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).[6] The district's headquarters are in the Fulton-Holland Educational Services Center in Palm Springs.[7][8][9]
Schools
As of 2010–2011, the district is responsible for the following schools:[10]
Wellington Community High School / Adult Center
Adult and community
Adult Education Center
Delray Full Service Center
Alternative
AMIKids – Palm Beach
CARP
Crossroads Academy
Elementary Transition – West at Crossroads Academy
Elementary Transition North / Central – Gold Coast
Gold Coast Community School
Highridge Family Center
Intensive Transition – South at South Area School of Choice
Michael J. Burke was named interim superintendent of the Palm Beach County School District in July 2021[12] and selected for a full term in October 2021.[13] The district is governed by a school board. The board consists of seven members, who are all elected from single-member districts. One of the Board Members is elected chair and one of them is elected Vice Chair.[14] 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 Frank A. Barbieri Jr esq. (Chairman, District 5), Karen Brill (Vice Chair District 3), Barbara McQuinn (District 1), Alexandria Ayala (District 2) Erica Whitfield (District 4), Marcia Andrews (District 6), and Debra Robinson, M.D. (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, while Native Americans and Pacific Islanders composed less than 1% of the student population.[15]
Regarding economic status, 58.4% of students are considered economically disadvantaged.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18]
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".[19] At a board meeting on May 26, 2021, many parents said the equity statement stoked racial tension, and introduced Marxist ideology and critical race theory. The board voted to remove the controversial statement because it had angered so many people.[20]
^"Accreditation". The School District of Palm Beach County. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
^"Welcome to the School District of Palm Beach County." School District of Palm Beach County. Retrieved on March 28, 2010. "Fulton-Holland Educational Services Center 3300 Forest Hill Boulevard West Palm Beach, FL 33406."
