Choice, Career Programs and Charter Schools

ematics, and Arts. Schools tailor course sequences to meet each school’s focus. All students applying to these programs must hold at least a 3.0 GPA.

The application process runs November through January of each school year for the following school year. For a list of schools, application process and further information, interested families can visit www.mypbchoiceapp.com.

Charter Schools

The School District of Palm Beach County is the sponsor of 49 charter schools in all major geographic areas of Palm Beach County, providing school choice to more than 22,000 students in elementary, middle, high, alternative, and technical educational school settings. The Charter Department provides academic, financial, operational and technical assistance to these charter schools.

What is a charter school?

Charter schools are public schools that are a part of Florida’s program of public education. The School Board of Palm Beach County sponsors the charter schools located in Palm Beach County, Florida. What are the charter schools’ statutory guiding principles, purposes and requirements?

Charter schools’ guiding principles include the following:

1.Meet high standards of student achievement while providing parents flexibility to choose among diverse educational opportunities within the state’s public school system.

2.Promote enhanced academic success and financial efficiency by aligning responsibility with accountability.

3.Provide parents with sufficient information on whether their child is reading at grade level and whether the child gains at least a year’s worth of learning for every year spent in the charter school.

The charter schools’ mandatory and optional purposes are stated in Florida Statute 1002.33, subsection (2). In addition, charter schools must fulfill all of the requirements set forth in Florida Statute 1002.33, subsection (9).

Who is eligible to attend a charter school?

A charter school in Palm Beach County shall be open to any student covered in an inter-district agreement or residing in the School District of Palm Beach County. However, in the case of a charter lab school, the charter lab school shall be open to any student eligible to attend the lab school as provided in Florida Statute 1002.32 or who resides in the school district in which the charter lab school is located.

What is the enrollment process for a charter school?

The charter school shall enroll an eligible student who submits a timely application, unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level or building. In such cases, all applicants shall have an equal chance of being admitted through a random election process.

Where can I obtain information about a specific charter school?

You should contact the charter school directly. Information about all charter schools can be found in the Directory of Charter Schools at www.palmbeachschools.org/departments/charter_schools.

Inlet Grove Community High School

600 W. 28th St. Riviera Beach, FL 33404 (561) 881-4600 | www.inletgrovehs.com

It is the mission of Inlet Grove Community High School to graduate students with the skills and knowledge to be lifelong learners and responsible citizens through a technology-rich and innovative learning environment that integrates rigorous academic and career preparation and develops internationally minded students who make contributions to a better and more peaceful world. Students will be prepared to enter college and the workforce upon graduation and will be able to successfully compete in today’s global society.

Palm Beach Preparatory Charter Academy

3525 Congress Ave. Palm Springs, FL 33461 (561) 623-6935 | www.pbpca.com

The mission of Palm Beach Preparatory Charter Academy is to educate, motivate and graduate lifelong learners by coaching students academically and socially. At Palm Beach Preparatory Charter Academy, students participate in a customized learning environment. The Academy understands that not all students learn the same way. The learning platform is designed to support students who are over-age for grade in middle school, or they do not have enough credits to graduate from high school on time. Direct instruction allows students to work in a smaller classroom setting and receive individualized instruction and help with lessons.

Other Education Resources

Mountaineer’s School of Autism

1340 Kenwood Road, Suite 7840

West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (561) 962-5075 | www.msainc.org

Offering more services and a more individualized approach than traditional schooling, Mountaineer’s School of Autism is a space where children on the autism spectrum have access to academics, social skills, speech therapy, occupational therapy, athletics, music, Spanish, American Sign Language, iPads/technology, a playground, independent living skills, massage/essential oils, friendship, support, and endless amounts of patience and love.

Opportunity Early Childhood Education and Family Center

4171 Westgate Ave.

West Palm Beach, FL 33409 (561) 712-9221 www.opportunitypbc.org

Opportunity Early Childhood Education and Family Center is one of Palm Beach County’s oldest charities and has been a United Way agency since its inception. Its primary focus is to serve the children of working families through the delivery of high-quality early childhood education which benefits our entire community. It aims to empower the children of working families to achieve academic and life success through educational programs that embrace the whole child and through family programming.