Fort Lauderdale is served by Broward County Public Schools, graded A by the state for 2026. Winter break is Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. District line: 754-321-0000.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Sources: Broward County Public Schools and the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 school grades.
Every public school in Fort Lauderdale, with its zone and report card: Fort Lauderdale public schools.
Public schools in Fort Lauderdale are run by Broward County Public Schools, the countywide district, with headquarters at the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center, 600 SE 3rd Ave., downtown. Children are assigned to a school by home address. The district also runs magnet and choice programs, and Broward has many charter schools, which are public but independently run.
Who to call
- Broward County Public Schools, main line: 754-321-0000
- School choice and magnet programs: 754-321-2480, schoolchoice@browardschools.com
- Speaking at a School Board meeting: School Board Office, 754-321-2390
- Emergency and closure updates: BCPS hotline, 754-321-0321
- Official pages: Register my child and school calendars
Finding your school and registering
Enter your street address and your child’s grade in the district’s school locator, linked from the Register My Child page, to see your assigned elementary, middle and high school. Then contact that school to enroll. Bring:
- The completed Broward County Public Schools student registration form
- Current proofs of residence, which depend on whether you own, rent or live with another family; the district lists what counts
- The documents on the district’s registration checklist, including immunization records (health requirements)
To apply for a school outside your boundary, see the district’s school choice page.
The 2026-27 calendar
From the School Board’s 2026-27 calendar synopsis (PDF):
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Friday, Oct. 9 | Early release |
| Monday, Oct. 12 | No school (teacher planning day) |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 | Second quarter begins |
| Wednesday, Oct. 21 | First-quarter report cards |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | No school (teacher planning day) |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Veterans Day, no school |
| Nov. 23-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | Early release |
| Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 | Winter break |
| Monday, Jan. 4, 2027 | No school (teacher planning day) |
| Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027 | Classes resume; third quarter begins |
| Monday, Jan. 18, 2027 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school |
| Monday, Feb. 15, 2027 | Presidents Day, no school |
| Wednesday, March 10, 2027 | No school |
| Friday, March 19, 2027 | No school (teacher planning day) |
| March 22-26, 2027 | Spring break |
| Friday, May 28, 2027 | Last day of school, early release |
The school year began Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. The district has also posted its 2027-28 calendar.
School grades
Florida grades every public school A to F each summer. The state’s 2026 grades, for the 2025-26 school year, gave Broward County Public Schools an A, its third A in a row. Of 287 graded schools in Broward, including 75 charters, 176 earned an A, 71 a B and 40 a C. None was graded D or F. The state changed its grading scales this year; its overview (PDF) explains how.
Grades for district-run schools in Fort Lauderdale, from the state’s 2026 school grades file (Excel):
| School | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale High | A | A | A |
| Stranahan High | A | A | B |
| Dillard 6-12 | C | B | C |
| Sunrise Middle | A | B | B |
| New River Middle | B | B | C |
| Bayview Elementary | A | A | A |
| Croissant Park Elementary | A | B | A |
| Dillard Elementary | A | B | C |
| Harbordale Elementary | A | A | A |
| North Fork Elementary | A | B | B |
| Sunland Park Academy | A | A | C |
| Virginia Shuman Young Elementary | A | A | A |
| Westwood Heights Elementary | A | A | B |
| Bennett Elementary | B | B | C |
| Walker Elementary | B | B | C |
| Riverland Elementary | C | B | B |
| Thurgood Marshall Elementary | C | C | C |
This is not every school that serves the city; families on the edges may be zoned to schools in neighboring cities. Each school’s full report card, with test scores and graduation rates, is on the state’s EDStats school report cards.
School Board
The School Board of Broward County sets policy and the budget. Meetings and workshops are streamed live and archived on BECON, broadcast on WKPX-FM 88.5, and replayed on cable. The meeting schedule is on the district’s calendar of board sessions, with agendas and live video. To speak at a meeting, call 754-321-2390 ahead of time.
The district’s information page on the 2026 referendum covers its “Secure the Next Generation” referendum renewal; see our voting guide for election dates.
What this means for you
- Look up your zoned school by address before you buy or rent.
- Thanksgiving week and Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 are off; classes return Jan. 5.
- Grades are high across Broward this year, partly because the state changed its scales, so compare schools within the same year.
Related: moving to Fort Lauderdale and Friday night football.
The zoned schools for 11 areas of the city are in our Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods guide.
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Fort Lauderdale in?
Fort Lauderdale is served by Broward County Public Schools, the countywide district. The district’s school locator matches a street address and grade to the assigned school.
When is winter break for Broward County schools?
Students are off Monday, Dec. 21, 2026, through Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. Classes resume Tuesday, Jan. 5, after a teacher planning day on Jan. 4.
When is the last day of school in Broward County?
The last day of the 2026-27 school year is Friday, May 28, 2027, an early release day.
What grade did Broward County Public Schools get?
The Florida Department of Education graded the district an A for 2025-26, its third straight A. Of 287 graded Broward schools, 176 earned an A and none earned a D or F.
How do I register my child for school in Fort Lauderdale?
Find your boundary school with the district’s school locator, then contact that school directly with the registration form, proofs of residence and the documents on the district’s registration checklist.
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