Choosing a Local School in South Florida

Types of Schools in Florida

Florida leads the way when it comes to offering a wide range of school choices. If you’re a parent in the Southern part of the Sunshine State, your child has access to a variety of K-12 education options. These include:

•  Traditional public schools
• Private schools
• Online academies
• Public magnet schools
• Public charter schools
• Homeschools
•  Learning pods

Choosing a school in Florida is all about understanding your child’s gifts, challenges, personality, and academic strengths. Looking for special education options? Speak to our consultants to learn what your next move should be.

Ensure You Find the Best School in Florida

Whether you’re moving here from out of state or just looking for a change of school for your child, JRA can help!  All fifty states, including Florida, have their own School Choice program; more choices make it more confusing for parents. In the past, it was certainly easier to select a school when most students attended a neighborhood public or nearby private school.  Today, Florida’s school choice options, in particular, can be overwhelming for parents: scattered throughout the state are public, private (both secular and religiously affiliated), online, charter, magnet, special-needs, and theme-based schools. Here’s why we can help you:

• We have firsthand knowledge of all the elementary, middle, and high schools throughout South Florida – Miami to Orlando, Atlantic coast to Gulf coast
• We’ve been guiding families for years toward the best choice for their children
• We learn about what’s important to your family: your child’s personality, learning style, academic strengths, social and extracurricular needs

When you engage our services to identify the best public or private school for your child, you’re building a long-term relationship with us as your trusted source of school information, just as you would build a lasting relationship with your healthcare providers. Our knowledge of schools goes beyond their reputation alone. We have in-depth knowledge of these features that define a school:

• Curriculum and academic strengths
• Extracurricular activities
• Student support, including specialized programs
• Student body composition & size
• Neighborhoods, including transportation, daycare
• Bilingual education, and more

We continually visit schools to meet with their administrators, counselors, teachers, and students; observe classroom interactions; track their achievement-related data, and remain wired into parent networks.

Don’t be overwhelmed by myriad choices – let us help you find and apply to the right school for your child! We’ll make all the school connections for you, share our school knowledge, help you prioritize your needs, assist you in planning school visits and student-shadow days, guide you and your child through the application and interview process, provide references to families in those school communities, and collaborate when it’s time to make a final choice.

Since 1992, we’ve successfully guided hundreds of families to many Florida private and public schools, including public school “choice programs” (a.k.a. magnet programs). Among the private schools to which we have most frequently directed families are…

Schools in Palm Beach County:

In the “Golf Capital of Florida,” parents can assess a wide range of both public and private education options for their children – as well as more unique possibilities. Some of the top schools in Palm Beach County include…

• American Heritage School, Delray Beach
• Arthur I Meyer Jewish Academy, West Palm Beach
• Baldwin Prep School, North Palm Beach
• Boca Raton Christian School, Boca Raton
• Cardinal Newman High School, West Palm Beach
• Donna Klein Jewish Academy, Boca Raton
• Grandview Preparatory Academy, Boca Raton
• Gulf Stream School, Gulfstream
• Hillel Day School, Boca Raton
• Jupiter Christian School, Jupiter
• Katz Yeshiva High School, Boca Raton
• Lake Worth Christian School, Lake Worth
• Oxbridge Academy, West Palm Beach
• Palm Beach Day School, Palm Beach
• Pine Crest School, Boca Raton
• Rosarian Academy, West Palm Beach
• Saint Andrew’s School, Boca Raton
• Saint John Paul II High School, Boca Raton
• Saint Mark’s Episcopal School, Palm Beach Gardens
• Saint Paul Lutheran School, Boca Raton
• Spanish River Christian School, Boca Raton
• The Benjamin School, Palm Beach Gardens
• The King’s Academy, West Palm Beach
• Trinity Christian School, West Palm Beach
• Wellington Christian School, Wellington

Schools in Broward County:

Broward County is known for more than its sun-kissed beaches and family-friendly resorts at Fort Lauderdale. Parents and children in the area have an impressive selection of educational options at their fingertips. Some of the best schools in Broward County include…

• American Heritage School, Plantation
• Cardinal Gibbons High School, Fort Lauderdale
• Coral Springs Christian Academy, Coral Springs
• David Posnack Hebrew Day School, Plantation
• Fort Lauderdale Preparatory School, Fort Lauderdale
• Lighthouse Point Academy, Coconut Creek
• North Broward Preparatory School, Coconut Creek & Coral Springs
• Pine Crest School, Fort Lauderdale
• Randazzo School, Coconut Creek
• Sagemont School, Weston
• Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale
• University School, Fort Lauderdale

Schools in Miami-Dade County

Miami is home to one of the largest metropolitan areas in the entire nation. As a result, its list of trusted education options continues to grow and evolve. Some of the best schools in Miami-Dede County currently include…

• Gulliver Preparatory School, Miami
• Hillel Community Day School, North Miami Beach
• Miami Country Day School, Miami
• Ransom Everglades School, Coconut Grove
• The Cushman School
• The Laura Cushman Academy (LD)
• The Endeavor School
• MCA Academy
• Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
• Miami Country Day School
• Palmer Trinity
• Gulliver

Tampa/Sarasota Area:

The Tampa/Sarasota area is well-known for its beautiful Gulf Coast beaches and its theme parks, but it’s also home to many families in need of excellent schooling options. Some of the top schools in the Tampa/Sarasota area include…

• Berkeley Prep
• Hillel Academy
• Carrollwood Day School
• Corbett Prep
• Tampa Day School (LD)
• Shorecrest Prep (St. Petersburg)
• Out of Door Academy
• Hershorin Shiff Jewish Day School

Schools in Other Counties:

Some areas of Florida are more well-known than others, but there are schools in other counties that deserve attention from parents. Take a look at this list for some other trusted, highly recognized schools in Southern Florida.

• Saint Edward’s School, Vero Beach
• The Pine School, Stuart
• Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg
• Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park
• Community School in Naples
• Royal Palm Academy (Naples) 
• Seacrest Country Day 
• Village School of Naples 
• Lake Highland Preparatory School 
• Monteverde
• First Academy
• Geneva School

International

Have you considered sending your student abroad for their education? At JRA, we help parents match with some of the best, most reputable international schools out there. Over the years, we’ve worked closely with…

• College Beau Soleil (Switzerland)
• Leysin American School (Switzerland)
• TASIS(The American School in Switzerland)
• Le Rosey (Switzerland)
• Intitut auf dem Rosenberg (Switzerland)
• L’Ecole de Humanité (Switzerland)

Have Questions? We’ll Help You Choose the Best School in Florida

We know that it’s difficult to choose the right school in Florida – especially when your child needs academic solutions in the near future. There’s so much to think about, from the school’s location to its academics, extracurricular activities, and international reputation.

If you’re struggling with the decision, turn to our educational consultants. It’s our job to learn everything there is to know about Florida’s academic scene. We’ll guide you toward the best choice for your child and your family as a whole.

To learn more, fill out the contact form below. One of our educational experts will contact you shortly.