West Boynton Middle, Christa McAuliffe Middle, Sunset Palms and Hagen Road elementaries made the state's 2026 Schools of Excellence list, the district said.
Four public schools west of Boynton Beach have been named 2026 Schools of Excellence by the Florida Department of Education. The School District of Palm Beach County announced the list of 45 district schools on Wednesday, in a news release.
The four with Boynton Beach addresses are:
- West Boynton Middle, on Senator Joe Abruzzo Avenue
- Christa McAuliffe Middle, on Le Chalet Boulevard
- Sunset Palms Elementary, on Boynton Beach Boulevard
- Hagen Road Elementary, on Hagen Ranch Road
All four have Boynton Beach mailing addresses but sit in unincorporated Palm Beach County, outside the city limits. That is according to the district’s municipal boundary map.
What the title means
The designation goes to schools with sustained high results over three years, the district said. A school qualifies by ranking in the 80th percentile or higher among similar schools statewide, for at least two of the last three school years. Elementary, middle, high and combination schools are compared separately.
“Achieving success for one year is worth celebrating, but sustaining it year after year is a remarkable accomplishment,” Superintendent Mike Burke said in the release.
How the four did on this year’s grades
Each of the four earned an A in the state’s 2026 school grades, according to the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 school grades file.
| School | 2026 grade | Share of points | 2025 grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Boynton Middle | A | 81% | A |
| Sunset Palms Elementary | A | 75% | A |
| Christa McAuliffe Middle | A | 74% | A |
| Hagen Road Elementary | A | 70% | B |
An A takes 62% of the possible points for an elementary school and 64% for a middle school, the state’s file shows. Hagen Road moved up from a B in 2025.
West Boynton Middle had the highest test results of the four. Of its students tested, 87% scored on grade level in English language arts and 88% in math, the state’s file shows.
What it means for you
- To check your zoned school, each school page linked above lists its attendance zone and feeder schools. Our public schools guide covers every school serving Boynton Beach.
- To apply to a school outside your zone, students can apply to any district school with open seats, the district said. Call Admissions and Family Experience at 561-434-8197 or email admissions@palmbeachschools.org.
- Choice and career programs for the 2027-28 school year are taking applications now. The deadline for every program is Friday, Dec. 4, according to a district release. Seats are filled by lottery. Applications are at mypbchoiceapp.com.
The district’s release also notes that a question on continuing its one-mill school property tax is on the Nov. 3 ballot. Our voting guide has early voting and polling place details.
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