School District of Palm Beach County Earns an A rating from Florida Department of Education

School District of Palm Beach County Earns an A

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – July 5, 2018 – The School District of Palm Beach County is an A-rated district, and has the highest number of District-operated "A" schools when compared with other large urban school districts.

According to preliminary school grades released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education, the District ranks highest in Florida on total number of points earned when compared with other large urban districts. The District also was highest among its peer districts in math achievement, science achievement, math learning gains for all students, and high school graduation rate.

Overall, 71 District-operated schools earned A's from the state, and 36 District-operated schools earned B's. Sixty-five percent of all District-operated schools can boast A and B ratings, a 4 percentage point increase from the 2016-2017 school year.

Thirty-one schools improved their rating by at least one letter grade. Two schools - Pine Jog Elementary and West Riviera Elementary - improved by two letter grades. Pine Jog Elementary improved from a C to an A, while West Riviera Elementary improved from a D to a B.

"Our District's A rating is due to the hard work and dedication of Palm Beach County's teachers, staff and students," said Dr. Donald E. Fennoy II, Superintendent of Schools. "We also know that the support of our parents and community play a large role in our success, and we truly appreciate the involvement of our families and community partners in making us Florida's highest performing large schooldistrict."

Nine schools improved to an A, including:

Crystal Lakes Elementary School
Forest Hill Elementary School
Greenacres Elementary School
H.L. Johnson Elementary School
New Horizons Elementary School
Palm Beach Central High School
Palm Beach Gardens Elementary School
Pine Jog Elementary School
Wellington Elementary School

Student performance on the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) provides the foundation for state grades, based on a school grading system adopted by the State Board of Education.

Districts and schools are rated "A" through "F" based on a percentage of points earned. Schools that did not test at least 95 percent of students received an "I."

Read the District's Executive Summary provided to School Board members and other leaders to see specific school grades and for other detailed information.

About the School District of Palm Beach County

The School District of Palm Beach County is the 10th largest in the nation and the fifth largest in the state of Florida with 185 schools, serving more than 172,000 students who speak 154 languages and dialects. As the largest employer in Palm Beach County, the school district has more than 22,000 employees, including more than 12,000 teachers.