Alfred J. Comeau House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0West Palm Beach’s public schools outscore 68% of Florida districts
The grade covers the public school district serving West Palm Beach, 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 97% 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.
West Palm Beach’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 466 Florida towns with household incomes within a quarter of West Palm Beach’s, its schools beat 60%, lower than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 54% and math 53% in spring 2022, against 52% and 52% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $15,224 per student, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
11 elementary schools, then five middle and three high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Believers Academy, Renaissance Charter School at West Palm Beach, Worthington High School, Renaissance Charter School at Cypress, University Preparatory Academy Palm Beach, Berean Christian School (private), Cardinal Newman High School (private), Obridge Academy/Admin Office (private), Rosarian Academy (private), St. Juliana Catholic School (private), St. Ann Catholic School (private), Palm Beach Christian Academy (private), The Greene School (private), The Foundations School at Center for Creative Educ (private), Our Sacred Academy Inc. (private), The Bilgrav School (private), Conklin International Academy (private), A Step Above Learning Center (private) and Coates Learning Center, Inc. (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 West Palm Beach’s grade
B+: better than 68% of Florida school districts, #216 of 638 Florida towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Florida average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve West Palm Beach, with each school’s own grade.
9th grade in West Palm Beach · depends on your address
Palm Beach Lakes High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,809 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Forest Hill Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,923 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Alexander W Dreyfoos Junior School of the Arts
Grades 9–12 · 1,352 students · 19:1 students per teacher
10th grade in West Palm Beach · depends on your address
Palm Beach Lakes High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,809 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Forest Hill Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,923 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Alexander W Dreyfoos Junior School of the Arts
Grades 9–12 · 1,352 students · 19:1 students per teacher
11th grade in West Palm Beach · depends on your address
Palm Beach Lakes High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,809 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Forest Hill Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,923 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Alexander W Dreyfoos Junior School of the Arts
Grades 9–12 · 1,352 students · 19:1 students per teacher
12th grade in West Palm Beach · depends on your address
Palm Beach Lakes High School
Grades 9–12 · 2,809 students · 22:1 students per teacher
Forest Hill Community High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,923 students · 18:1 students per teacher
Alexander W Dreyfoos Junior School of the Arts
Grades 9–12 · 1,352 students · 19:1 students per teacher
West Palm Beach’s public schools are run by Palm Beach 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
West Palm Beach vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Florida towns that share West Palm Beach’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach | B+ | Palm Beach County |
| Riviera Beach | B+ | Palm Beach County |
| Palm Beach Gardens | B+ | Palm Beach County |
| Mangonia Park | B+ | Palm Beach County |
| Palm Beach | B+ | Palm Beach County |
| Lake Clarke Shores | B+ | Palm Beach County |
| Lake Worth Beach | B+ | Palm Beach County |
All 6 neighbors share Palm Beach County with West Palm Beach, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in West Palm Beach
41 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: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Highridge Family Center and Alternative Program Central). 1 duplicate private-school records merged.
Questions about West Palm Beach’s schools
Are West Palm Beach’s schools good?
By Florida’s own tests, yes: the public schools West Palm Beach children attend outscore 68% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #216 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 60%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is West Palm Beach in?
Palm Beach County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 191,304 students in 230 schools (2024–25).
Where do West Palm Beach kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Palm Beach Lakes High School, Forest Hill Community High School and Alexander W Dreyfoos Junior School of the Arts.
What is West Palm Beach’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in Palm Beach County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.
How much does West Palm Beach spend per student?
$15,224 in Palm Beach County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in West Palm Beach?
Yes: Berean Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 791 students), Cardinal Newman High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 634 students), Obridge Academy/Admin Office (nonsectarian, grades 3–12, 501 students), Rosarian Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 453 students), St. Juliana Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 431 students), St. Ann Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 310 students), Palm Beach Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–6, 240 students), The Greene School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 200 students), The Foundations School at Center for Creative Educ (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 65 students), Our Sacred Academy Inc. (special education, grades PK–10, 28 students), The Bilgrav School (special education, grades 1–8, 20 students), Conklin International Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 17 students), A Step Above Learning Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 17 students) and Coates Learning Center, Inc. (nonsectarian, grades 5–12, 13 students). West Palm Beach also has 5 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What West Palm Beach families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near West Palm Beach → 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.