Lavilla School Of The Arts

Posted: August 27, 2026

Posted: August 27, 2026

Posted: August 27, 2026

this is my second year going to lavilla, and i can say this is a really solid school. most of the teachers are really nice and give reasonable amount of homework. some of the kids are kind of wierd and ive heard alot about this one kid who apparantly did some crazy stuff, and ive had people say racist stuff about me being "to black". but other then that the kids are ok. the art classes are pretty good im a creative writer and i have had 2 really good art teachers that made me very better. theres also an awsome ice cream truck with great honey drippers at the bus rider and car rider zone! anyway, if you love art this school is definitely for you.

Posted: August 27, 2026

Posted: August 27, 2026

Posted: August 27, 2026

Posted: August 27, 2026

Posted: August 27, 2026

Posted: July 23, 2026

Posted: July 23, 2026

Posted: July 23, 2026

yo its a tuff band kid coming to rate this school. so, i attended here my 6th grade year, and i would say its a fine school. i joined for the band program, and i had no musical experience whatsoever, but i think i learned a lot, band was probably the best part for me personally. there are many different kinds of teachers at this school, some were actually pretty nice, but there were also a lot that didn’t care about the students that much honestly. but i would say i have learned a ton this school year being in advanced classes. the students here also were very different. this school year was definitely where ive made the most friends though, and the kids are generally nice, but ive heard pretty bad things about others, that should have them kicked out of school. most of the kids from my elementary moved up to lavilla for middle, so i had some friends, and also met other new friends through them which was great. the school was very overcrowded though, with almost 1000 students. there were quite a few fights and the hallways were a MESS. we never went outside, it was extremely loud, there were barely any windows, and tons of bright lights, and i constantly had headaches from the general environment. we also had a very weird schedule packed with classes and barely any free time for ourselves. the worst part was they gave out a lot of homework, which meant i didn’t even have time for myself at home. the school definitely had positives too though. the arts program was good, most of the teachers were fairly generous about late work (depends on who you had as a teacher), my state test scores went up a ton, it kept me busy, and it was a fun school overall. i do wish they paid attention to students mental health more often, i feel like most kids were ignored which was sad. but it was a good school, and im sad i had to move away and wont be returning.

Posted: July 23, 2026

Posted: July 23, 2026

Posted: July 23, 2026

Posted: July 23, 2026

Posted: July 23, 2026

Posted: December 15, 2025

Posted: December 15, 2025

Posted: December 15, 2025

Favoritism is unreal here teachers and staff are very rude. I am happy i pulled my kid from here shes doing much better

Posted: December 15, 2025

Posted: December 15, 2025

Posted: December 15, 2025

Posted: December 15, 2025

Posted: December 15, 2025

Posted: March 27, 2024

Posted: March 27, 2024

Posted: March 27, 2024

This is my daughter’s 2nd year and since the last principal left it has went downhill. The new Principal Harrison is out of touch and came in, which seems like trying to make a name for herself. So much mess has occurred under her watch, she doesn’t respond to messages and then come out of nowhere establishing rules that doesn’t help anyone but makes her look like an intolerant bully!

Posted: March 27, 2024

Posted: March 27, 2024

Posted: March 27, 2024

Posted: March 27, 2024

Posted: March 27, 2024

Posted: January 18, 2024

Posted: January 18, 2024

Posted: January 18, 2024

My child and her friends have had nothing but a great experience at this school. They are given excellent opportunities in their arts areas and they have amazing academic instruction as well. Each student is issued a laptop where they can access their assignments at any time and the teachers are very responsive to questions and great about giving ample time to complete assignments. My child has never been so motivated to get up and get to school each day as they are now!
They offer extra intensive classes for kids scoring bow average on state assessment testing, they have advanced classes for those scoring above average on state assessment tests. And more intensive classes for kids in gifted. My child is challenged and the teachers are engaged with the students. There are excellent opportunities at this school not only in their arts areas but in their academics as well. I have seen my child test scores going up as well as their report card grades. I am more than pleased with LaVilla! I have referred a few friends and hope their children get in!
The school is clean , organized, and actually visually beautiful inside! The teachers clearly love what they do as the classes are all very nice and well set up to keep the students engaging in lessons in a cozy comfortable environment.
There have been two incidents with misbehaving students this year both were handled promptly and professionally. The trouble students were removed from the school and texts and emails were sent to all parents as well as informative phone calls to every parent. They do not put up with bullying and have made it clear there is zero tolerance for it, there may have been issues in past years but it hasn't been an issue this year.
School staff is really great with communication and they respond quickly to any messages or emails.
Family engagement is excellent! There are so many opportunities for parents to be part of the middle school experience for their kids. There are several ways to be on a board, part of a foundation, go to performances, or attend a family day, etc ..,

Posted: January 18, 2024

Posted: January 18, 2024

Posted: January 18, 2024

Posted: January 18, 2024

Posted: January 18, 2024

Posted: October 5, 2022

Posted: October 5, 2022

This school is very good for arts, and some teachers are very good at academics, but some teachers deserved to be fired. Some teachers are really rude and don't teach correctly. I've also personally been cursed out for being white and cursed at almost everyday. The student behavior and bullying is very bad. The teacher was also right there THIS MORNING while someone was cursing at me and they didn't notice. It was during holding area. This school is a solid 3/5 stars. Also, this school is pretty strict. I've never been more stressed and unmotivated for my academics then I have here. That is my honest review.

Posted: October 5, 2022

Posted: October 5, 2022

Posted: October 5, 2022

Posted: October 5, 2022

Posted: October 5, 2022

Posted: September 14, 2022

Posted: September 14, 2022

The teacher that stays in the hallway when the bell rings, she sits on top of the table and waits for children to come and dress code them. I was wearing shorts and she sent me to the office. I have wore these shorts before and no one said anything. She sits on top of the table and picks on kids about their clothes.

Posted: September 14, 2022

Posted: September 14, 2022

Posted: September 14, 2022

Posted: September 14, 2022

Posted: September 14, 2022

Posted: September 14, 2022

Posted: March 27, 2022

This school condones Racially motivated bullying and harassment to students of color, complaints are never addressed incidents are never reported

Posted: March 27, 2022

Posted: March 27, 2022

Posted: March 27, 2022

Posted: March 27, 2022

Posted: March 27, 2022

Posted: March 27, 2022

Posted: March 27, 2022

Posted: January 3, 2021

Posted: January 3, 2021

Posted: January 3, 2021

Posted: January 3, 2021

Posted: January 3, 2021

Posted: January 3, 2021

Posted: January 3, 2021

Posted: January 3, 2021

If you child loves art this is not the school for you. It is unfortunate that the 7th and 8th grade visual arts students can't even make A/B honor roll because of one teacher. If your child is making anything above an F in visual arts they are doing really well. I wish I had listened to all the warnings from other parents.

Posted: October 16, 2020

Awful school, awful staff, my daughter struggles so much with her confidence since attending this school.

Posted: October 16, 2020

Posted: October 16, 2020

Horrible staff, they bully children and make them feel inferior especially a particular math and visual arts teacher. My daughter went there and has learning disabilities, she was called out in front of the class several times and even had an occasion where she was bullied by a student in class and the teacher laughed. Awful school, awful staff.

Posted: October 16, 2020

My child was so stressed and depressed from the way she was treated at this school that she stopped drawing and lost her creative spark. This school and it’s staff should be ashamed of theirselves.

Posted: October 16, 2020

Nothing was ever don’t you correct teachers that participated in bullying their students.

Posted: October 16, 2020

Not one bit, my child struggles with severe ocd, depression, anxiety and chronic tic syndrome and was only mocked and bullied by many of the so called “trained staff”

Posted: October 16, 2020

Even the teachers bully the children. And when brought to their attention, they turn their head to it.

Posted: May 15, 2019

I am u able to give a rating well on this one. When the issue of grades from this particular math teacher, that appeared not care because the issue did not affect her overall grade. Asking the teacher to be investigated with other students’ name being given for eyewitness accounts, when asked stated that the principal had never talked with them. I would like to believe the were told not to discuss their individual meetings; but, I am unsure.

Posted: May 15, 2019

I know several students who have learning differences that have been at this school. I have never heard any complaints other than parents who coddle their children and expect everyone to just give a good or passing grade. Most teachers worked with the difference but attempted to get the children to work toward improving.

Posted: May 15, 2019

Students who bullied other students were usually dealt with effectively.

Teachers who bullied students and teachers still teach in classrooms and behave the same. The bullying by the teacher suggested above meets all criteria listed on the district website.

Posted: May 15, 2019

Overall the experience was good with the exception of a few poor teachers. The biggest problem has been the fear of one teacher. Just seeing him in the hall or hearing him demeaning or disciplining other students while in another classroom scares my daughter.

Posted: May 15, 2019

Some homework was beneficial for review and useful for intensifying teaching.

Others were given after introduction, graded upon review, and no additional instruction when students did not arrive at the correct conclusion resulting in zeros for a grade.

Posted: May 15, 2019

Most teachers attempted. Some destroyed by their actions and persona.

Posted: July 6, 2017

Posted: July 6, 2017

Posted: July 6, 2017

Posted: July 6, 2017

Posted: July 6, 2017

Posted: July 6, 2017

1.) The staff and faculty do not exert any effort to communicate with the parents, even if the parent is regularly at the school volunteering, and bringing and picking student from campus on a daily basis. I was not notified of my child's progress until report cards were out. The many websites that the parents had to log on to for each class were never updated with current grades.
2.) A child cannot learn actual computations if there is no paper and pencil involved. The math homework on the computer is ridiculous. With this there is a long, useless story involved where the student cannot fast forward to the problems. If the student makes a mistake on one problem then he/she has to start from the beginning. Bring back paper, pencil, and real instructors to teach these basic math courses. My child's math teachers did not teach.
3.) My child's 7th grade language arts instructor could not speak to me regarding progress. This instructor apparently is always too busy concentrating on her other teaching job at FSCJ. She had no time to speak or communicate with a worried parent, ever. The teacher also graded harshly. To test her, I asked a college professor (her colleague at FSCJ) to write a paper in APA form, in lieu of my child writing it. This 7th grade middle school teacher gave it a C. She must have not read it at all because the paper was so good that it could have been published.
4.) My child had a total of 4-5 different science teachers in 6th and 7th grade. All the students suffered because of these changes. Homework and classwork was lost. Notebooks that were required for the classes and bought by the parents were taken by the former science teacher and not returned. All grades and efforts by the students were lost with these notebooks.
5.) My older two children previously attended Duval county magnet schools. This school's academics is not up to par compared with the other schools. I blame it on the academic instructors.
In contrast, the arts programs at LaVilla gave the children great opportunities in an important factor of real life; competition and creative thinking. Art students are extremely smart and have different cognitive abilities than "non-art" individuals. Their abilities and thinking are wonderfully supported and accepted as a whole by the supporters at this school.

Posted: May 21, 2016

I have had two children attend this school, and each in a different arts area. Our experience has been great, for the most part. We have some teachers that are our favorites while others not-so-much, maybe, but that's life, and part of life is figuring out how to please the person you're "working" for, whether you like him or her or not. So we view it as a life-lesson. There will be more for sure.

And as far as the comments regarding homework--neither of my children had too much homework at LaVilla.

And finally, someone mentions how the school managed to pay for the kids to go to France. Well, I'll tell you how. Each parent paid his or her own way and their child's way--that's how. It was honor to be able to sing all over France. And the cost for me and my child to participate (other than all the extra practice he and the others had to endure) was about $3500 per person. NOT FREE, and not paid for by the school. It's called Parental Involvement, and for the reviewer who thinks all public schools should have this capability without "asking for money from the parents"--I guess you're ready to pay $13 a gallon for milk and 3 times the amount for the same house/apartment you live in too.

Posted: November 13, 2014

I do think there i homework. But its nessasry homework the school is great and it challenge s the students and prepares them for the next level and beyond. Raising the standards is a great thing and thats what LaVilla does. Sending your child somewhere because you think its easier or because they have less home work is insane. Lets teach our kids time management. We wil all be better for it.I love the school

Posted: January 15, 2014

My oldest son has been in the band program for 7th and 8th grade. I have been very pleased with the school, minus interactions with one teacher that I wish my child didn't have. Other teachers have more then made up for it. I think that happens at just about any school though. The band program has been great. Parental involvement is welcomed and encouraged. We like it so much that we are hoping that our younger children end up at LaVilla, too.

Posted: August 7, 2013

Overall, I'm very pleased with Lavilla! It is a wonderful school, with terrific arts area teachers! My child was in the Vocal department, and she received wonderful instruction. Mr. Pendry ( a vocal teacher ) is super nice, and his students adore him! Pros; It was great to have the bussing back this upcoming year, and MOST of the academic teachers are great. Cons; The administration lacks patience when dealing with their students, and they are un-cooperative. Generally, I would like to see and hear more of the principal. Of course, just like any other school, the lunches are nothing pretty. :) BUT I loved this school, and had a wonderful experience with it!!! Recommend it? YES. :)

Posted: August 4, 2013

i forgot to add periods on my last reveiw. but this school is not all the hype and there always asking kids for money. how are you going to be the best in duval when you should get money for doing your best and if your asking us for money how did they get the money to take the kids to france and let the school see bill cosby

Posted: April 14, 2013

The odds of getting into this school are practically nil! I don't know why the Duval County School Board doesn't publish kids chances of getting into this school if they are not in one of the feeder schools? My child took private art lessons and was encouraged to audition. After a grueling 3 hour audition and months of waiting we find out he was not selected. After speaking with other parents, I find out there are really only about 10 slots available for non-feeder school kids (there were probably 200 kids auditioning for art). It is my understanding that, years ago, before there were all these feeder schools, other kids had a better chance of getting in. What a waste of time and getting my child's hopes up. Again, publish the chances of one's child being selected and save everyone the hassle.

Posted: October 18, 2012

I have to say that I was really very hopeful when my son began school here. Now after one quarter I now know how children can graduate and still not be able to read. The academics at the school are awful! The arts piano area, at least for this year, is also awful! There is no instruction. The teacher doesn't actually "teach" the children! They just get access to a keyboard for 1 1/2 hours 2x's a week and are assigned pieces to perfect on their own in that time. The teachers are very disorganized and provide no help. The school has perfected the art of turning pick-up in the afternoon into a competition. I have to say again-very unorganized! I had high hopes and maybe a little to high of expectations. My child is in all advanced classes and is so bored he can barely pay attention. The school is really very over-rated. I truly feel as though the school may at one time been great-but great it no longer is! I will end with saying one positive thing; the kids at the school are very nice. There really doesn't seem to be any behavioral problems. I think the kids all really want to be there; including mine-but education is important too-it is not just all about the arts.