Best Public Schools in Boca Raton, FL

The city of Boca Raton, Florida, is home to 26 public schools serving approximately 25,000 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels, primarily within the Palm Beach district, with the standout A.D. Henderson University School & Fau High School belonging to the Fau Lab School district.

Boca Raton’s schools are generally high-performing, but a few stand out dramatically. A.D. Henderson University School & Fau High School is an anomaly, achieving near-perfect test scores and a 100% graduation rate while spending the least per student ($9,201) and having the largest class sizes (33:1). Among traditional high schools, Spanish River Community High School leads with a 99.2% graduation rate and top 10% state ranking, while Olympic Heights Community High and West Boca Raton High School boast near-perfect graduation rates of 99.8% and 99.7%, respectively. For middle schools, Don Estridge High Technical Middle School is the clear star, consistently ranked in the top 3% of Florida middle schools with 100% proficiency in Algebra 1. At the elementary level, Waters Edge Elementary School is a top-tier performer, reaching the 99th percentile in state rankings for 2023-2024.

A key takeaway is the "7th Grade Math Slump" observed across all middle schools, where math proficiency drops significantly from 6th to 7th grade before rebounding in 8th grade—a pattern seen at Eagles Landing Middle School and Loggers' Run Community Middle School. Chronic absenteeism is a leading indicator of trouble, with the highest rates at Olympus International Academy (36.8%) and J. C. Mitchell Elementary School (26.2%) correlating with lower performance. Per-student spending varies widely, from $9,201 at A.D. Henderson to $18,431 at Coral Sunset Elementary School, with higher spending often directed to schools with greater needs.