Fort Lauderdale is one of the most beautiful cities in Florida. It is a haven for tourists and retirees. Many of the most livable communities in the country are located in this metropolis.
While the city is big on many things, from entertainment to beaches, it also has a school system that is the 6th largest.
The size of the school district should not be a deterrent to people looking to move into that city because it is also one of the best not only in the state but in the country of the world.
Many schools in the city are on par with the best across the country. Whether you prefer to send your child to a public school, private school, or school connected to religious organizations, your students will be in great hands because the teachers have to be highly qualified.
Most schools allow their students to be well-rounded through participation in extra-curricular activities like sports, clubs, etc.
Are you researching schools to find the best fit for your kids? Continue reading this guide to schools in Fort Lauderdale to help you make a more informed decision.
Public Schools
With an average of 150 countries and languages represented in the Fort Lauderdale public school system, this is one of the most diverse in the world.
Wearing uniforms is mandatory at the public schools, which fall under the Broward County School District.
Education is provided through hundreds of schools, centers, specialized colleges, and charter schools.
Public Fort Lauderdale schools have a high minority enrollment, with one teacher to every 17 students.
Public schools have been emphasizing the involvement of parents in recent years, following the strategy used by many private institutions, which has been of great benefit to the students both educationally and emotionally.
School District: Broward County Public Schools
The city’s schools are served by a single school district, which is the Broward County Public Schools, the 2nd largest in the state of Florida and 6th in the country.
The district serves an average of 280,000 students each year from both private and public institutions.
On niche.com, a highly recognized ranking system, the district is hailed for diversity, academics, college prep, sports, resources, and facilities, plus clubs and activities.
Students in the county generally perform above average from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade in sports, academics, clubs and activities.
The reading and math proficiency levels are usually in the region of 60 percent, according to the state test scores.
The county offers Advanced Placement classes, International Baccalaureate, and gifted programs.
It is always ranked in the top 10 of the most diverse school districts in the state and the top fifteen percent for athletics.
The average Broward SAT scores are more than 1,100 each year, while the graduation rate remains above 80 percent year over year. An average of 60 percent of students in the district utilizes the free and reduced lunch programs.
The cost of living is a bit on the high side in the downtown area and other sections of the county, but it is constantly rated good for families.
High Schools in Ft Lauderdale
Advanced Placement courses, which expose students to strict, college-level work and give them the chance to earn college credit during high school, are offered at Broward County Public Schools.
However, not all courses are delivered at every high school campus. Students also have an opportunity to participate in internationally recognized programs.
The programs are Cambridge and International Baccalaureate, available to eligible students established on their home boundary.
The high schools have also partnered with Broward College, University of Florida, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to offer dual enrollment.
Meanwhile, talk about athletics and academic success and Cardinal Gibbons High School, a private institution in Fort Lauderdale, rank high. There's also the classic Ft Lauderdale High School and Stranahan High School.
The more than one thousand students at this school are usually involved in clubs & activities, are well-prepared for college and very diverse.
This Catholic high school is also a member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), which is the largest education association worldwide for private institutions.
Cardinal Gibbons High is in the Coral Springs area of the school district, one of the more affluent communities.
Ready for Junior High? Middle Schools Here
From virtual to charter schools, students benefit from various styles of education and curriculums in the Fort Lauderdale middle schools.
In the middle school category, students are required to enroll in the following nucleus courses: Mathematics, Science, English Language Arts, and Social Studies.
More than half of the private middle schools are linked to religious organizations. In recent years, Broward County has revamped the school system by closing some that were failing badly and implementing greater measures in other schools.
Schools like Arthur Ashe Middle School, which consistently averaged low in standardized test scores, were among the closures.
New River Middle School serves grades six to eight and is a public magnet school. New River is known for its amazing Peer Counselors Program.
The peer counselors seek to be role models and use their knowledge, discipline, and talents to assist staff in the media center, classrooms, offices, and tutoring.
The school has a vast number of activities such as chess club, band and dance team's, in addition to sports ranging from cross country to basketball.
The school operates at an average level academics wise and is very diverse, giving it an overall B rating in most ranking systems.
Foundation of Knowledge in Elementary Schools
The city of Fort Lauderdale has a large number of pre-K and elementary schools. You'll find traditional, charter, and magnet elementary schools under the public school system.
You'll also have access to two virtual and a Montessori Charter elementary schools.
Children indulge in sports, performing arts, games, and sports and even get homework assistance.
Rock Island Elementary School consistently averages 600 students from pre-K to grade five with a student-teacher ratio of 18-1.
The school is known for its huge farming project in which students and faculty take great pride. Their success is posted on social media with the school reaping fruits and vegetables from its yard.
The school has numerous workshops to help students, all majority of whom are minorities, to perform above average.
Most private elementary schools are connected to religious organizations and do very well academically.
Great Private Schools
Of the hundreds of schools, a large number are private institutions. With the traffic situation not as bad as neighboring cities, getting to and from private schools is relatively easy, even during rush hours.
Even if you do not live in the exact community as the school, you should consider keeping your commute time down.
The schools have an annual acceptance rate that averages 80 percent, and many are religious.
It’s important to note that private schools are not under public school regulations and are not supported by tax dollars. This leads to many private Fort Lauderdale schools being very costly.
Pine Crest School is a pre-K through the 12-grade institute, which serves an average of 1,700 students. They are a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.
If you plan on moving to the city and sending your child to Pine Crest, the ideal neighborhoods to choose would be Bay Colony, Coral Ridge, or Las Olas because they are in proximity, family-friendly, and have great amenities.
The school has been a recipient of the Jay Matthews Challenge Index, rating it the state and nation’s top private school. For STEM High Schools, Pine Crest has consistently placed in the country’s top 20 ranks annually.
The school is diverse and excels in every area, from academics to sports.
Christian Schools Serving the City
Close to 60 percent of the private Fort Lauderdale schools have religious affiliations. Most prominent among them are the Roman Catholic and Christian schools. They range from pre-K to high schools and include boarding schools.
It’s important for parents to understand that even though Christian schools except for students from all walks of life, they will be required to participate in the religious activities at the school.
Christian schools operate on their beliefs and are usually run by Christian organizations.
Christian schools like Bethany are beneficial to those people who practice certain religious beliefs at home and church and prefer their children to be in an institution that recognizes those beliefs.
As long as you understand that with your child getting great educational benefits from a Christian school, it also means being taught Christian principles, then it will be fine sending your student there.
None of the more than 20 Catholic schools in Fort Lauderdale has a negative rating.
Regardless of the schools’ religious connection, anyone is allowed to attend. Students are, however, required to participate in specific religious activities such as mass and regular prayers.
Year-over-year results for Broward County show that Catholic schools do better in terms of standardized test results than the public schools.
For those who would prefer a private institution but may have budgetary constraints, a Catholic school may be an ideal option since they usually charge way less than their private counterparts.
Parent participation is a requirement at the Catholic schools and the country as a whole. Not only do the schools support the families, but they also work with them in order to benefit the children.
Charter Schools: Building a Future for Students
The charter school system and broad county follow a strict code of ethics.
Teachers who do not currently hold a Florida Educator Certificate or at least a valid one are required to submit a Certificate Issuance Request for charter schools and must be fingerprinted prior.
The Fort Lauderdale schools range from pre-K to high school level. Under the Florida charter school statute, the schools must enhance the students' learning and academic accomplishments, and they should place special emphasis on students who underperform.
The schools are also to encourage the use of innovative materials and measure each child's results on an ongoing basis.
Even though the charter schools are independent entities, they are still considered part of the public school system in Fort Lauderdale and receive public funds. They are not allowed to charge tuition for general school.
The student-teacher ratio varies widely in the charter schools across the city from as little as 14 to 1 and as high as 27 to 1 in some schools.
The highest-rated charter school in Bori County is Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary School, located at the Florida State University campus. It is an elementary school that caters to students from kindergarten to grade 5. It is ranked as an A+ school every year.
The school is in a community considered one of the best to live in across Florida. The school has multiple clubs, including book and kids' clubs, to ensure students are always engaged in meaningful service activities.
Overall, the Florida school systems are above average and could be regarded as excellent. Even though it is not the number one in the state, the state, in general, has great schools, so it gives good measure when compared to other school districts.
Any area you live in or choose to relocate to will have extraordinary schools or others that have been progressing well each year.