Does your Palm Beach County school carry copies of the Bible, Quran and Torah? Here's a list

Katherine Kokal, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·2 min read
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A parent's unsuccessful challenge to the Bible's availability on public school shelves brings up a question: Which religious books are available at what schools across the county?

Schools in Palm Beach County are not required to carry the same books. School libraries are stocked by local media center staff and specialists, according to school board policies.

As a result, some schools carry some religious texts and not others.

For example, Boca Raton's Olympic Heights High, where rabbi and civil rights activist Barry Silver is challenging the Bible's availability, carries the Bible and the Quran, Islam's holy book, but not the Torah, which is comprised of the Bible's first five books.

Shelves stocked with books t the Blue Lake Elementary School media center in Boca Raton. Blue Lake's library doesn't have any religious texts, according to a list provided by the Palm Beach County School District.
Shelves stocked with books t the Blue Lake Elementary School media center in Boca Raton. Blue Lake's library doesn't have any religious texts, according to a list provided by the Palm Beach County School District.

Suncoast High in Riviera Beach also has copies of the Bible and Quran, but no high schools carry copies of the Torah, which is comprised of the Bible's first five books.

Meanwhile, L.C. Swain Middle in Greenacres carries all three religious texts. Wynnebrook Elementary, in West Palm Beach, carries only the Quran.

More: Palm Beach County father wants Bible out of public school library; board will take up objection

Overall, 18 schools in Palm Beach County carry a copy of the Bible, 13 schools carry copies of the Quran and 15 carry copies of the Torah, according to data provided by the school district.

Here's which schools carry each book:

Palm Beach County schools that carry the Bible

  1. Bear Lakes Middle

  2. Boynton Beach High

  3. Christa McAuliffe Middle

  4. Crestwood Middle

  5. Jupiter High

  6. Jupiter Middle

  7. K.E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary

  8. Lake Shore Middle

  9. Lake Worth High

  10. Lantana Middle

  11. L.C. Swain Middle

  12. Olympic Heights High

  13. Pahokee Middle/Sr. High

  14. Santaluces High

  15. Suncoast High

  16. Wellington High

  17. Whispering Pines Elementary

  18. William T. Dwyer High

Palm Beach County schools that carry the Quran

  1. Adult Education

  2. Bak Middle School of the Arts

  3. DJJ/Youth Services

  4. Jupiter High

  5. Lake Worth High

  6. L.C. Swain Middle

  7. Olympic Heights High

  8. Palm Beach Central High

  9. Palm Beach Gardens High

  10. Palm Springs Middle

  11. Suncoast High

  12. Wynnebrook Elementary

  13. West Boca Raton High

Palm Beach County schools that carry the Torah

  1. Don Estridge High Tech Middle

  2. Eagles Landing Middle

  3. Hammock Pointe Elementary

  4. Hidden Oaks K-8 School

  5. Lantana Elementary

  6. L.C. Swain Middle

  7. Lighthouse Elementary

  8. Limestone Creek Elementary

  9. Palm Springs Middle

  10. Pine Jog Elementary

  11. Pleasant City Elementary

  12. S.D. Spady Elementary

  13. Sunset Palms Elementary

  14. Tradewinds Middle

  15. Waters Edge Elementary

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work: Subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County public schools that carry the Bible, Quran and Torah