Find Florida public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. Public schools provide information on tuition, school rankings, school enrollment, education, curriculum, classes, records, and teacher-student ratios.
Public Schools are tuition-free, publicly funded schools that are legally required to accept and provide an education to all children from Kindergarten age through Grade 12. Each of the fifty state constitutions includes a requirement for the provision of a Public School system, and each state also has a compulsory education law that requires school-age children to attend school.
Public Schools operate within school districts which are separate entities responsible for administering Public Schools. School districts are led by boards or commissions who set policy for the district and appoint a Superintendent of Schools. Board and commission members may be elected by voters within the district, or in some cases may be appointed by the legislative body that serves the district. While the states impose frameworks and some minimum requirements for length of school year, teacher qualifications, curriculum and other elements of public education, the school districts have significant latitude within these frameworks and the authority to manage the day to day operations of Public Schools.
Public Schools are largely organized into three groups, each serving different grade levels. Primary or Elementary Schools typically serve students from Pre-K, Kindergarten or Grade 1 through Grade 5 or Grade 6. While all Public School districts begin Primary School by Grade 1, not all offer Kindergarten or Pre-K grades. Middle Schools cover Grades 6 or 7 through Grade 8. High School covers Grades 9 through 12. In small school districts, all grades may be served in one school. The completion of Grade 12 is generally considered to indicate student readiness for post-secondary education.
Many Public School districts offer alternatives to traditional Public School structures, including and Magnet Schools. Charter schools are Public Schools initiated by a parent or community group or organization to serve a special population or to provide special curricula or instructional practices. They are formed by a special charter or agreement with the school district that grants them additional flexibility in how they operate. Magnet Schools are Public Schools that offer a specialized theme or subject emphasis, such as science and technology, international and cultural studies, or the arts.