Best Public Schools in Margate, FL

The city of Margate, Florida, is home to 10 schools within the Broward school district, serving approximately 6,775 students across elementary, middle, high, and alternative education levels in a diverse suburban community.

The educational landscape in Margate is sharply divided between standout performers and schools facing significant challenges. Atlantic Technical College leads as the top high school, ranking in the 98th percentile statewide with a perfect 100% graduation rate and exceptional test scores across all subjects. Rise Academy School Of Science And Technology is the top elementary-level school, earning a 4-star rating for three consecutive years with very low chronic absenteeism at just 5.4%. In stark contrast, Suned High School Of North Broward is in crisis, ranking in the 10th percentile with a critically low 24.9% graduation rate and a staggering 96.2% chronic absenteeism rate. Margate Middle School presents a unique paradox: while ranked low overall, its advanced students achieve elite-level proficiency rates of 90% or higher in Algebra 1, Geometry, and Biology, suggesting a strong program for high-achievers but struggles with the general student body.

Chronic absenteeism emerges as the defining issue, with Ascend Career Academy also showing a high rate of 80.6%, while schools like Broward Math And Science Schools (0.3%) and West Broward Academy (2.6%) have exceptionally low rates. Per-student spending varies widely, from $15,224 at Atlantic West Elementary School to $9,998 at West Broward Academy, but higher spending does not guarantee better performance. Traditional public elementary schools like Margate Elementary School and Liberty Elementary School serve higher percentages of students receiving free/reduced lunch, while top-performing schools have much lower rates, though poverty alone does not explain the struggles at Suned and Ascend, which have low free/reduced lunch percentages but face severe absenteeism issues.