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B
Schools in Key West · Monroe County School District

Key West’s public schools outscore 63% of Florida districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Key West, 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.

#282of 638 Florida townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
52%
▼ 0 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
54%
▲ 2 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 1 pts vs FL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.8K
▲ 45% vs FL $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.0
FL 18.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
10
3,578 students on the public path
In brief

Key West’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 425 Florida towns with household incomes within a quarter of Key West’s, its schools beat 52%, lower than their 63% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 52% and math 54% 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 $18,845 per student, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Horace O'Bryant School, then Key West High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

May Sands Montessori School, Sigsbee Charter School, Somerset Island Prep, The College of the Florida Keys Academy, Grace Lutheran (private) and Montessori Children's School of Key West (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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Key West’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 63% of Florida school districts, #282 of 638 Florida towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Florida average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Florida school districts we grade (76)Better than 63%
Lower resultsHigher results
Florida towns with similar household incomes (425)Better than 52%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,900 test results and a graduating class of 638 could put Key West anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Key West’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,706 in math, 5,094 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Key West, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+
6–8Horace O'Bryant SchoolMonroe County School DistrictB−
9–12Key West High SchoolMonroe County School DistrictB−

Key West’s public schools are run by Monroe County School District, which also serves Islamorada, Village of Islands, Key Colony Beach, Layton and Marathon. 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.

Monroe County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 22 schools · 8,928 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 15.0 per teacher (FL 18.0)
$18,845FL $13,006 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading52%
State average 52.1% · 5094 students tested
Math54%
State average 52.2% · 4706 students tested

Key West vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Florida towns that share Key West’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Key WestBMonroe County

Every school in Key West

10 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).

District schools in Key Westby address
Horace O'Bryant School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
B−
1,011 students15:1Rate it →
Gerald Adams Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
674 students16:1Rate it →
Poinciana Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
556 students14:1Rate it →
Key West High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,337 students17:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Sigsbee Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
A−
Charter
531 studentsRate it →
May Sands Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
B−
Charter
90 studentsRate it →
Somerset Island Prep
High · Grades 9–12
B+
Charter
88 studentsRate it →
The College of the Florida Keys Academy
High · Grades 9–12
Charter
62 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Grace Lutheran
Elementary · Grades PK–7
Private · Religious
107 students15:1Rate it →
Montessori Children's School of Key West
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Nonsectarian
92 students15:1Rate it →

Left off: 7 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Monroe Juvenile Detention Center, Keys Center, Monroe Virtual Instruction Program, Monroe Virtual Franchise, Monroe Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided), Lower Keys Academic Connections for Excellence and Monroe County Detention Center).

Questions about Key West’s schools

Are Key West’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Florida: the public schools Key West children attend outscore 63% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #282 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 52%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Key West in?

Monroe County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,928 students in 22 schools (2024–25).

Where do Key West kids go to high school?

Key West High School, with 1,337 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Key West’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Monroe County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.

How much does Key West spend per student?

$18,845 in Monroe County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Key West?

Yes: Grace Lutheran (religious, grades PK–7, 107 students) and Montessori Children's School of Key West (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 92 students). Key West also has 4 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Key West families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Key West → 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.