A+ School – Florida Department of Education

Eight Consecutive Years - 2001-2008

National Leader School - International Center for Leadership Education

One of 25 model schools in Florida recognized for “delivering an academically rigorous and relevant curriculum,” 2005, 2006

Best Academic High Schools – Newsweek Magazine

Top 1.5% nationwide, in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

National Signature School - Grammy Foundation

Top 1% nationwide, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

National GOLD Grammy Signature School – Grammy Foundation

Top 3 school music programs nationwide – 2007, 2008

Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Competition Winner – Jazz at Lincoln Center -2006

National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence - U.S. Department of Education

Florida Music Demonstration School – Florida Department of Education & Florida Music Educators’ Association – 2007-2010

Exemplary School Award – International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education 2007

Community Partnership Award – International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education

2007 – Awarded for New View collaborative project between DA, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, and the Clara White Mission.

Arts Innovation Award – International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education

2007 – Awarded for DA’s Issues Based Theatre program

National Arts Recognition and Talent Search - Three Presidential Scholars in the Arts in the last five years; over 128 DA students recognized for excellence in arts

National Service Learning Leader School - U.S. Department of Education

Florida Five Star School – Florida Department of Education

Consistently ranked among the top three Duval County public high schools on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.