Pinewood Elementary School

Pinewood Elementary School in North Lauderdale, FL, is a public school serving 551 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the Broward district, and it has become a standout turnaround story in the area.

Pinewood has shown remarkable academic growth, rising from a low point in the 2022-2023 school year to a 3-star rating in the 65th percentile by 2025-2026. This is a dramatic improvement of 38 percentile points, making it the most improved school in its vicinity. In contrast, nearby schools like Broadview Elementary (28th percentile) and North Lauderdale Elementary (32nd percentile) remain in the bottom third of the state. A key strength is math: 81% of 4th graders and 63% of 5th graders are proficient, outpacing both district and state averages. Science scores have also surged, with 5th grade proficiency nearly doubling from 33% to 63% in two years, now exceeding the state average. This is a stark contrast to Imagine Charter School at North Lauderdale, where only 43% of 5th graders are proficient in science.

Pinewood also stands out when compared to Panacea Prep Charter School, which has a much lower rate of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch (11.3%) and a high student-to-teacher ratio (38.3:1). Despite these differences, Pinewood matches or exceeds Panacea Prep in 5th grade ELA (70% vs. 63%) and 5th grade science (63% vs. 50%), all while serving a more economically diverse student body and maintaining a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1. Chronic absenteeism has also declined to 32.2%, now below the district average, signaling improved student engagement. This combination of strong academic momentum, targeted math and science instruction, and effective use of resources makes Pinewood a compelling choice for families in North Lauderdale.