Duval County Public Schools - Every Student. Every Day.

Aug. 13, 2025 – For students and staff attending Southside Estates Elementary and Jean Ribault High schools, this marks the start of a historic school year – both communities are now home to brand new, state-of-the-art campuses.  

“It’s huge! It’s like the size of a high school,” said Victor Herrera, a fifth grader at Southside Estates. “I’m excited to go here, because it’s going to be a new experience.” 

“It feels amazing! I’ve been waiting for this moment since my freshman year when I found out they were going to tear the building down and give us a new school,” said Marlee-Deve Glover, a senior and reigning Miss Jean Ribault.  

Funding for both schools was made possible through the voter-approved half-penny sales tax. District leaders, elected officials, and other community members celebrated the new campuses in back-to-back ribbon-cutting ceremonies in the days leading up to the start of school.  

Southside Estates Elementary School, which now unites students from the former Windy Hill Elementary, stands at 101,000 square feet. Some of the building’s standout features include a dedicated computer lab, a multipurpose cafetorium, and four playgrounds.  

The 234,000-square-foot Jean Ribault High School features upgraded spaces for its culinary and nursing programs, a new library, and a rooftop garden. Officials also cut the ribbon on a new, student-run VyStar Credit Union branch.