Choosing the right public school for your child is a challenging process, especially when it involves a large school district with lots of options. This list will break down the best schools in the Palm Beach County School District (PBCSD) to help you make the best decision for your child’s education.
PK-5
If your child is ready to start preschool or is between kindergarten and 5th grade, the following schools will be your best bet:
Wynnebrook Elementary School
Credit: Wynnebrook Elementary SchoolLocated in the central region of the PBCSD, Wynnebrook Elementary opened to the public in 1966. The school has an “A-rating” from the school district and offers programs for gifted students. With a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, students have an advantage for one-on-one help when needed. Wynnebrook has a reading proficiency of 76% and math proficiency of 81%, lending to its premiere placement among PK-5 schools.
The school reports an enrollment of approximately 900 students. One thing to note for Wynnebrook is that it does have a uniform required dress code, regardless of in-person or virtual learning format. If you want to find out more about Wynnebrook Elementary, you can do so here.
The school reports an enrollment of approximately 900 students. One thing to note for Wynnebrook is that it does have a uniform required dress code, regardless of in-person or virtual learning format. If you want to find out more about Wynnebrook Elementary, you can do so here.
Dwight D Eisenhower Elementary
Opened in 1970, Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School is another A-rated school within the PBCSD for children in the PK-5 grade range. Dwight D. Eisenhower is located in the northern region of the district and offers upper-level studies for gifted students, including “Environmental Science and Field Research.”
Coming in second on this ranked list for PK-5, this school has a reported 57% proficiency in reading and 67% in math. The school also offers in-home and online tutoring (of which more information is available on the school’s website.) In terms of student engagement, Dwight D. Eisenhower ranks even higher than Wynnebrook, with a student-teacher ratio of 10:1. This is due in part to lower enrollment, with a student body of around 500 kids. Similar to other schools in the district, Dwight D Eisenhower has a dress code that must be adhered to, but a uniform is not required.
Grades 6-8
Middle school isn’t an easy time for children or parents—but a quality education can still exist among the cliques and hormonal angst.
Wellington Landings Middle School
Taking the top rank in middle schools, Wellington Landings is located in the central region of the PBCSD in Wellington, Florida. Opening in 1987, Wellington Landings sees a yearly enrollment of over 1,300 middle schoolers. With an A-rating from the district, Wellington Landings also has the highest proficiency ratings for reading and math at 79% and 83%, respectively.
The student-teacher ratio is listed as approximately 19:1. This no-uniform, dress-code enforced school offers a “Fine Arts Academy” and a “Pre-Information Technology Academy,” intended to help students focus on what they feel passionate about. Wellington Landings also received a high score for its diversity and for offering a variety of after-school programs and athletic opportunities.
The student-teacher ratio is listed as approximately 19:1. This no-uniform, dress-code enforced school offers a “Fine Arts Academy” and a “Pre-Information Technology Academy,” intended to help students focus on what they feel passionate about. Wellington Landings also received a high score for its diversity and for offering a variety of after-school programs and athletic opportunities.
Polo Park Middle School
A close second to Wellington Landings is Polo Park Middle School. Opened in 2000 and also located in Wellington, Florida, Polo Park is situated 12 minutes away from its more crowded counterpart. Polo Park has a little over half the student body of Wellington Landings, with about 850 students across three grades. It also features an A-rating and a 19:1 student-teacher ratio, with testing proficiencies of 77% for reading and 81% for math.
Polo Park is differentiated by its program offerings: Pre-IT Magnet and Pre-Engineering. Within a 12-minute travel time, your child has a choice between a Fine Arts Program or two highly science-focused programs. Polo Park Middle School offers a variety of clubs as well as athletics.
Polo Park is differentiated by its program offerings: Pre-IT Magnet and Pre-Engineering. Within a 12-minute travel time, your child has a choice between a Fine Arts Program or two highly science-focused programs. Polo Park Middle School offers a variety of clubs as well as athletics.
High School
Suncoast High School
Photo credit: Suncoast High SchoolSuncoast Community High School is located in the northern region of the PBCSD and is one of the top two high schools in the district. Suncoast has an A-rating from the district and claims an amazing 99% graduation rate through multiple specialized curriculums. These include a computer science program; an “Innovative, Interactive Technology” program; an International Baccalaureate (IB) program; and a “Math, Science, and Engineering” program.
Suncoast has a student body of ~1,600 and reports 77% enrollment for AP classes. The school’s average SAT score is 1310, with an average ACT score of 29. The student-teacher ratio is 19:1, with student proficiencies testing at 89% in reading and 77% in math. This school does not require a uniform but does have a common dress code.
Suncoast Community High School is located in Riviera Beach but is open to the entire district.
Suncoast has a student body of ~1,600 and reports 77% enrollment for AP classes. The school’s average SAT score is 1310, with an average ACT score of 29. The student-teacher ratio is 19:1, with student proficiencies testing at 89% in reading and 77% in math. This school does not require a uniform but does have a common dress code.
Suncoast Community High School is located in Riviera Beach but is open to the entire district.
Boca Raton High School
Boca Raton High School is located in the southern part of the PBCSD in the city of the same name. Serving a student body of more than 3,500, Boca Raton High School is larger than Suncoast but still achieves strong ratings. It offers a variety of advanced programs such as Culinary Arts and Pre-Med. The school reports no dress code.
Boca Raton High School also reports a 99% graduation rate but with a lower 39% enrollment rate for AP programs. However, the average SAT and ACT scores remain high, at 1200 and 28, respectively. Like Suncoast, Boca Raton High School’s student-teacher ratio is 19:1, and its math (68%) and reading proficiencies (70%) are high.
Boca Raton High School also reports a 99% graduation rate but with a lower 39% enrollment rate for AP programs. However, the average SAT and ACT scores remain high, at 1200 and 28, respectively. Like Suncoast, Boca Raton High School’s student-teacher ratio is 19:1, and its math (68%) and reading proficiencies (70%) are high.
Honorable Mention: Special Education
Indian Ridge School
Photo courtesy of PBCSDIndian Ridge School is located in the center of the school district and serves K-12 students who have been identified as having emotional or behavioral disorders. The school is academically focused but also has structured time during the day for therapy sessions.
Students have the assistance of a 4:1 student-teacher ratio, and the current enrollment is less than 100 students. Originally opened in 1994, the school received a new facility in 2007 and is a well-appointed choice for special needs students.
In a district that contains 185 schools, it can be overwhelming to find the best fit for your child and their future. This guide gives only two of numerous schools within each age range, and each has earned top marks within the district. For information about admissions and registration, visit the official PBCSD portal. For resources regarding COVID-19 and the district’s procedures, check here.
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If you’re looking to relocate to the Palm Beach area from outside the district, contact The Jessica Gulick Group to find the real estate that best suits your child’s future in the PBCSD. The Jessica Gulick Group is based out of Boca Raton and serves Delray, Fort Lauderdale, and Lighthouse Point.
Students have the assistance of a 4:1 student-teacher ratio, and the current enrollment is less than 100 students. Originally opened in 1994, the school received a new facility in 2007 and is a well-appointed choice for special needs students.
In a district that contains 185 schools, it can be overwhelming to find the best fit for your child and their future. This guide gives only two of numerous schools within each age range, and each has earned top marks within the district. For information about admissions and registration, visit the official PBCSD portal. For resources regarding COVID-19 and the district’s procedures, check here.
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If you’re looking to relocate to the Palm Beach area from outside the district, contact The Jessica Gulick Group to find the real estate that best suits your child’s future in the PBCSD. The Jessica Gulick Group is based out of Boca Raton and serves Delray, Fort Lauderdale, and Lighthouse Point.
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