Photo: KeanoManu · CC BY-SA 4.0Fort Lauderdale’s public schools outscore 62% of Florida districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Fort Lauderdale, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Florida, not nationally.
From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Fort Lauderdale’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 440 Florida towns with household incomes within a quarter of Fort Lauderdale’s, its schools beat 48%, lower than their 62% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 54% and math 50% in spring 2022, against 52% and 52% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $13,412 per student, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
16 elementary schools, then four middle and three high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Charter School of Excellence, Sandra Marie Curtis High School, New Life Charter Academy, Suned High of South Broward, St. Thomas Aquinas High School (private), Cardinal Gibbons High School (private), Pine Crest Lower School (private), St. Anthony Catholic School (private), Bethany Christian School (private), New Hope Christian School (private), St. Jerome Catholic School (private), Baldwin Academy Preparatory School (private), Happyland Day School (private), Jack and Jill Children's Center (private), Baldwin Academy East Inc. (private), The International Family Academy (private), Gateway Christian Academy (private), Murl Windsor Academy at Hollywood (private), New Hope SDA School and Learning Center (private), Fidelis Academy (private), Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran School (private), Treehouse Learning (private), Permission to Succeed Education Center (private), Permission to Succeed Education Center (private), Mount Bethel Christian Academy (private), Uco Early Beginnings Academy (private), Colossal Academy (private), Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale (private), Compass Outreach and Education Center (private), Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale (private), International Montessori School (private) and Delmar Arts Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Fort Lauderdale’s grade
B: better than 62% of Florida school districts, #289 of 638 Florida towns. Graduation is above the Florida average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fort Lauderdale, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in Fort Lauderdale · depends on your address
Fort Lauderdale High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,260 students · 25:1 students per teacher
Dillard 6-12
Grades 6–12 · 1,998 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Stranahan High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,286 students · 24:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Fort Lauderdale · depends on your address
Fort Lauderdale High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,260 students · 25:1 students per teacher
Dillard 6-12
Grades 6–12 · 1,998 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Stranahan High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,286 students · 24:1 students per teacher
Fort Lauderdale’s public schools are run by Broward County School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Above the state in reading
Fort Lauderdale vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Florida towns that share Fort Lauderdale’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | B | Broward County |
| Oakland Park | B | Broward County |
| Wilton Manors | B | Broward County |
| Pompano Beach | B | Broward County |
| Tamarac | B | Broward County |
| Dania Beach | B | Broward County |
| Davie | B | Broward County |
| North Lauderdale | B | Broward County |
| Plantation | B | Broward County |
| Hollywood | B | Broward County |
| Lauderdale-by-the-Sea | B | Broward County |
| Lauderdale Lakes | B | Broward County |
| Lauderhill | B | Broward County |
All 12 neighbors share Broward County with Fort Lauderdale, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Fort Lauderdale
58 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 4 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Hospital Homebound Services, Broward County Acceleration Academies, Lake Louisa Preparatory Academy and Sorrento Preparatory Academy).
Questions about Fort Lauderdale’s schools
Are Fort Lauderdale’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Florida: the public schools Fort Lauderdale children attend outscore 62% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #289 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 48%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Fort Lauderdale in?
Broward County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 243,553 students in 324 schools (2024–25).
Where do Fort Lauderdale kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Fort Lauderdale High School, Dillard 6-12 and Stranahan High School.
What is Fort Lauderdale’s graduation rate?
89% of the class of 2023 in Broward County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.
How much does Fort Lauderdale spend per student?
$13,412 in Broward County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes: St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 2,094 students), Cardinal Gibbons High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 1,031 students), Pine Crest Lower School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 598 students), St. Anthony Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 437 students), Bethany Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 387 students), New Hope Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 239 students), St. Jerome Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 234 students), Baldwin Academy Preparatory School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 204 students), Happyland Day School (religious, grades PK–K, 168 students), Jack and Jill Children's Center (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 150 students), Baldwin Academy East Inc. (religious, grades PK–5, 143 students), The International Family Academy (religious, grades K–12, 135 students), Gateway Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–5, 122 students), Murl Windsor Academy at Hollywood (religious, grades PK–12, 115 students), New Hope SDA School and Learning Center (religious, grades K–8, 114 students), Fidelis Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 91 students), Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 86 students), Treehouse Learning (nonsectarian, grades PK, 80 students), Permission to Succeed Education Center (religious, grades K–12, 78 students), Permission to Succeed Education Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 75 students), Mount Bethel Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–7, 47 students), Uco Early Beginnings Academy (special education, grades PK–8, 36 students), Colossal Academy (nonsectarian, grades 4–12, 31 students), Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale (nonsectarian, grades , 24 students), Compass Outreach and Education Center (nonsectarian, grades K–6, 23 students), Acton Academy Fort Lauderdale (nonsectarian, grades , 22 students), International Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 14 students) and Delmar Arts Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–4, 13 students). Fort Lauderdale also has 4 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Fort Lauderdale families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fort Lauderdale → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Florida. Stars are from neighbors.