motto "setting the stage for success" couldn't be more spot on. During the beginning of the year my daughter seemed to be having a hard time adjusting to the new environment which was very out of character for her. When I contact the principle with my concerns, she sat in on the class that very day to observe. She returned my call the same day and suggested we try another teacher to give her a second chance as her teacher may have had a different teaching technique than what she was accustomed to before school. And viola! Behavior was back on track and she is a straight E student to this day. I went to Clay county schools as a child, and this school out shines any elementary school in that district in my opinion. The school is immaculate and the teachers and staff are outstanding. As a parent it is very comforting sending my child to Waterleaf Elementary. The extended day program is also great
Posted: April 11, 2013
Waterleaf Elementary is an excellent school! It has only been open for two years and everything is running so smoothly! My child has enjoyed all of her experiences with the principal, teachers, and her friends. She will miss Waterleaf as she goes off to Middle school!
Posted: April 11, 2013
Waterleaf Elementary is well organized, focused on students, and a great place to work! My principal is very hands-on, knowledgable, and supportive of staff. She spends time in classrooms daily, providing teachers with specific feedback to ensure that they are providing the best for OUR students at all times. The PTA is very active and works well with school staff to ensure activities/events are planned that allow families to participate often. Teachers work well together to build community and ensure that all students succeed. I am most impressed with how positive and energetic the staff is at Waterleaf! Regardless of age or years experience in teaching, the faculty goes above and beyond expectations! They attend after school events and/or spend evenings and weekends at sporting events supporting students. Children need adults in their lives that are truly invested in them; I firmly believe you will find folks like that at Waterleaf, from administration to office staff. While I've only been at Waterleaf for a short time, I plan to have my own children attend school there! It is, in my opinion, a "model school" in the making!
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterleaf | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | FL | 0.6 mi | |
| 2 | The Reserve at Wynnfield Lakes | Apartment Complex | Jacksonville | FL | 1.3 mi | |
| 3 | Kernan Forest | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | FL | 1.5 mi | |
| 4 | Highland Glen | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | FL | 3.4 mi | |
| 5 | Wolf Creek Townhomes | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | FL | 3.6 mi | |
| 6 | Reed Island | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | FL | 4.1 mi | |
| 7 | Eagle Harbor | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | FL | 4.3 mi | |
| 8 | Sea Oats Apartments | Apartment Complex | Atlantic Beach | FL | 4.6 mi | |
| 9 | Jacksonville Beaches | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville Beach | FL | 6.5 mi | |
| 10 | Eagles Hammock | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | FL | 11.8 mi | |
| 11 | Bartram Springs | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Jacksonville | FL | 15.5 mi | |
| 12 | Waterford at Orange Park | Apartment Complex | Orange Park | FL | 17.6 mi | |
| 13 | Isle de Mai | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Fernandina Beach | FL | 20.2 mi | |
| 14 | Spencers Plantation | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Orange Park | FL | 20.7 mi | |
| 15 | Durbin Crossing | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Saint Johns | FL | 20.9 mi | |
| 16 | Fleming Island Plantation | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Orange Park | FL | 21.8 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandalwood | Jacksonville | FL | 1.3 mi | |
| 2 | Atlantic Beach | Atlantic Beach | FL | 5.5 mi | |
| 3 | Jacksonville Beaches | Jacksonville Beach | FL | 6.6 mi | |
| 4 | San Marco | Jacksonville | FL | 9.7 mi | |
| 5 | Riverside | Jacksonville | FL | 11.1 mi | |
| 6 | Avondale | Jacksonville | FL | 12.9 mi | |
| 7 | Mandarin | Jacksonville | FL | 14.4 mi | |
| 8 | Orange Park | Orange Park | FL | 17.1 mi | |
| 9 | Fleming Island | Orange Park | FL | 20.9 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Coast Guard Mayport | 5.2 mi. |
| Mayport Naval Station | 5.7 mi. |
| Jacksonville NAS | 13.7 mi. |
| Cecil Field | 24.5 mi. |
| Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base | 31.9 mi. |
| Camp Blanding | 38.7 mi. |
