Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary schools in the 33407 zip code of Palm Beach County, Florida, serving grades from Pre-K through 8, with enrollment ranging from a small specialized program of 25 students to larger neighborhood schools of over 700 students.
Northboro Elementary School stands out as the clear academic leader, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 62nd percentile statewide, with 5th-grade math proficiency at 82% and science at 72%—both well above district and state averages. It also boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate among traditional schools at 11.9% and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.7:1. In contrast, University Preparatory Academy Palm Beach ranks in the 1st percentile with very low test scores, such as only 8% of 5th graders proficient in science, yet it has an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of 0.3%. Pleasant City Elementary School has the highest economic need, with 90.16% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, and the highest per-student spending at $17,041, but its academic performance remains low and chronic absenteeism is very high at 44.1%. Northmore Elementary School falls in the middle, with a 61.69% free/reduced lunch rate and a chronic absenteeism rate of 30.9%. The Teen Parent Program - Pk is a unique, small program serving 25 students in PK-K, focusing on educational support for a specific population.
Key takeaways for parents include that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes, as seen with Pleasant City’s high spending and low scores versus Northboro’s strong results with moderate spending. Chronic absenteeism is a critical challenge, with the lowest-performing schools having the highest rates, though University Preparatory Academy is an exception with low attendance issues but deep academic struggles. Overall, Palm Beach district schools in this zip code show a wide achievement gap, making school-level analysis essential for informed decisions.
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