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, 2025.

This ONE application includes all high school accelerated programs. On the application, parents may make up to two (2) choice selections; however, they may choose to make one (1) selection only. Parents should be sure that if a second selection is made, it is a selection that both the parent and their child will be happy with should they be offered a seat.

Applications go live through the parent Focus account at 8am on Dec. 1, 2025 and must be submitted by 11:59pm on Jan. 15, 2026.

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 2026-27):

be proficient in Reading based on the Grade 7 FAST/PM3, Grade 7 PMA2/PMA3, , OR Grade 7 Spring Exact Path;
be proficient in Math based on the Grade 7 FAST/PM3, Grade 7 PMA2/PMA3, OR Grade 7 Spring Exact Path;
be enrolled in or have already completed Algebra I; and
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).

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).

Important Dates

Monday, December 1, 2025: HSAP application opens at 8:00 AM in the Focus Parent Portal
Thursday, January 15, 2026: HSAP application closes.
Friday, February 13, 2026: Decision notifications will be sent to the email address associated with the Focus Parent Portal Account used to complete the application.
Friday, February 20, 2026: Legal Parents/Guardians wishing to cancel their child's HSAP seat should email (HSAP@duvalschools.org) by this date.

For assistance with completing the High School Acceleration Programs Application, please contact the Office of School Choice at Email School Choice or visit them at 4037 Boulevard Center Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207, First Floor.