Margate Elementary School

Margate Elementary School in Margate, FL, is a public school serving 962 students in grades PK-5 within the Broward district, and it has recently achieved a remarkable academic turnaround, jumping from a 1-star rating to a projected 4-star rating in just four years.

The school’s most impressive strength is its math performance, which now consistently exceeds both district and state averages across all grade levels. For example, 5th-grade math proficiency reached 79%, the highest among nearby schools and well above the district average of 69%. Science scores are also a standout, with 72% of 5th graders proficient, significantly outperforming the district (63%) and state (60%). This success is particularly notable when compared to Liberty Elementary School, a nearby traditional school with a similar student demographic, where 5th-grade math proficiency is only 55%. While Margate’s English Language Arts scores are improving, they remain slightly below district averages in 4th and 5th grades, indicating a continued focus area. The school spends a higher amount per student ($13,266) than many peers, though its student-teacher ratio of 16.5 is moderate.

Despite its academic gains, Margate Elementary faces a significant challenge with chronic absenteeism, which stood at 34.3% in the 2023-2024 school year—higher than the district and state averages. This is a stark contrast to nearby high-performing charters like Rise Academy School Of Science And Technology, which has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.4% and outperforms Margate in early-grade math. However, the fact that Margate is improving academically despite this hurdle suggests its in-school strategies are highly effective for the students who attend regularly. For parents, this school offers a compelling story of rapid improvement and strong math and science instruction, though it is worth noting the attendance challenge and the mixed ELA results in upper grades.