The Best High Schools In Southwest Ranches

There’s one high school in Southwest Ranches, but we do not recommend it. Instead, we suggest you look at other high schools in the Pembroke Pines and Davie areas. The best schools in those areas are Pembroke Pines Charter High School, Somerset Charter High School, and William T. McFatter Technical High School. Pembroke Pines Charter High and Somerset Charter High are in Pembroke Pines while McFatter Technical High is located in Davie. Greatschools.org rates McFatter Technical High a 10/10, Pembroke Pines Charter High a 9/10, and Somerset Charter High an 8/10. In addition, all of these schools received an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report.  

In terms of academic performance, all of these schools do well; they all exceeded the state standards in standardized testing for every subject. However, McFatter Technical High leads the pack, scoring a 92% proficiency in United States history, an 89% proficiency in Geometry, and an 88% proficiency in biology. Pembroke Pines Charter High follows closely behind with an 84% proficiency in algebra, a 76 % proficiency in geometry, and an 88% proficiency in biology. And then comes Somerset Charter High with a 73% proficiency in algebra, a 70% proficiency in geometry, and an 85% proficiency in biology. Note that not all of these schools have scores published from the same subjects.   

Also, each school earned the College Success Award for their efforts in preparing students for college and later careers. McFatter Technical High earned it in 2018 and 2019, and the other two schools earned it in 2018, 2019, and 2020.  

Note that none of these schools is a part of the Broward County public district school system, and students have to apply and be selected to attend. McFatter Technical High is unique in that it is a magnet school that provides education in technical and traditional academic areas. Students who attend McFatter Technical High are required to take 24 credits of college preparatory curriculum and eight technical credits in whichever field the student chooses. The other two schools follow a traditional college preparatory program, but both have numerous AP classes and provide many opportunities for your child to succeed.  

Regarding parent testimony, McFatter Technical High is the most highly praised by parents. However, all schools do receive mixed reviews, so it’s worth going to greatschools.org to read the testimonials for yourself. 

But one McFatter Technical High parent did say, “We love McFatter, the administration, support staff through guidance and dedicated teachers make this school exceptional. What a change from my son attending a mediocre middle school to this experience. The staff are proactive, creative and make the students a priority. So far it's been a wonderful experience.”

To find more about these high schools, visit their websites and maybe even call the front office to arrange a tour of the school. This could help you decide which school is the best fit for your child. And, you can always explore other schools in Pembroke Pines and Davie that are listed in our profiles for those cities. 

For more information about each of these schools’ COVID-19 protocols, check out the Broward County public school website. Also, visit greatschools.org and niche.com for additional parent testimonials and to explore any other schools in more depth. And to see the criteria for Florida Department of Education ratings, go to their website. Note that all quotes listed above come from parent reviews at greatschools.org.