School District of Palm Beach County

The School District of Palm Beach County (SDPBC) is the tenth-largest public school district in the United States, and the fifth largest school district in Florida. The district encompasses all of Palm Beach County. For the beginning of the 2018–2019 academic year, enrollment totaled 192,533 students in Pre-K through 12th grades. The district operates a total of 180 schools: 109 elementary, 34 middle, 23 high, 14 alternative, adult and community, intermediate, and Exceptional Student Education (ESE). It has 27,168 employees and 45,000 volunteers. Established in 1909, the district was known as the Palm Beach County Board of Public Instruction until the mid-1980s. It is accredited by Cognia (formerly known as Advance-ED). The district's headquarters are in the Fulton-Holland Educational Services Center in Palm Springs. Schools As of 2010–2011, the district is responsible for the following schools: Wellington Community High School / Adult Center Adult and community Alternative Elementary ESE Middle Intermediate Beacon Cove Intermediate School K–12 K-8 Dwight D. Eisenhower K-8 Hidden Oaks K-8 North Grade K-8 Verde K-8 Addison Mizner K-8 (as of August 2021) High Defunct racially segregated schools Racially segregated schools included: Boca Raton Negro High School, renamed Roadman School in 1956 Colored School No. 4 Everglades Camp, grades 1–6, 1955-1966 East Lake High School (Pahokee) Everglades Vocational High School (Belle Glade), renamed Lake Shore High School (Belle Glade) in 1955 George Washington Carver High School (Delray Beach, Florida) Industrial High School (West Palm Beach, Florida), renamed Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School in 1950, then Roosevelt High School Lincoln High School (Riviera Beach, Florida), in building formerly housing West Riviera Junior High School Osborne School (Lake Worth, Florida) Future schools New High School in Riviera Beach (opening by August 2030) Western Communities High School (opening in August 2028) Westlake Area Elementary School (opening date TBA) North County Elementary School (opening in August 2030) West Delray Area K-8 (opening in August 2030) District leadership Michael J. Burke was named interim superintendent of the Palm Beach County School District in July 2021, and was selected for a full term in October 2021. The district is governed by a school board of seven members, all elected from single-member districts. One board member is elected chair, and one is elected vice chair. Board members serve staggered terms, and members from Districts 1, 2, and 5 are elected during presidential election years, while the members from Districts 3, 4, 6, and 7 are elected in gubernatorial election years. Board members are Karen Brill (Chair District 3), Matthew Jay Lane esq. (District 1), Virginia Savietto (District 2), Erica Whitfield (District 4), Gloria Branch (District 5), Marcia Andrews (District 6), and Edwin Ferguson esq. (District 7). Demographics As of the 2019–2020 school year, in its enrollment breakdown by ethnic group, 35.9% of its students were of Hispanic origin, of any race; 29.6% of students were of non-Hispanic white ancestry; 27.7% of students were African-American; 3.0% of students were Asian-American; 2.8% of students were of multiple race categories; and Native Americans and Pacific Islanders composed less than 1% of the student population. Regarding economic status, 58.4% of students were considered economically disadvantaged. Performance As of the 2018–2019 school year, SDPBC has a graduation rate of 87.1%, up from 82.3% from the 2015–2016 school year. During the 2019 spring examination of the statewide Florida Standards Assessments, 54% of third grade students achieved basic proficiency or higher in English language arts. Controversy Prior to 2021, the board had taken "major steps to improve equity among students", though "glaring disparities" in suspension rates, student performance, and attendance between black and white students remained. In part because of these disparities, on May 5, 2021, the school board adopted an equity statement which said it is "committed to dismantling structures rooted in white advantage". The board later voted to remove the controversial statement because it had angered so many people. References https://www.palmbeachschools.org/showcase/schoolsbylevel/ "Schools by Level" External links Official website School District of Palm Beach County – official website