Best Public Schools in Zip Code 33460

The five public schools in zip code 33460, serving Lake Worth, Florida, are all part of the Palm Beach School District and include four elementary schools and one high school, with a total enrollment of 6,143 students and a high level of economic need reflected in an average free/reduced lunch rate of 68.4%.

The standout school in the area is North Grade K-8, which is a fascinating case of a "hidden gem" middle school. While its elementary grades rank in the 13th percentile, its middle school grades achieve exceptional results, including 100% proficiency in Algebra 1, Civics, and 8th Grade Science and ELA. In contrast, Barton Elementary School is the lowest-performing school, consistently ranking in the bottom 10% of Florida elementary schools. Highland Elementary School shows the most improvement, with its state ranking more than doubling over three years, and its 5th graders achieving 74% proficiency in Math, well above state averages. South Grade Elementary School spends the most per student at $16,317 but has a lower state ranking, while Lake Worth High School spends the least ($13,606) yet boasts a strong 95.6% graduation rate, exceeding district and state averages.

Key metrics reveal that spending does not directly correlate with performance, as the two highest-spending schools have lower rankings than the lowest-spending high school. Lake Worth High School presents a mixed profile with an excellent graduation rate but alarmingly low proficiency in Algebra 1 (16%) and 9th/10th Grade ELA (31-39%). Math is a relative strength for elementary schools, with several outperforming state averages. The average chronic absenteeism rate across the five schools is 26.3%, higher than the district average but lower than the state average, with South Grade Elementary having the lowest rate at 20.4%.