Best Public Schools in Fort Lauderdale, FL

The Fort Lauderdale, Florida area is home to 40 schools within the Broward County school district, including 24 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 8 high schools, and 5 alternative schools. The district is ranked 25th out of 67 districts in the state of Florida and has an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger.

Several schools stand out as high-performing, including Imagine Charter School At Weston, a 5-star elementary/middle school that consistently performs above state and district averages, as well as Bayview Elementary School and Virginia Shuman Young Elementary School, both 5-star elementary schools with strong academic performance. In contrast, some schools like Whiddon Rodgers Education Center, Sunrise High School, and several elementary schools such as Dillard Elementary, Walker Elementary, and Thurgood Marshall Elementary appear to be struggling, with low proficiency rates and rankings compared to their peers.

The data reveals a wide range of performance across the schools, with graduation rates averaging 89.7% and chronic absenteeism rates at 31.4%. Spending per student varies significantly, from around $7,800 to over $46,000 per student, and student-teacher ratios range from 7:1 to 62:1. Proficiency rates on state assessments also show a wide disparity, with top-performing schools like Imagine Charter and Bayview having 70-90% proficiency, while struggling schools like Whiddon Rodgers and Sunrise High have single-digit proficiency rates. These findings highlight the need to address the significant performance gaps and ensure equitable access to quality education for all students in the Fort Lauderdale area.