PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — The state kept Palm Beach County's public school district at an A. It also moved four campuses up two full letter grades, from a C to an A.
The School District of Palm Beach County said Wednesday it had maintained its A rating in the newly released 2025-2026 school and district grades from the Florida Department of Education. According to the district, 143 of its schools, or 84%, were rated A or B, up from 120 the year prior.
The rating covers the traditional public schools serving Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Wellington, and the rest of Palm Beach County. The Florida Department of Education issues letter grades to districts and individual schools based on student performance on state tests, graduation rates, and student performance on advanced coursework, according to the district.
According to the district, 38 schools improved their letter grade this year. Dwight D. Eisenhower K-8, Glade View Elementary, S.D. Spady Elementary, and West Gate Elementary each earned an A after receiving a C the year before.
No district-operated schools received a D or F, the district said. Eighty-three percent of high schools, 82% of middle schools, and 82% of combination schools were rated A or B. Fifty-four percent of elementary schools earned an A.
The district earned 68% of possible points on the state's calculation to determine its A rating, up two percentage points from 66% in 2024-2025, according to the release.
"Earning an 'A' rating from the Florida Department of Education once again reflects our ongoing commitment to sparking academic success and helping every student ignite their future," Superintendent Mike Burke said in the release. Burke credited students, teachers, school leaders, support staff, families, and community partners for the results.
The A rating comes days after the district reported that a record-high 62% of students scored at level 3 or higher on the state's English Language Arts assessment, and 63% did the same in mathematics. In both subjects, the district said the state averaged 61%.
Palm Beach County outperformed the state in both subjects and posted a 12-percentage-point increase in each since the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, or FAST, progress monitoring system began, according to a separate June 29 news release from the district.
Performance on the Algebra 1 end-of-course exam climbed from 62% to 66% at level 3 or higher, tied for the largest jump among the state's Large Urban Districts, the district said. Geometry performance rose from 56% to 59%. The Biology end-of-course exam increased three percentage points to 75%. Civics rose five points to 77%. U.S. History climbed seven points to 73%.
The district also pointed to a record 93.5% graduation rate and said 86% of seniors took at least one Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge AICE, or dual enrollment course. According to the district, 144 recent graduates earned an associate degree alongside their high school diploma, and students earned 15,000 industry certifications.
Palm Beach County voters approved a one-mill property tax that the district said supports teacher pay, arts programming, and campus security. Voters renewed a half-penny sales tax in 2024, which the district said funds facilities, equipment, and technology.
District and school leaders said they will use the end-of-year data to identify areas for additional instruction or support as they plan the 2026-2027 school year.
The full executive summary is available on the district's website, according to the release. Individual school grades were not itemized in the district's announcements.
