2026 data 31 schools FL

Best Schools in FORT LAUDERDALE, FL

31 public K-12 schools in FORT LAUDERDALE from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

31 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in FORT LAUDERDALE, FL using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

31
Schools
19,752
Students
Avg Quality
16.6:1
Avg Class Size

How the FORT LAUDERDALE Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL enrolls 19,752 students across 31 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 3 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 16.6:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in FORT LAUDERDALE is Fort Lauderdale High School, scoring 34/100 (F) with 2,260 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

FORT LAUDERDALE schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect FORT LAUDERDALE housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

FORT LAUDERDALE school enrollment varies 58× across entities

FORT LAUDERDALE school enrollment ranges from 39 students (lowest) to 2,260 students (highest), a spread of 2,221 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city — small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

FORT LAUDERDALE has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 69.2% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

FORT LAUDERDALE student-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 — near the typical range (US average ~16) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 16:1

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within FORT LAUDERDALE is typically wider than the FORT LAUDERDALE-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

# School Score
1. Fort Lauderdale High School 34 F
2. Dillard 6-12 40 D
3. New River Middle School 24 F
4. Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy 27 F
5. Stranahan High School 29 F
6. Sunrise Middle School 34 F
7. Floranada Elementary School 39 F
8. Meadowbrook Elementary School 28 F
9. Croissant Park Elementary School 33 F
10. Whiddon Rodgers Education Center 48 D
11. William Dandy Middle School 40 D
12. Virginia Shuman Young Elementary School 38 F
13. Stephen Foster Elementary School 27 F
14. Dillard Elementary School 24 F
15. Bayview Elementary School 37 F
16. Harbordale Elementary School 35 F
17. Rock Island Elementary School 28 F
18. Riverland Elementary School 27 F
19. Westwood Heights Elementary School 28 F
20. Walker Elementary School 31 F
21. North Fork Elementary School 31 F
22. Sunland Park Academy 23 F
23. Bennett Elementary School 39 F
24. Thurgood Marshall Elementary School 27 F
25. North Side Elementary School 39 F
26. Charter School of Excellence 35 F
27. Seagull School 45 D
28. New Life Charter Academy 35 F
29. Wingate Oaks Center 53 C-
30. Broward Detention Center 70 B
31. Pine Ridge Alternative Center 53 C-

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in FORT LAUDERDALE, FL?

The top-rated school in FORT LAUDERDALE is Fort Lauderdale High School with a quality score of 34/100. There are 31 public schools in FORT LAUDERDALE with 19,752 total students.

How many schools are in FORT LAUDERDALE, FL?

FORT LAUDERDALE has 31 public schools with a total enrollment of 19,752 students. 3 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 16.6:1.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.