Best Schools in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
71 schools · 43 Elementary · 4 Middle · 7 High · 17 Other
Choosing a school in Fort Lauderdale?
Use this page to compare every school in Fort Lauderdale by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
North Side Elementary School
Elementary · Broward. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Rock Island Elementary School
Elementary · Broward. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Bayview Elementary School
Elementary · Broward. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Fort Lauderdale for 2026 are North Side Elementary School (9.1/10), Rock Island Elementary School (8.8/10), and Bayview Elementary School (8.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 31 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
71
31 public · 40 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$495,180
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
71
31 public · 40 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$495,180
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 9.1/10 despite 78% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Fort Lauderdale schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Fort Lauderdale
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 31 rated schools; 71 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Side Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Rock Island Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Bayview Elementary School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Dillard Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Sunland Park Academy | 8.2 / 10 |
| 6 | North Fork Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Thurgood Marshall Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Walker Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Harbordale Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Meadowbrook Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $86,523
- Median home value
- $495,180
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 40%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 60%
39% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Fort Lauderdale compares
Florida rank
#103 of 286
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Florida avg (6.3)
Median household income
$87k
116% of Florida median
Schools in this city
61
Education Snapshot
Fort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale's 63 schools span 2 districts, with enrollment of roughly 28,111 students distributed across a level mix that skews heavily toward elementary — 41 of the city's campuses serve that grade band, compared to just 7 high schools and 4 middle schools. Composite ratings average 5.9/10 across 55 scored schools, trailing the Florida state average of 6.3/10 by nearly half a point. That gap is notable given the city's relative economic standing: a median household income of $76,279 sits 1% above the Florida state median of $75,487, suggesting the rating shortfall isn't primarily income-driven. Charter options are limited at 3 schools, so most families choose within the traditional district structure. Adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher stand at 33%, which shapes the educational attainment context for incoming students. Parents should compare individual school ratings carefully — the below-state-average composite masks significant variation within the city's 55 scored campuses.
Broward runs Fort Lauderdale's public schools
31 public schools. Broward is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Fort Lauderdale is a Broward school (30 of 31).
Among 31 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.7 to 9.1 — the spread is inside Fort Lauderdale, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale's public school system spans 30 ranked schools with an average score of 6.1 out of 10 — a middle-of-the-road baseline that masks real variation across the city. One in three schools clears the 7-out-of-10 mark, meaning parents who research specific addresses rather than relying on city-wide averages have meaningful options to work with.
The elementary level is where Fort Lauderdale shows its strongest performance. Floranada Elementary leads the city with an 8.8 out of 10, the highest score among all 30 ranked schools. Bayview Elementary and Virginia Shuman Young Elementary each score 8.0, and Bennett Elementary (7.7) and North Side Elementary (7.5) round out a competitive top tier. Five of the city's ten highest-rated schools are elementaries, which matters for families with young children or those planning ahead — a strong elementary pipeline is a practical advantage even before middle and high school choices come into play.
The 6.1 city average tells parents to do their homework by neighborhood. The spread between the top score (8.8 at Floranada) and the city mean suggests that school quality is genuinely uneven across Fort Lauderdale's ZIP codes. Families in the northern and coastal corridors tend to have better access to the higher-performing campuses, while schools closer to the urban core show more variability. With 33% of schools scoring 7 or above, approximately 10 schools offer above-average performance — concentrated enough that where you live or which school you apply to matters considerably.
For parents comparing Fort Lauderdale to other Broward County cities, the 6.1 average is a useful benchmark but not the full picture. The 8.8 ceiling at Floranada is competitive by any regional standard. The practical takeaway: prioritize checking the score of the specific school assigned to your address, identify whether any of the ten 7-plus-rated schools are within your transfer or magnet window, and weight elementary options heavily if you have school-age children in the K-5 range.
Elementary Schools
43 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 288 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 462 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 3 | 575 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 4 | 615 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 5 | 442 students · Pre-K–3rd | 8.2 |
| 6 | 413 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 7 | 325 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 8 | 512 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 9 | 505 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.6 |
| 10 | 739 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
Show all 43 elementary schools in Fort Lauderdale
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 681 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 1,238 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 1,589 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 25 students · 6th–7th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,182 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 2 | 515 students · 6th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 3 | 1,328 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 2,199 students · 6th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 5 | 76 students · 6th–12th | 4.7 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Cardinal Gibbons High SchoolPrivate 1,031 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 2,094 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 147 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 1,270 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 4 | 120 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.6 | ||
Private Schools13 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 135 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Treehouse LearningPrivate 45 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Colossal AcademyPrivate 31 students · 4th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Rhem Word Christia AcademyPrivate 252 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | 78 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | Rhema Word Christian AcademyPrivate 247 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 17 other schools in Fort Lauderdale
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida · 71 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 15 ZIP codes
Median Income
$86,523
Median Home Value
$495,180
Median Rent
$1,913/mo
Population
462,103
College Educated
40%
Homeownership
60%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
12.1%
Community Profile
Fort Lauderdale has a median household income of $86,523. It is a well-educated community where 40% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $495,180, with a median rent of $1,913/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.1%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Florida
- Elementary
- 43
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 7
- Other
- 17
Resources
School Districts (2)
Other Major Cities in Florida
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
How many schools are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
Fort Lauderdale has 71 schools, including 31 public and 40 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fort Lauderdale is 6.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
The top-ranked school in Fort Lauderdale on MySchoolScout is North Side Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
The top-ranked elementary school in Fort Lauderdale on MySchoolScout is North Side Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
The top-ranked middle school in Fort Lauderdale on MySchoolScout is William Dandy Middle School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best high school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
The top-ranked high school in Fort Lauderdale on MySchoolScout is Fort Lauderdale High School with a composite score of 6.3/10.
How many school districts serve Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
Fort Lauderdale is served by 2 school districts: Broward, Manatee.
What is the education level in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
According to Census data, 40% of adults in Fort Lauderdale have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
The median household income in Fort Lauderdale is approximately $86,523 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
Yes, Fort Lauderdale has 40 private schools alongside 31 public schools. The top-rated private school is New Hope Christian School with a score of 8.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fort Lauderdale is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Florida Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.