Racial Achievement Gaps Persist in Alachua County Schools

Despite initiatives, disparities remain among white and Black students in Florida county

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:35am

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For decades, Alachua County's schools have faced scrutiny over stark racial achievement gaps that have proven difficult to narrow. Despite various initiatives, community members and education experts say disparities persist - shaped by ineffective state policy, high staff turnover and historic inequities. The county had the second-highest achievement gap statewide between white and Black students in ELA and math in 2025. Factors like poverty, lack of access to quality pre-K, and teacher turnover in high-need schools contribute to the ongoing challenges.

Why it matters

The persistent racial achievement gaps in Alachua County schools highlight the systemic barriers and inequities that continue to impact educational outcomes for students of color. These disparities have far-reaching consequences, limiting opportunities and perpetuating cycles of disadvantage. Addressing these gaps is crucial for ensuring all students have access to a quality education and the chance to reach their full potential.

The details

Alachua County implemented an equity plan in 2018 to narrow or eliminate the achievement gap between white and Black students by 2028. The plan included measures like raising the reading achievement of Black learners and increasing participation in advanced programs. However, nearly eight years later, the gaps remain among the largest in the state. Factors contributing to the disparities include lack of access to quality pre-K, high teacher turnover in low-performing schools due to state evaluation policies, and the historical legacy of segregation and uneven investment in different neighborhoods.

  • In 2025, Alachua County had the second-highest achievement gap statewide between white and Black students in ELA and math.
  • Alachua County's equity plan was introduced in 2018 with the goal of narrowing or eliminating the achievement gap by 2028.

The players

Caitlin Gallingane

A former teacher at Duval Early Learning Academy in East Gainesville who now works as a clinical associate professor in UF's College of Education.

Tina Certain

An Alachua County School Board member who became involved in local advocacy after volunteering at a Title I school in East Gainesville and seeing disparities compared to schools in west Gainesville.

Nasseeka Denis

The interim supporting executive director of Aces in Motion, a nonprofit that provides academic support and resources to middle and high school students, mostly working with Black students in East Gainesville.

Nancy Dowd

A retired UF law professor who said that even decades after desegregation, the structure of gifted and magnet programs create 'islands' of white students within predominantly Black schools, mirroring historic divides of segregation.

Susan B. Neuman

A childhood and early literacy professor at New York University who previously served as assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education, and said poverty is one of the strongest predictors of student success.

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What they’re saying

“Not only are you trying to teach them, starting on day one, academics, but you are also teaching them how to be at school.”

— Caitlin Gallingane, Former teacher

“There's no continuity in those high-need schools. If you're constantly changing the teaching staff, constantly changing the principal, the principal cannot make and build relationships with their staff.”

— Tina Certain, Alachua County School Board member

“The misconception is that the students don't want to learn, when in reality, for a lot of students, it's survival.”

— Nasseeka Denis, Interim supporting executive director of Aces in Motion

“You're operating against a context that is not designed to achieve equality. It's designed to perpetuate hierarchy, and that hierarchy is a racial hierarchy.”

— Nancy Dowd, Retired UF law professor

What’s next

The Alachua County School Board plans to continue monitoring the district's equity plan and explore additional strategies to address the persistent achievement gaps between white and Black students.

The takeaway

The racial achievement gaps in Alachua County schools reflect the deep-rooted systemic inequities that continue to shape educational outcomes for students of color. Addressing these disparities will require a comprehensive, long-term approach that tackles the complex web of factors, from inadequate funding for early childhood education to high teacher turnover in high-need schools. Sustained community engagement and policy reforms will be crucial to making meaningful progress and ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed.