JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Going back to school hasn’t been easy for some Duval County students, with some struggling just to get into the classroom.
An enrollment logjam at Atlantic Coast High School on the Southside has families with students who aren't already enrolled waiting for hours on end both Monday and Tuesday.
A parent reached out to First Coast News after spending several hours waiting with their ninth grader back-to-back days, only to go home without the student ever making it to the classroom.
She said there were more than a hundred parents and students in the same boat for the first day of school. A teacher and student confirmed there were long lines at the front office Monday and Tuesday.
Some parents in the carline Tuesday say they've been there before.
"I retired from the military last September," said Atlantic Coast High School Parent Frank Wesley. "It was the same thing. It took us a while to get in here. We had to join the queue."
Wesley says his two Atlantic Coast High schoolers missed the first few days of their first year at the school last year - while they were stuck waiting out registration.
This year, he says it was a relief not having to deal with that headache with them already enrolled.
"We were able to get right in the door, as opposed to last year, where when you're on that waiting list, you're probably getting the best of what's left," said Wesley.
Other parents in the car line said they've been through it too, one even said they spent a full week sitting at the front of the school to get their child enrolled.
A Duval County Schools spokesperson says there has not been any computer issues or other delays, just a lot of demand.
That spokesperson is advising parents to start early online and bring documents to the school while they are open all summer long.
Atlantic Coast High School enrolled 46 students Monday and another 30 Tuesday.
Wesley says the school has been a great fit for his family and it was worth the wait.
"It's a struggle, I understand that, but it's worth the wait if you can go through the process," said Wesley.
Hopefully, with 76 already enrolled in two days, things will start to speed up, so these students don't miss too much of their first week.