Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 33319

Zip code 33319 in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, is home to two elementary schools—Central Charter School (serving grades K-8) and Park Lakes Elementary School (serving grades PK-5)—both part of the Broward County Public School District, offering a clear contrast between a large charter school and a traditional public school.

Park Lakes Elementary School stands out as the strongest performing traditional elementary school in the area, showing a remarkable upward trajectory in its state ranking from the 33rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 56th percentile in 2025-2026. Its 2025-2026 test scores are consistently at or above district and state averages in core subjects like English Language Arts and Math, with 5th-grade Science proficiency reaching 64% (above the district's 63% and state's 60%). In contrast, Central Charter School presents a unique paradox: while its overall state ranking is low (31st percentile) and its core FAST test scores in ELA and Math for grades 3-8 generally fall below district and state averages, it achieves exceptional results in high school-level End-of-Course exams, with 100% proficiency in Biology 1 and 91% in Geometry. This suggests the charter school is highly effective at accelerating advanced students into high school coursework, while the majority of its student body struggles with grade-level standards.

Both schools face a significant shared challenge with chronic absenteeism, with Park Lakes Elementary at 34.9% and Central Charter School at 31.9%, both above the state average of 31.4%. Interestingly, Park Lakes Elementary spends $789 more per student ($11,775 vs. $10,986) than Central Charter School, and this higher spending correlates with better overall performance in core subjects and a higher state ranking. For parents, the choice is clear: Park Lakes Elementary offers consistent, improving academic growth for all students, while Central Charter School may be an excellent fit for a gifted child seeking advanced coursework but challenging for a student needing grade-level support.