Best Public Schools in Fort Pierce, FL

The city of Fort Pierce, Florida, is home to 21 public schools within the St. Lucie district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a community where the district holds a 2-star rating and ranks 38th out of 70 in the state.

For parents, the standout school is Lincoln Park Academy, a high-performing 6-12 school that consistently ranks in the top 20% of Florida high schools with a 4-star rating, a perfect 100% graduation rate, and low chronic absenteeism at 22.9%. Another top performer is Fairlawn Elementary School, a consistent 5-star school with the lowest chronic absenteeism among non-alternative schools at just 14.0% and exceptional proficiency rates, such as 85% of 5th graders proficient in Science. In contrast, the two main comprehensive high schools, Fort Pierce Central High School and Fort Pierce Westwood Academy The W.E.S.T. Prep Magnet, boast graduation rates near 97% but struggle with state test proficiency, with only 28% of Fort Pierce Central students proficient in Algebra 1. The most improved school is Weatherbee Elementary School, which jumped from the 9th to the 32nd percentile in one year, while the most challenged is Dale Cassens Education Complex, an alternative school with a 0% graduation rate and 75.3% chronic absenteeism.

Key metrics reveal that chronic absenteeism is the most critical predictor of success, with top schools like Fairlawn and Lincoln Park having rates far below the district average of 34.4%. The city’s schools serve a predominantly low-income population, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 53%, and per-student spending varies dramatically from $7,711 at Pace Center For Girls Treasure Coast to $35,666 at Dale Cassens, showing that higher spending does not guarantee higher performance. A notable paradox is the disconnect between high graduation rates and low test scores at Fort Pierce Central and Fort Pierce Westwood, suggesting a gap between diploma requirements and academic mastery. Additionally, the two middle schools, Forest Grove Middle School and Dan McCarty Middle School, serve similar populations but have different strengths, with Forest Grove excelling in advanced math while struggling with grade-level math, highlighting the need for balanced support across all student levels.