Parents who live in Florida will be pleased to know that the Sunshine State has some of the best high schools in the country. In fact, as Newsweek notes, well over one hundred public Florida high schools are ranked as being some of the best in the nation.
What is more, USA News has found that thirty one Florida high schools have won national gold metals, fifty eight high schools in the state have won silver and thirty high schools have won national bronze metals.
A wide range of factors are taken into account when determining just how a high school should be ranked. The State Impact website notes that these factors include whether or not a high school has been awarded a national gold or silver medal, student performance on state proficiency tests, whether or not a college offers Advance Placement and/or International Baccalaureate classes, graduation rate, college acceptance rate and graduates’ average SAT/ACT scores.
While some would argue with the placement of certain high schools on this list, it is clear that, judging by the above mentioned criteria, these are the 20 best high schools in the state of Florida.
Following is an overview of each one of these amazing educational institutions for one’s consideration.
1. Pompano Beach High School
Pompano Beach High School is located in Pompano Beach, Florida, a Southeastern Florida beach city with a population of just under 100,000, according to Wikipedia. The city is a great place to live not only because it is home to one of the best high schools in the state but also has great year-round weather and dozens of fun activities ranging from water skiing to vintage theaters.
Pompano Beach High School is currently regarded as the 230th best high school in the United States, according to a recent US News Best College listing. The US news report goes on to state that Pompano Beach High School has 1267 students and sixty teachers, which means that there is one teacher for every 21 students.
Of the over 80% of students who have taken an API test, just over 50% have passed. The high school students have above average marks in both reading and math.
One factor that sets this particular high school apart from most high schools in the state and even the nation is the fact that Pompano Beach High School only requires students to come to school four days a week. Students get all day Friday off. NBC Miami reports that when the school first experimented with this new schedule back in 1997, it was not known how it would pan out.
However, students have made it clear that they greatly appreciate the extra time, as it affords them the opportunity to catch up on homework, engage in volunteer activities and/or obtain tutoring for subjects that they are having a hard time with. This tutoring is offered by Pompano Beach High School itself and includes assistance for not just the SAT but also other high school exams.
NBC Miami also notes that while other high schools have shown an interest in this unique school schedule, it has yet to be adopted by educational institutions other than Pompano Beach High School.
