NORTHEAST FLORIDA – Hundreds of vaping-related incidents were reported across North Florida’s three largest school counties during the 2024–25 school year, according to data from the Florida Department of Education’s School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting system.
The I-TEAM analyzed the data county by county, breaking down which schools logged the highest numbers — and what health experts say is at stake for the students involved.
Duval County
Three Duval County high schools led the region in reported vaping incidents:
- Mandarin High School — 112 incidents
- Ed White High School — 106 incidents
- Terry Parker High School — 84 incidents
St. Johns County
St. Johns County schools also reported significant numbers:
- Pedro Menendez High School — 108 incidents
- Tocoi Creek High School — 74 incidents
- St. Augustine High School — 63 incidents
Clay County
In Clay County, three schools rounded out the regional picture:
- Middleburg High School — 65 incidents
- Clay High School — 46 incidents
- Keystone Heights Junior-Senior High School — 35 incidents
The numbers represent reported incidents — not necessarily the number of individual students involved.
What doctors say about vaping and young people
Dr. Steven Goldberg, chief medical officer at HealthTrack, a nationwide overnight diagnostic laboratory, says the health risks tied to vaping are serious — and lasting.
Goldberg says vapes contain nicotine, solvents, flavorings, irritants, metals, and other toxic byproducts.
“They can cause elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure. They can lower your thinking capability, disrupt your memory, your concentration,” Goldberg said. “Those are all bad for adolescents and children going to school.”
He says he regularly urges young people to consider the long-term consequences of the choices they make as teenagers.
“I remind young people that they’re making choices for the 30-year-old, the 40-year-old and the 50-year-old,” Goldberg said. “And you don’t want to make choices that are irreversible and bad for that older self. So you really want to think twice about using e-cigarettes.”
How schools handle vaping incidents
How a vaping incident is handled can depend on what’s inside the device.
Clay County Schools, for example, draws a clear distinction: if marijuana or another drug is found inside a vape, the student can face higher disciplinary action and potential law enforcement involvement.