Best Public Schools in Coconut Creek, FL

The city of Coconut Creek, Florida, is home to 9 schools within the Broward County Public Schools district, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade with a mix of traditional brick-and-mortar and virtual options. The standout performer is Broward Virtual Franchise, a high school with a 5-star rating, a 98.7% graduation rate, and a perfect 0% chronic absenteeism rate, making it a top choice for families seeking a rigorous online education. In stark contrast, Dave Thomas Education Center West struggles significantly, with a 1-star rating, a 43.2% graduation rate, and an alarming 79.9% chronic absenteeism rate, highlighting severe challenges. The only middle school, Lyons Creek Middle School, is a powerhouse, earning a 4-star rating and achieving 95% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 100% in Geometry, far exceeding district and state averages.

Key metrics reveal a wide performance gap across the city. The weighted average graduation rate is 82.9%, dragged down by Dave Thomas, while Monarch High School boasts a 96.2% graduation rate but has a concerning 57.7% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly double the district average. Coconut Creek High School has the lowest per-student spending at $8,573 but performs better than Dave Thomas, which spends $13,310 per student. The virtual schools, Broward Virtual Instruction Program (K-5) and Broward Virtual Franchise, both have 0% absenteeism, but the elementary program shows variability with excellent ELA scores but below-average math scores.

Interesting takeaways include the strong correlation between socioeconomic factors and performance, with schools like Coconut Creek Elementary School (48.39% free/reduced lunch) facing higher absenteeism and lower test scores compared to more affluent schools. Spending does not directly predict success, as Dave Thomas spends more than Winston Park Elementary School and Tradewinds Elementary School but performs worse. Monarch High’s high absenteeism is a red flag for future performance, while Lyons Creek Middle School’s advanced coursework success is a bright spot, suggesting a strong pipeline for students to take high school-level classes early.