Media Contact:
Nan Kavanaugh
904-452-8715
nan@wearewingard.com
The Organization Will Serve in Nine Schools Throughout Duval County This School Year
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — September 8, 2025 — City Year Jacksonville, the local chapter of the national nonprofit, celebrated 60 Student Success Coaches at their Opening Day Ceremony, supported by Whataburger, on September 6, 2025, at Westside Middle School. The young leaders, 28 of which are returning for a second year, will serve in nine schools throughout Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) during the 2025-2026 school year – providing vital mentorship and academic support to students.
This year, City Year Jacksonville will return to serving at middle schools serving at Landmark and Westside Middle Schools; and will also serve at seven elementary schools including Jacksonville Heights Elementary School, Northwestern Legends Elementary School, Highlands Estates Academy, San Jose Elementary School, Andrew Robinson Elementary School, and Rutledge H. Pearson Elementary School; which City Year Jacksonville served in last year, and a new addition; Smart Pope Livingston Elementary School.
Northwestern Legends Elementary School received a D rating by the Florida Department of Education in 2024. By the end of the 2024-2025 school year, the school was given a B rating, in part due to the powerful academic mentorship provided by City Year Jacksonville Student Success Coaches. Six of the nine schools that partnered with City Year last year also saw a positive shift in their school rating, including Highlands Estates Academy, San Jose Elementary, Andrew Robinson Elementary, Crown Point Elementary, and Woodland Acres Elementary.
“We are kicking off another school year knowing our team of young leaders will make a daily, positive impact on the lives of students in our community. That is something worth celebrating,” said Allishia Bauman, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of City Year Jacksonville. “Opening Day is about acknowledging their commitment, getting energized, and rooting ourselves in our reasons for serving. We are grateful for our partnership with Duval County Public Schools, in addition to the incredible support of our community, without which we would not be able to do this important work. We are especially grateful that our first-time school partner, Westside Middle, is hosting us for Opening Day.”
Each year, City Year sites across the country kick off a new year of community service with an Opening Day ceremony, a nod to the concept of “Opening Day” in baseball. On Saturday, September 6, City Year Jacksonville celebrated a new cohort of incredible young people between the ages 18 and 25, who have dedicated the next year to serve their community. The ceremony was held at Westside Middle School, with Student Success Coaches hailing from Key West to Kentucky, as well as many from across Northeast Florida. During the ceremony, Student Success Coaches shared personal accounts as to why they have committed to serve and took the City Year Pledge.
For more information on City Year Jacksonville and how to get involved, visit www.cityyear.org/jacksonville.
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About City Year Jacksonville:
City Year helps students and schools succeed, while preparing the next generation of civically engaged leaders who can work across lines of difference. Teams of City Year Student Success Coaches provide holistic support to students, classrooms and the whole school. A 2020 study shows that the more time students spend with Student Success Coaches, the more they improve on social, behavioral and academic skills – skills that help students thrive in school and contribute to their community.
A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is supported by AmeriCorps, local school districts and private philanthropy. City Year partners with public schools in 29 communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Learn more about City Year Jacksonville at https://www.cityyear.org/jacksonville.