U.S. News & World Report released its 2027 rankings of Florida’s public K‑8 schools last week, naming twelve Palm Beach County schools among the state’s top 100. The list includes six elementary schools and six middle schools, highlighting the district’s academic strength and offering West Palm Beach families a clear benchmark of local school quality.
In the elementary category, the report evaluated 2,197 public elementary schools statewide. Palm Beach County’s top‑ranked elementary schools are Morikami Park Elementary in Boca Raton (#5), Waters Edge Elementary in Boca Raton (#15), Marsh Pointe Elementary in Palm Beach Gardens (#63), Equestrian Trails Elementary in Wellington (#68), Panther Run Elementary in Lake Worth Beach (#85) and Beacon Cove Intermediate in Jupiter (#90).
The middle‑school rankings, drawn from 1,364 public middle schools, placed Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach at #7, the highest‑ranked middle school in the county. Also in the top 100 are Don Estridge High Tech Middle School in Boca Raton (#16), Addison Mizner School in Boca Raton (#30), North Grade K‑8 in Lake Worth Beach (#31), Verde K‑8 in Boca Raton (#48) and West Boynton Middle School (#87).
High schools were also recognized, with five county schools earning top‑100 spots: Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach (#8), Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach (#15), Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton (#50), Boca Raton Community High School (#73) and West Boca Raton Community High School (#100). The rankings are based on four equally weighted metrics—math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance.
Superintendent Mike Burke praised the achievement, saying, “We are proud to have six of our elementary schools and six of our middle schools ranked among the top 100 K‑8 public schools in Florida by U.S. News & World Report. This level of performance is driven by the everyday dedication of our teachers, school leaders, support staff, students, and families.” He added that the district remains focused on delivering a “top‑tier education right here in our community.”
The rankings arrive as Palm Beach County voters head to the polls on Nov. 3 to decide a referendum that would renew the existing 1 mill property‑tax levy for schools. The levy, first approved in 2018 and renewed in 2022, provides $1 for every $1,000 of taxable home value—meaning a $500,000 home would contribute $500 annually. The funding supports an average $8,000 salary boost for teachers, funds 900 teacher positions, and underwrites student safety and security measures.
Local residents and parents are watching both the school rankings and the upcoming vote closely, seeing the two as linked indicators of the district’s commitment to educational excellence and fiscal support. The outcome of the Nov. 3 referendum will determine whether the district can continue to invest in the programs and staff that helped these schools achieve top‑state recognition.
What’s next: Voters will cast ballots on Nov. 3. If the 1 mill levy is renewed, the district will maintain its current teacher‑pay increases and staffing levels, continuing the momentum that contributed to the recent U.S. News rankings.
Sources: wpbf.com
