Find the best schools in Westchester
Even though Westchester is an unincorporated community, you can still find a great place for your child’s education. However, it can be a hassle. That’s why we did the work for you. We did the research and found the best schools in Westchester from the compiled ratings and inputs of compiled ratings of greatschools.org, niche.com, and the Florida Department of Education’s school accountability report.
Westchester isn’t a defined city, so it doesn’t have defined boundaries for schools. However, the schools that serve the Westchester area are schools that operate within these listed zip codes: 33144, 33174, 33165, and 33155. However, not all of these zip codes are equally spaced throughout the Westchester area.
The 33165 and 33155 zip codes make up the bulk of Westchester’s land area, so they’re the best areas to look for schools in Westchester. However, depending on the part of Westchester you live in, it may be better to look for schools in one of the other zip codes or just outside the bounds of Westchester. We looked through each zip code to find the best schools that are in Westchester or just outside of its boundaries.
To discover other schools in different zip codes throughout Westchester. Check out this zip code map, and then go to greatschools.org, type in your desired zip code, and search through the results.
The school network in the Westchester area consists primarily of Miami-Dade County public district schools, a series of Miami-Dade County public charter schools, and a few private schools. All schools listed are Miami-Dade County public schools.
The Best Elementary Schools In Westchester
The top recommended elementary schools in Westchester are Emerson Elementary School, Pinecrest Cove Academy K-8, and Royal Palm Elementary School. Emerson Elementary is located in the 33155 zip code, and the other two elementary schools are located in the 33165 zip code.
Greatschools.org rates all of these elementary schools a 10/10, and they all also receive an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report. You literally can’t have better options for your child’s education.
When it comes to standardized testing, all of these schools exceeded the state standards in every subject, and they all score around the same range. Emerson Elementary scored an 85% proficiency in math, a 78% proficiency in English, and a 64% proficiency in science. Pinecrest Cove Academy K-8 scored an 86% proficiency in math, an 84% proficiency in English, and a 64% proficiency in science, and Royal Palm Elementary scored a 78% proficiency in math, a 76% proficiency in English, and an 85% proficiency in science.
All of these schools also receive mixed parent testimony and reviews, so it’s best to go to greatschools.org to read them for yourself.
However, one Emerson Elementary parent did say, “Everyone in this school is extremely helpful. From the lady who receives the students in the cafeteria to the principal who is in front of the school greeting students in the morning. The teachers communicate with parents through apps, so if you have any questions, they are available. I'm quite happy with my daughter's progress.”
Note that while these schools do seem extremely similar, there are differences within them that may determine which one is the best fit for your child. For example, Pinecrest Cove Academy K-8 is a part of Miami-Dade County’s public charter system, so students must apply and be selected to attend. Whereas, the other schools are a part of Miami-Dade County’s public district system. No application is needed for these schools. In addition, Pinecrest Cove Academy contains grades K-8, so its testing information listed on greatschools.org is the combined information for its elementary and middle school components.
To find out more about these schools and read additional parent testimonials, go to greatschools.org or check out the individual school’s websites. Visiting the schools may also help you determine which is best for your child. Also, remember if you’re unsatisfied with any of these options for elementary school, you can always explore other options in nearby areas like Coral Gables.
The Best Middle Schools In Westchester
Moving onto middle schools, the top-recommended middle schools in Westchester are Pinecrest Cove Academy K-8 and Cypress K-8 Center. Both are located in the 33165 zip code.
Note that we would recommend Blue Lakes Elementary School PK-9 because greatschools.org rates it an 8/10, and it is in the Westchester area. However, there is conflicting information on its site, greatschools.org, Instagram page, and the Miami-Dade County public school system website, and we don’t want to recommend a school that we can’t fact check 100%. So, if you’re interested in this school, it may be best to call the number listed on the Miami-Dade County public school system website or check it out for yourself.
Greatschools.org rates Pinecrest Cove Academy K-8 a 10/10 and Cypress K-8 Center an 8/10. Both of these schools also receive an “A” from the FDOE’s school accountability report.
In terms of academic performance, Pinecrest Cove Academy K-8 outscores Cypress K-8 Center. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the testing data for both of these schools is the combined data set from each school’s elementary and middle school components. Still, Pinecrest Cove Academy K-8 scored an 86% proficiency in math, an 84% proficiency in English, and a 64% proficiency in science while Cypress K-8 Center scored a 67% proficiency in math, a 65% proficiency in English, and a 61% proficiency in science. Note that both of these schools exceed the state standard in every subject for standardized testing.
Both of these schools also receive mixed reviews from parents, but in general, most of the testimony and remarks about both of these schools are positive.
One Cypress K-8 Center parent said, “My children attend the school. The teachers are very dedicated to the success of their students. Most parents are very involved in school activities.”
In addition, keep in mind that Pinecrest Cove Academy K-8 is a part of Miami-Dade County’s public charter system, so students must apply and be selected to attend. Meanwhile, Cypress K-8 Center is a part of Miami-Dade County’s public district system, so students need not apply to attend.
To find more information about these schools, check out their individual website and read more parent testimony on greatschools.org. Remember, if you’re unsatisfied with any of these options for your child's middle school education, you can always explore other options in nearby areas like Coral Gables.
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.
