The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Math. The lowest is 34% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jacksonville Commons Elem
Jacksonville Commons Elementary serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Jacksonville, a military town anchored by Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The school enrolls a diverse population of about that size for its grade band, with students drawn from both military-connected families and civilian households across the city.
The student body reflects Jacksonville's demographic composition. Just over one-third of students are white, roughly a third are Black, and a fifth are Hispanic, with smaller numbers of students of Asian descent and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating economic pressure within the attendance area. Data on special education enrollment and English learners was not available in the school records.
On state testing in reading and mathematics for grades three through five in 2024-25, Jacksonville Commons reported proficiency results that reflect an academic setting with clear work ahead. In English language arts, roughly four in ten students scored at proficiency level or above on the End-of-Grade assessment. In mathematics, the rate was somewhat higher at roughly one in two. Science testing showed a notably different result; the assessment was new this year and proficiency sat at a lower rate, though families may want to look into how the school plans to address science instruction going forward, since the test itself changed.
The housing market in the 28546 zip code surrounding the school is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks. Home values are moderate, and monthly rents are similarly accessible on regional income levels. The area continues to see new residential construction, particularly family-oriented subdivisions marketed toward military-connected buyers and those seeking proximity to the base. For families relocating to Jacksonville through military assignment or seeking an affordable rental or home-purchase market, the Commons area offers reasonable entry points.
Onslow County Schools, the parent district, made three significant shifts that shape what families will experience at this school. Beginning in 2021-22, all elementary schools adopted a curriculum grounded in the Science of Reading, replacing the prior approach. This governs how every student in kindergarten through second grade receives daily foundational literacy skills instruction, and intervention decisions are driven by diagnostic assessments. For families new to the district, this reflects a lasting commitment to reading instruction based on research about how children learn to decode and fluency.
Starting in the 2023-24 school year, the district standardized school start and end times and implemented a cell phone policy that restricts device use during the school day. Elementary schools, including Jacksonville Commons, now run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In 2025 the district expanded the policy to include smartwatches, aligning with a new state law. These changes directly affect bus schedules, childcare arrangements, and the daily rhythm of school life.
The district also introduced generative AI tools in classrooms, with high school students using curriculum-connected chatbots and writing-feedback platforms. While Jacksonville Commons is an elementary school and not directly affected, this reflects the district's stance on educational technology going forward.
Jacksonville Commons is a regular public elementary school within a district serving a county-wide population. The immediate community is military-influenced, car-dependent outside downtown, and anchored by parks, greenways, and the New River. The school sits within a growing residential area where new subdivisions and downtown reinvestment are ongoing. It serves a student population working below proficiency benchmarks in state assessments, which means families should have direct conversations with the school about literacy support, mathematics instruction, and how the school uses diagnostic data to place students in interventions.
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