Duval County middle school gets $2 million grant for computer science academy

A D-rated Jacksonville school is being given millions to better prepare its students for the future.

Duval County Schools on Wednesday announced a new Computer Science Academy at Northwestern Middle School.

Middle schoolers said the future in computer science is unlimited.

“I’d like to be a game designer,” said seventh grader Michael Gant.

The students said they are interested in working on the computer, designing games or developing cyber security software.

“It’s (technology) so cool, and then on top of that, if we didn’t have technology we wouldn’t be able to call people,” said Rosa Johnson.

The nearly 570 students at Northwestern Middle School will be equipped with technology next year as they learn coding, gaming, animation and sound engineering.

Duval County Public Schools created a state-of the-art computer science academy at the school, using a school improvement grant initiative.

“This is going to be a unique school and it will be a destination for students at the middle-school level,” said Duval County superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti.

The $2.1 million grant will give students the chance to learn algorithms, how to make apps and become familiar with how the internet works.

“For students, to have access to experience science will lead them to be more successful in high school, but also in college and the world of work,” said Dr. Vitti.

The STEM labs will also be implemented in 44 schools across the district.

“We provide opportunities for students to choose pathways and careers to make connections that they would have not made,”   Duval County chairman Paula Wright.

The school district believes the grant will help students find their calling in one of the world's fastest-growing industries.

Cox Media Group