Paxon School for Advanced Studies
Application Process
The DCPS Office of High School Accelerated Programs will mail letters inviting students to apply for the IB program of study to students and their families in September/October of their 8th grade year. This invitation allows students to apply to any of the four IB Diploma Programme schools in Duval County (Paxon, Stanton, Terry Parker, and Wolfson) through the High School Acceleration Program Application which goes live in the parent Focus account on Dec. 1, 2024.
This ONE application includes all high school accelerated programs. Students may select their top 2 choices.
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Applications go live through the parent Focus account at 8am on Dec. 1, 2024 and must be submitted by 11:59pm on Jan. 16, 2025.
Eligibility to Apply
Students receiving IB invitations must meet specific eligibility criteria. Eligibility criteria to apply for the IB program of study at Paxon (for 9th grade entry in 2025-26):
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be proficient in Reading based on the Grade 7 FAST/PM3, Grade 7 PMA2/PMA3, , OR Grade 7 Spring Exact Path;
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be proficient in Math based on the Grade 7 FAST/PM3, Grade 7 PMA2/PMA3, OR Grade 7 Spring Exact Path;
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be enrolled in or have already completed Algebra I; and
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earn a minimum of 70 points.
Not meeting one of these criteria automatically makes a student ineligible to be considered for an acceleration program.​
Applications will ONLY be available electronically through the parent FOCUS account (click here for information regarding how to set up a parent FOCUS account).
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Admission is limited to 150 students and is a merit-based admissions process (no priorities are given for feeder schools, sibling preference, or students classified as gifted).
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Important Dates
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Sunday, December 1, 2024: HSAP application opens at 8:00 AM in the Focus Parent Portal
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Thursday, January 16, 2025: HSAP application closes at 11:59 PM
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Friday, February 14, 2025: Decision notifications will be sent to the email address associated with the Focus Parent Portal Account used to complete the application
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Friday, February 21, 2025: Legal Parents/Guardians who do not wish for their child to participate in the program in which they have been accepted must cancel seat offered by 4:30 PM through their Focus Parent Portal Account.
Paxon Tour Dates
EVENING (provides a more in depth presentation)
Thu., Nov. 7th @6:30pm
Tue., Dec. 10th @6:30pm
DAYTIME (allows you to see the school in action during the day)
Wed., Nov. 6th @8:30am
Thu., Nov. 14th @8:30am
Thu., Nov. 21st @8:30am
Wed., Dec. 11th @8:30am
Tue., Dec. 17th @8:30am
Thu., Jan. 9th @8:30am
Wed., Jan. 15th @8:30am
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SCHOOL SHOWCASE
Sat., Jan. 11th
Tours start at:
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9:00am-10:00am
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10:45am-11:45am
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12:30pm-1:30pm
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2:00pm-3:00pm
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You do not need to RSVP to attend a tour.
Visit the DCPS HSAP website for more information regarding completing the HSAP application process in order to apply for IB at Paxon.
For questions regarding HSAP eligibility, please contact:
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Email: hsap@duvalschools.org
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For assistance with completing the HSAP application, please contact: