Palm Beach County Schools

There are 210 Palm Beach county schools from grades PK-12. Within these schools, there are 164,896 students attending. Testing that is performed on the students is called the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). This test is for students from grade 3 to 10 and measures each student's skills and academic development. The FCAT measures 5 levels of achievement in math and reading. The scoring is on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest score and 1 being the lowest. Writing is measured on a scale from 1 to 6.

Why Palm Beach County School Testing Matters

Depending on how a schools FCAT scores rate, the school will receive penalties for low ratings and monetary rewards for high ratings. Once the scores are looked at, progress is measured in reading and math by grading (A-F). Parents or guardians need to pay close attention to FCAT scores to make sure their child is getting the extra academic attention wherever needed.

In the state of Florida, high school exits exams are mandatory. In the 10th grade, children who do not pass the FCAT exam in reading and math will have numerous opportunities to retake the exam. However, if the child does not pass the exam, they cannot graduate. Children should be monitored early on to prevent testing surprises that may occur. If the child is having difficulties in a subject early on, make sure they are getting extra help from teachers or tutors.

There are many Palm Beach county schools in Florida. Do your research if you are considering moving to the area or are interested in perhaps transferring your child. Make sure you weigh all options. Look at previous FCAT scores in the past few years and see where schools rank amongst each other. Be sure to consider all options before making such an important decision as where to send your child.