Summary:
Zip code 33476, serving the Pahokee, FL area, is home to two high schools: Pahokee Middle-Senior High (grades 6-12) and Everglades Preparatory Academy (grades 8-12), both part of the Palm Beach district. These two schools offer vastly different educational experiences, creating a clear standout and a significant challenge within the same community.
Pahokee Middle-Senior High is the higher-performing school by a wide margin. It ranks in the 54th percentile statewide (385th out of 838 schools) and shows a positive upward trend from the previous year. The school boasts a remarkable 99% graduation rate, far exceeding both the district (93.5%) and state (92.2%) averages. Its chronic absenteeism rate is an excellent 14.4%, less than half the district rate, and it outperforms state averages in Geometry, 10th Grade ELA, and 8th Grade Math—with 8th Grade Math proficiency reaching 77%. In stark contrast, Everglades Preparatory Academy ranks in the bottom 12th percentile (735th out of 838) and recorded 0% proficiency in Algebra 1, 8th Grade Science, 8th Grade ELA, and 8th Grade Math. Its chronic absenteeism rate is a catastrophic 57.2%, nearly double the state average.
A key takeaway is the "graduation rate paradox" at Everglades, which graduates 90% of students despite near-zero test scores, raising questions about academic rigor. Both schools spend nearly the same amount per student (around $18,000), proving that funding alone does not drive success. The data strongly suggests that school culture and student engagement—as reflected in the starkly different absenteeism rates—are the true differentiators. For parents, Pahokee Middle-Senior High clearly provides a much stronger foundation for academic achievement and graduation.
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