Summary:
Zip code 33305, encompassing Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors, Florida, is home to two schools within the Broward County Public School District: Fort Lauderdale High School (grades 9-12) and Wilton Manors Elementary School (grades PK-5).
Fort Lauderdale High School is the standout performer in this area, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 22% of Florida high schools. It boasts a remarkable 98.7% graduation rate and excels in humanities, with 76% proficiency in 10th-grade ELA and 85% in US History. However, the school struggles with Algebra 1, where only 52% of students are proficient, and has a surprisingly high chronic absenteeism rate of 46.9%, far exceeding district and state averages. In contrast, Wilton Manors Elementary School is more average, ranking in the 40th percentile statewide. It shows relative strength in 4th-grade math (65% proficiency) but lags in early literacy, with only 48% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA, and in 5th-grade science (53% proficiency).
A key takeaway is the inverse relationship between spending and performance: Wilton Manors Elementary spends $14,767 per student—47% more than the high school's $10,028—yet achieves lower academic outcomes. This disparity is partly explained by the elementary school serving a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (49.63% free/reduced lunch vs. 35.93% at the high school). The data suggests that while Fort Lauderdale High School provides a strong academic environment for college-bound students, its high absenteeism is a concern. Meanwhile, Wilton Manors Elementary School offers smaller class sizes (15.9:1 student-teacher ratio) and higher per-pupil funding, but families should be aware of its challenges in early literacy and science.
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