To address some of Duval County's current trends, both good and bad, the Blueprint Task Force developed nine Key Benchmarks as the driving forces of the 10 to 20-year implementation process. These benchmarks present clear goals for the entire community, and they will be used to measure Blueprint for Prosperity progress each year.

Progress in all of these areas is needed if we are to reach Blueprint's primary goal of raising the income of all Duval County residents. We encourage all organizations to become Blueprint Partners and adopt a strategy that will help our community achieve these Key Benchmarks. 

The specific benchmark indicators within each area (presented as PDFs below) present clear goals for the entire community. They are used to measure Blueprint for Prosperity progress each year.

 = Trending unfavorably   = Maintaining status quo   = Trending favorably

• Duval County Residents' Income
  •  Median Household Income
  •  Per Capita Income
• Education
  •  Early Learning/Kindergarten Readiness Rate
  •  Graduation Rate
  •  Performing at Grade Level
  •  Graduation Rate Disparities
  •  Reading Disparities
  •  Math Disparities
  •  Educational Attainment
• Jobs (by place of work in Duval County)
  •  Average Annual Wage
  •  Net Job Growth
• Racial Income Disparities
  •  Per Capita by Race
• Poverty Rate
  •  Poverty Rate
• Family Stability
  •  Unwed Mother Birth Rate
  •  Marriage Dissolution Rate
• Public Safety
  •  Murder Rate
• Health Care
  •  Infant Death Rate
• Housing
  •  Affordable Housing

(Click here for all Key Benchmark indicators in a single document)

The data in the indicators reflects an overall improving economic picture.  And while some early signs of a slowing job market emerge, Duval County is less impacted than either the state or the nation. However, significant gaps in income still exist between blacks, whites and Hispanics.  Our educational picture shows positive trends in some areas, such as graduation rates, movement toward closing the achievement gaps among students is progressing slowly.  Trends for the family stability and public safety Key Benchmarks should be a concern to everyone.

Because of the volatility of the U.S. economy beginning in 2007, it is important to remember that in some cases the reporting of Key Benchmark data from national sources can lag by a year or more.  The Benchmark Team also cautions that aggregating county-wide statistics can hide wide disparities in quality of life indicators within the county, masking a world of racial and socioeconomic disparities.  This can be seen in the income and educational Benchmark data but it also occurs throughout all the focus areas of the Blueprint for Prosperity.

Progress in all of the Key Benchmark areas is needed if we are to reach Blueprint's primary goal of raising the income of all Duval County residents. We encourage all organizations to become Blueprint Partners and adopt a strategy that will help our community achieve these Key Benchmarks.