2023 Best School Districts in Florida

• St Augustine, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.28 out of 5  139 reviews

Senior: I studied in Rawlings Elementary Elementary School, Alice B. Landrum Middle School and now a rising senior at Ponte Vedra High School. My experience has been great and I proudly say that schools under the FL. St. Johns Country School District has a very high standard in education. When I graduate on 2023, I will have earned four professional IT Certification and will be able to fluently communicate in American Sign Language. The teachers are very knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to make sure no students are left behind. Caring, encouraging, uplifting and professional.... Read 139 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 52

• Students 44,550

• Sarasota, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  107 reviews

Senior: My experience of attending schools in Sarasota County for 13 years was a roller coaster! As the years went by, school was getting harder each time. There're days where I was stressed of having a spelling test to having a 100-question exam. I had loops going in my head with all this craziness happening, but all the help came from the best teachers in Sarasota County. Thanks to them for giving me the right education I needed.... Read 107 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 62

• Students 42,618

• Fort Walton Beach, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.97 out of 5  92 reviews

Senior: I learn a lot in school and I love the community that I am surrounded with. In the Okaloosa county school district I love the education I am receiving. Since my freshmen year in high school I have had teachers that care about me and my success as a student and a person. They have always been willing to go the extra mile so I can fully learn all the material I need to learn and more! I also love some of the clubs. I am involved in NHS, FCA, and Youth Alive and it is so amazing to have a community of students surrounding me and walking out life with me. I personally love the Okaloosa County school district.... Read 92 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 52

• Students 31,614

• Sanford, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  257 reviews

Junior: Seminole is a great school! It excels in terms of diversity and numerous opportunities. There are many great clubs, sports teams, volunteering chances and ways to get involved. The school has lacked some safety in the past year; going forward I know the administration team have hired more police on campus and use an app campus-wide to keep students and staff safe by preventing situations before they can escalate. IB, Health Academy and PSI high are great opportunities for many of the students to not only find future careers of interest but also meet kids with similar hobbies, learning styles, and peaks of curiosity. When it comes to academics there are good and bad teachers like every school. The plus side of Seminole, there are courses everyone will like whether it is web designing, tech for theater, tennis electives, ASL, many Ap classes to choose from and a few Dual Enrollment classes. The teachers truly care about their students. We love Seminole and it’s amazing spirit.... Read 257 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 77

• Students 66,226

• Green Cove Springs, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.04 out of 5  108 reviews

Sophomore: Clay County exhibits a refreshing change in pace from all the other counties in the state of Florida’s public school system. They prioritize the teachers and their students, and always strive to make sure all their schools are well supplied with adequate resources and facilities. They take special care in how they educate and treat children on the spectrum and disabled, and always make sure every child regardless of their circumstances feel included. They have also shown their readiness to get involved in any cases of possible bullying and never tolerate any mistreatment from a teacher, admin, or fellow student. Every time a teacher’s integrity and intentions have ever been brought into question they are quick to start a respectful investigation and make sure that their students aren’t being mistreated. The district always brings attention to Black History, and celebrates the cultures of nations other than our own. They are an exemplary district that I am proud to be a member of.... Read 108 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 52

• Students 38,268

• Naples, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  155 reviews

Senior: I have been in collier county ever since my elementary years, and it has been a fantastic experience. The activities and opportunities offered are fun and truly unforgettable. However, I would like to see a few things changed. There are student issues that I feel should be taken more seriously. An example is a current rule that states that teachers can tell their parents about something they see at school. So, for example, if a student confides in a teacher with private information (that they are pregnant, part of the LGBTQ community, or any other personal matter), then that teacher must tell the parent against the student's wishes. This rule makes students more hostile and uncomfortable. Some students who feel that school was once a safe space don't think that way anymore. CCPS is a county that has always looked out for its students. I know this won't change, but certain things in the system need to change for the betterment of our student body.... Read 155 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 73

• Students 46,329

• Tallahassee, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  114 reviews

Niche User: In the Leon County Schools office there was always somebody to help me and provide me with resources and contacts, everything they could do to help me through my student years. My first year, I had no money to buy school supplies, and I needed to visit their office for a permit I needed to get in other to enroll in school. The person who helped me said ''Wait for me and I will be right back'' after a while, he came back with a purple backpack, that was filled with pencils, erasers, color pencils, notebooks, markers, even a small calculator. I never thought that's what he was doing, and he gave it all to me to start school. I was so thankful with him that I started crying, and he did too, and the lady in the desk in front of us! but those were happy tears, and when I was on my way back home, I could only think of his kindness and service. How just one act can change and improve a kid's possibilities and motivation to study harder, to do better.... Read 114 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 57

• Students 32,845

• Gainesville, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.77 out of 5  95 reviews

Junior: My experience as being an Alachua County Public School student, has been overall throughout the years great. Although throughout your school experience there will be some bumpy roads and sharp turns the Alachua County School system is very determined and very focused on the needs for every student!... Read 95 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 64

• Students 28,300

• Stuart, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  87 reviews

Senior: I loved my time at Clark Advanced Learning Center (a Martin County School). The small school environment and personal attention from teachers and staff help promote an atmosphere that makes learning fun! The fact that Clark is located on the campus of Indian River State College makes it easy to take dual enrollment classes, and many of the Clark students graduate from high school with their AA degree. Clark has many clubs to choose from, and students can participate in intramural sports at other Martin County high schools. Every student is involved in an internship program during their Senior year which enables the student to gain essential job experience in fields that match his or her academic and personal interests. Clark is an amazing school, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to attend.... Read 87 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 35

• Students 18,240

• Fernandina Beach, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  37 reviews

Senior: I had a great experience! I loved the teachers and the variety of classes the school offers. The student body is full of school spirit. Fernandina Beach High School is a great place for any student, because clubs like Friendly Fernandina are sure make all students fell welcomed. Speaking of clubs, there is also a large selection of extracurriculars.... Read 37 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 20

• Students 11,898

• Mayo, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.6 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: Communication with parents and activities needs attention. If your an A student you will be fine. If your a struggler, the college prep class teachers are more of a log in and figure it out then help you understand it type.... Read 5 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 6

• Students 1,170

• Vero Beach, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.09 out of 5  116 reviews

Parent: I am a mother of 5 children that I homeschooled in Indian River County School District. Two have graduated college, one is a senior in college, another is a dual enrolled senior and the last is in 4th grade. My experience has been Incredibly good! District staff has been so helpful. My children were able to participate in varsity sports. Coaches and teachers were encouraging and helpful. School staff was professional. An all around great experience!... Read 116 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 29

• Students 17,570

• Bushnell, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  44 reviews

Senior: I've had a wonderful experience within the Sumter School District. I am currently attending The Villages Charter High School and couldn't be any happier. The opportunities that this school provides are impeccable. As a senior, I am on track not only to graduate with my high school diploma but also my AA from Lake Sumter State College. The dual enrollment program has taken a huge financial burden off of my back and better prepared me for my future. The one suggestion that I would suggest to the school district is a more readily available staff of counselors and psychologists. Although the school system may be extremely strong, kids and teenagers face many difficulties growing up. Most of these individuals do not feel comfortable going to their families or don't have a support system within their homes. By offering private therapy and guidance, I believe the school would become stronger, not only academically, but also emotionally.... Read 44 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 13

• Students 8,675

• Largo, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.84 out of 5  249 reviews

Senior: I am now a high school senior and have been attending pinellas county schools my whole life. I’ve had a relatively good experience and I feel as though things have been improving in some aspects and becoming worse in others. The high school curriculum is good, although some teachers may differ in their teaching styles. The elementary curriculum seems to be making turns for the worse in several ways, I’m surprised that it doesn’t seem like they are doing the spelling tests or cursive that I did in elementary school. I especially enjoyed my middle school experience at DHMS! great things to say about everyone there.... Read 249 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 157

• Students 96,068

• Defuniak Springs, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.97 out of 5  38 reviews

Senior: The schools in this area are highly remarked, for this district contains some of the best schools out of the entire state of Florida. Other than a few exceptions, most of the schools in this district have a nice and friendly staff whose main goal is to help your child achieve at the highest level and to protect them at all costs in case of a threat. The sports teams around the area are great at all levels. All very competitive and have amazing coaches!... Read 38 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 23

• Students 10,355

• Blountstown, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  6 reviews

Senior: A good school district, but there can be room for improvement. The teachers and staff are nice (from my experience) and they care about the students at the school to succeed in the future.... Read 6 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 7

• Students 2,062

• Key West, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  10 reviews

Alum: I’ve been in the monroe county school system for the last 12 years and I can definitely say they are a good system but they could use some Change. Like looking over the ability of there teachers, I can’t say how many times some of them just didn’t know how to teach and they came in and warned them that they were going to be observing and it just defeated the purpose because the teacher changed there whole style and went back to the normal thing the next day.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 25

• Students 8,547

• Milton, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.9 out of 5  87 reviews

Senior: My experience is specifically with being a student at Milton High School. The teachers there are passionate about their work and give the best one can get from basics to several AP/Dual Enrollment classes. The facilities are good given what teenagers can do to them (someone stole a toilet at one point). Milton does offer unique programs that you can't really find in other schools, such as culinary, aeronautical engineering, pilot's training, game design, and a manufacturing certification. Milton also allows students to attend the local community college during school hours for trades like welding. The school culture (if there even is one) isn't the best. Throughout my entire time there, many students repeatedly don't care about their work and there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of fights there (from 0-5 in a semester). Still, it's a good school to send your kids and I am glad my parents sent me here instead of private school.... Read 87 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 41

• Students 27,770

• West Palm Beach, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.02 out of 5  772 reviews

Senior: I have attended Palm Beach County Schools for thirteen years (kindergarten through high school) and I believe this county is generally very good. My elementary school, Sunrise Park Elementary, was wonderful; the staff and administration were hardworking and organized. My Middle School was nice too. While my high school, Olympic Heights High School, has offered me great opportunities and resources, the administration at the school is very poor. Funds were spent on golf carts for administrators rather than our broken and poorly functioning toilets and campus- at times throughout the years, there would only be two bathrooms (one girls and one boys) open for the 3,000 student population to use. Besides administrative issues like these, the teachers are great and extremely caring.... Read 772 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 236

• Students 187,057

• Orlando, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.89 out of 5  662 reviews

Senior: Orange county is truly special, the diversity within this district is genuinely unique! With this diversity, I was able to not only meet, but learn about so many cultures and backgrounds that I was unintentionally blind to before! Through Orange County, I was able to grow and mature not only as a young man, but as a student alike. There's not many changes I would make to Orange County as I feel that they are doing a great job with students now, I would only recommend more chances for the diverse cultures and communities to be recognized. Maybe a culture day or something of that sort, I feel that learning about these cultures and practices will open the minds of so many students that were oblivious to them before.... Read 662 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 264

• Students 199,089

• Fort Lauderdale, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.98 out of 5  1,462 reviews

Junior: Broward County Public Schools is committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for its students. The institution has implemented various measures to ensure the safety of students and staff, such as installing surveillance cameras, conducting regular drills, and providing mental health support. With these measures in place, students can focus on their education without worrying about their safety, which is crucial for their academic success. Broward County Public Schools also has a strong focus on academic excellence. The institution has an exceptional faculty of experienced educators who are dedicated to providing high-quality education to students. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all students, with a variety of academic programs and enrichment opportunities. With a focus on personalized learning, students receive individualized attention that caters to their unique needs and interests.... Read 1,462 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 331

• Students 260,235

• Port Charlotte, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  35 reviews

Senior: I have only ever attended Charlotte County Public Schools, and my experience with them has been amazing. I have received a great education and have always been treated well by the staff while also feeling safe in my schools. They always provide ample opportunities for children who need help or families that are struggling, as well as opportunities that allow children and there family to become closer to the community. Charlotte county Public schools are very career focused and it is clear that they make it their goal to make sure that their kids are shown the right path, set with the right goals, and pushed to be something/ somebody in this world.... Read 35 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 26

• Students 15,284

• Lake City, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.58 out of 5  31 reviews

Alum: Columbia county school system has taught me many life lessons. Although from a nostalgic point of view I enjoyed my time in band and in the classroom, I think there are a lot of things to be improved. Teachers taught well but sometimes didn't give students the push they need. Student engagement between teachers only happens when a student seems successful in a field that isn't mundane or the student has high popularity. The quiet students as well as the students who want to be "regular joes" need the same level of engagement. Success doesn't have to be defined by how many zeros and commas are on your check. Success can be getting your child food, to school every day. Continuing to work hard and trying to get a new job. Every day is successful depending on how you choose to view it. I always went to band competitions and saw the other bands who worked hard and had the shiniest rims on their drums and would wish that we could afford to have that and dedicate the time to be that great.... Read 31 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 19

• Students 9,805

• Tampa, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.95 out of 5  916 reviews

Senior: I have been enrolled in the Hillsborough County Public school system for almost 11 years. When I moved here I realized how behind I was in my hometown. I’ve noticed in recent years how education systems differ in other states. I am forever grateful I was able to receive the education I did over the years and catch up on lost time. The only thing that has become a much larger issue is the lack of teachers in our school system. For a brand new school that opened in 2020 in Riverview, FL, many would not have expected what we are going through now. Teachers have been quitting left and right, leaving hundreds of students with substitutes for most of the academic year. This has made it difficult to receive the proper material needed to pass our classes. Permanent substitutes are not an alternative to qualified teachers for classes such as AP or AICE. However, this remains an issue in all counties and locations beyond Florida. Though, I am still forever grateful for my education today.... Read 916 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 303

• Students 218,943

• Land O Lakes, FL•

• School District

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  Rating 3.68 out of 5  271 reviews

Senior: I have been a student in Pasco County since 1st grade, with the exception of one quarter in the 7th grade and it really is amazing! I have been so grateful to have had such an incredible experience throughout the years between consistent updates of school resources to the best teachers imaginable it has been great for the most part. The only problems I have with the school district, is the constant emphasis on sports over the arts. As an active member in each school I have attended within the district, I have experienced both athletics and the arts, but they are not treated the same at all. At my high school, we were a self-sustaining theater program with minimal funding for art and band. Not only that, but even within the athletics department some sports like football and cheer got way more attention than sports like tennis, which I was in. However, the teachers in this school district are seriously the best and have made me love school and even look forward to going everyday.... Read 271 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 103

• Students 77,125