Enrollment
1,068
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Jacksonville, FL
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School
Federal NCES profile for Darnell Cookman Middle/High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120048002816
👥 S:T ratio 19
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Florida schools.
- #37 of 94
- schools in Jacksonville · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.2:1
- large classes for Florida
- 46.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School has class sizes larger than 77% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Darnell Cookman Middle/High School ranks #37 of 94 schools in Jacksonville, FL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
53.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.2:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.8%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
-10% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Darnell Cookman Middle/High School compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at Darnell Cookman Middle/High School
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Jacksonville, Florida, enrolling 1,068 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Florida schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 46.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 1,068 puts it in the larger third of Florida schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Against 735 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #266.
Its student body is led by African American (59%) and Asian (15%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 534 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 19.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 221 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,068 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 4 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Duval also operates Atlantic Coast High School (2,887 students) and Sandalwood High School (2,627 students) alongside Darnell Cookman Middle/High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Darnell Cookman Middle/High School compares
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.2:1 | ▲ 13% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.8% | ▼ 10% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,068 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.2:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,068
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
46.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.2:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 77% in Florida - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
17.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,696
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $11,167
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 534 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
121
in-school suspensions + 100 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 58.9%
Asian 15.3%
White 13.0%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
Two or More 4.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 58.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.5, Darnell Cookman Middle/High School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 15
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Duval, which includes Darnell Cookman Middle/High School.
$10,696
Per student
-4%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 40.9%
State 39.3%
Federal 19.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Darnell Cookman Middle/High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Coast High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sandalwood High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mandarin High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Duncan U. Fletcher High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| First Coast High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Darnell Cookman Middle/High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,887
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 2,627
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,343
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 2,184
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 2,098
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,068 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Darnell Cookman Middle/High School's federal record.
- Compare Darnell Cookman Middle/High School against another school. Compare schools
- Duval's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Darnell Cookman Middle/High School
How many students attend Darnell Cookman Middle/High School?
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School has 1,068 students enrolled. It is a public school in Jacksonville, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Darnell Cookman Middle/High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Darnell Cookman Middle/High School is 20.2:1, which is 13% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 29% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Darnell Cookman Middle/High School?
46.8% of students at Darnell Cookman Middle/High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Darnell Cookman Middle/High School?
The largest demographic group at Darnell Cookman Middle/High School is African American at 58.9% of enrollment, in Jacksonville, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Darnell Cookman Middle/High School?
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Darnell Cookman Middle/High School rank among schools in Jacksonville?
By Resource Investment Index, Darnell Cookman Middle/High School ranks #37 of 94 schools in Jacksonville, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Jacksonville on the city page.
Is Darnell Cookman Middle/High School a good school?
Darnell Cookman Middle/High School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Florida schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Duval?
Besides Darnell Cookman Middle/High School, Duval also operates Atlantic Coast High School (2,887 students), Sandalwood High School (2,627 students), and Mandarin High School (2,343 students). See the Duval district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.