Somerset Village Academy

Somerset Village Academy is a small K-5 elementary school in Wilton Manors, FL, serving 254 students as part of the Broward County Public School District, and it has achieved a remarkable academic turnaround over the past five years, rising from the bottom 20-30% of Florida elementary schools to a 4-star rating in the 72nd percentile for the 2025-2026 school year.

This school is a standout for its exceptional math performance, with proficiency rates significantly higher than both district and state averages across all tested grades. For example, in 4th-grade math, 86% of students were proficient, compared to 72% in the district and 65% statewide—the highest among nearby schools, including Floranada Elementary. Science is also a consistent strength, with 70% of 5th graders proficient, far exceeding the district (57%) and state (55%) averages. What makes this even more impressive is that the school achieves these results with significantly less funding per student—$9,746 per student, which is roughly $5,000 to $11,000 less than peers like Thurgood Marshall Elementary ($17,414) and Bennett Elementary ($21,025). This efficiency is a key differentiator, especially when compared to schools with similar poverty rates that spend more but achieve less.

Despite serving a high-poverty population, with nearly 90% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Somerset Village Academy outperforms schools with much lower poverty rates, such as Wilton Manors Elementary (49.63% poverty) and Oakland Park Elementary (55.56% poverty), in nearly every subject and grade level. Chronic absenteeism, while improved from 36.9% to 26.2%, remains a challenge, but it is lower than the district average (33.6%) and many nearby schools like North Side Elementary (39.9%) and Sunland Park Academy (54.9%). This school is a powerful example of how focused instruction and efficient resource management can overcome significant socioeconomic barriers, making it a top choice for families in the area.