Tell me about private schools in Broward

[Anonymous]

We are moving to Broward County and are considering the following private schools for our kids (7th and 4th). Any South Floridians, please share what you know!

- American Heritage
- Pine Crest
- NSU University School
- North Broward Prep

We will most likely be living in Plantation, so I’m specifically focusing on these schools for proximity’s sake but would be willing to drive a little further if there is a great school I’m missing.

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Just had a thread or two about these

[Anonymous]

Former teacher at one of them, familiar with all to some degree.

What exactly do you want to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former teacher at one of them, familiar with all to some degree.

What exactly do you want to know?

culture, vibe, what are the academics like, what kinds of students do well there, sports, extracurriculars, etc. You know, the usual stuff!

[Anonymous]

All of the schools have a good reputation within the community. All follow the “independent school mindset.” Geography is a big factor though: different schools pull geographically to different areas.

For example: most students who live in plantation and surrounding cities such as Davie or perhaps south/west Fort Lauderdale are likely to attend Heritage or U school if their parents chose private. PC services mostly the eastern sections of Lauderdale, many from boca and delray (as they have a k-8 campus in boca), and many from north Miami/aventura. I personally lived in Fort Lauderdale and didn’t know anyone who chose NB for their kids. That’s not to say that there aren’t kids who live in plantation that don’t attend PC or NB, but most would chose Heritage or U School for convenience.

Academically, Heritage, U School, and PC are well regarded. The pressure exists at all of them. Heritage levels its students and are strict about who goes into what level class. Honors kids are in honors, AP kids are in AP. They offer specialized “schools” in the upper school that are geared towards STEM, and they produce kids with good college outplacement. I believe they also offer Heritage academy which is for students who may not above average academically and that program is tailored to their needs.

PC, on the other hand, has a strong commitment to AP. They are an AP school in the upper school and students can and will be placed in AP courses. They do have honors classes but the vast majority will track to some level of all APs towards the latter years. Not that AP is bad, as I used to teach AP, but it is extremely perspective in its curriculum as it’s dictated by college board and the skill requirements to pass each class.

In the Fort Lauderdale community, PC is known as having the “best” placement in college. Best can mean a lot of things to different people. But they are producing kids who go to very prestigious universities. Heritage as well.

Of the parents I know whose kids attend Heritage, USchool, or PC in lower school and middle school, all are happy with the academics and environment.

As for culture, it’s hard to say. The student populations who attend are, for the most part, extremely affluent. Florida, as a whole is showy rich, unlike areas up north where wealth is more understated, so I think you will see that across the board, with a smidge less in Plantation than in Fort Lauderdale.

Sports are likely all equal, with perhaps U School being the most “sporty” of the three, though it does not have a “sports school reputation” within the community. Sports are seen as an addition to the development of the whole child, and all would encourage sports be played.

I think you can’t go wrong with either school. Public school isn’t an option in broward, and if you’re leaning towards these options, chose the campus you like the most and the one that is the most convenient to your house.

Hope this helps some!

[Anonymous]

Very, very helpful - thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

There are some good public schools in Broward. My kids go to one! We have many APs, Honors, and (this is specific to FL and maybe a few other states) AICE exams/the AICE diploma. Broward is not showy rich at all for the most part. In fact, this is why we moved here. Out of the schools you listed, American Heritage is the only one I'd consider if in Plantation. It's a good school and right there. For sports, St Thomas further in Fort Lauderdale is THE school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some good public schools in Broward. My kids go to one! We have many APs, Honors, and (this is specific to FL and maybe a few other states) AICE exams/the AICE diploma. Broward is not showy rich at all for the most part. In fact, this is why we moved here. Out of the schools you listed, American Heritage is the only one I'd consider if in Plantation. It's a good school and right there. For sports, St Thomas further in Fort Lauderdale is THE school.

which school do your kids go to? or any public schools you specifically recommend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some good public schools in Broward. My kids go to one! We have many APs, Honors, and (this is specific to FL and maybe a few other states) AICE exams/the AICE diploma. Broward is not showy rich at all for the most part. In fact, this is why we moved here. Out of the schools you listed, American Heritage is the only one I'd consider if in Plantation. It's a good school and right there. For sports, St Thomas further in Fort Lauderdale is THE school.

which school do your kids go to? or any public schools you specifically recommend?

I won’t say, not Plantation though. There are a few (not many) good public schools in Broward. You can find them fairly easily.

[Anonymous]

That’s like the worst county in Florida

[Anonymous]

Pine crest stay far away it had a horrible scandal right before Covid many families left they hushed it well.


American Heritage is for middle of the road students let’s everyone in .
Not good education for the money students go to state schools

NOVA has a great rep with colleges

My family generations of pine crest students hell no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some good public schools in Broward. My kids go to one! We have many APs, Honors, and (this is specific to FL and maybe a few other states) AICE exams/the AICE diploma. Broward is not showy rich at all for the most part. In fact, this is why we moved here. Out of the schools you listed, American Heritage is the only one I'd consider if in Plantation. It's a good school and right there. For sports, St Thomas further in Fort Lauderdale is THE school.

which school do your kids go to? or any public schools you specifically recommend?

I won’t say, not Plantation though. There are a few (not many) good public schools in Broward. You can find them fairly easily.

NP. My kids went elementary and middle school in Weston - supposedly the best public schools (or among the best) that south FL has to offer. They were just OK. I think families that come from decent to good schools up north will find south Florida public schools to be lacking. We moved to FL from Maryland/MCPS and then "half backed" to the Triangle area of NC four years later, and both were/are leagues above what we experienced in FL. If we were to stay in FL long term, we definitely would have done private for at least high school (and I say this as someone who never, for a second, considered private school in MoCo or North Carolina) and then taken advantage of in-state tuition for college. Cypress Bay HS would have been a non-starter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some good public schools in Broward. My kids go to one! We have many APs, Honors, and (this is specific to FL and maybe a few other states) AICE exams/the AICE diploma. Broward is not showy rich at all for the most part. In fact, this is why we moved here. Out of the schools you listed, American Heritage is the only one I'd consider if in Plantation. It's a good school and right there. For sports, St Thomas further in Fort Lauderdale is THE school.

which school do your kids go to? or any public schools you specifically recommend?

I won’t say, not Plantation though. There are a few (not many) good public schools in Broward. You can find them fairly easily.

NP. My kids went elementary and middle school in Weston - supposedly the best public schools (or among the best) that south FL has to offer. They were just OK. I think families that come from decent to good schools up north will find south Florida public schools to be lacking. We moved to FL from Maryland/MCPS and then "half backed" to the Triangle area of NC four years later, and both were/are leagues above what we experienced in FL. If we were to stay in FL long term, we definitely would have done private for at least high school (and I say this as someone who never, for a second, considered private school in MoCo or North Carolina) and then taken advantage of in-state tuition for college. Cypress Bay HS would have been a non-starter.

I guess everyone has a different perspective and experience.

[Anonymous]

What about St. Thomas? Many from Ft. Lauderdale and Davie go there -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about St. Thomas? Many from Ft. Lauderdale and Davie go there -

St. Thomas Aquinas? That's a high school.