45 Palm Beach Schools Earn Excellence Honors

Florida recognized Palm Beach County as an academically high-performing district and named 45 of its public schools Schools of Excellence for 2026. Schools qualify by ranking in the top 20% of their peer group statewide in at least two of the previous three years, reflecting sustained performance. Superintendent Mike Burke credited students, families, educators and school staff, and said the honors underscore the strength of neighborhood public schools. The district also promotes neighborhood enrollment and more than 330 specialized choice programs. At a school board meeting celebrating the honors, employees raised concerns about salary freezes, staffing cuts and mounting pressures in schools. Boca Raton-area schools on the list include Boca Raton Community High, Spanish River Community High and Omni Middle; Whispering Pines Elementary was not included.