U.S. News & World Report releases annual school rankings: Here's where Brevard landed

Finch Walker, Florida Today
·11 min read
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Have you ever wondered where your child's school ranks compared to other schools in Brevard — or even the rest of the state and country?

Each year since 1983, U.S. News & World Report has published a list ranking higher education institutes. They also compile lists that include elementary, middle and high schools, showing how schools compare to others locally, within the state and nationally.

The school rankings take into account the percentage of students who achieve proficiency or above in state tests for reading, language arts and math. U.S. News and World Report's methodology involves evaluating half of the formula based on test scores, while the other half incorporates these results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. Assessments are conducted separately for every state so that a consistent methodology is maintained across all grade levels. If there is a tie in overall scores, student-teacher ratios are taken into account to determine the rankings.

The site reports that there are 4,212 elementary schools, 3,076 middle schools and 1,130 high schools in Florida.

Here's how Brevard ranked, according to their most recent report.

Top 10 Brevard elementary schools

1. Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies

Freedom 7 Elementary School in Cocoa Beach was ranked as Brevard's top elementary school, and No. 8 in the state. The school serves 406 students in grades K-6. U.S. News reports that 89% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 94 scored at or above that level for reading.

2. Robert L. Stevenson Elementary School

Robert L. Stevenson Elementary School on Merritt Island serves 498 students in grades K-6 and ranked at No. 2 for Brevard and No. 14 statewide. 87% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 93% scored at or above the proficient level for reading.

3. West Melbourne Elementary School for Science

West Melbourne Elementary School for Science ranked No. 3 in Brevard and No. 20 in the state. The school serves 544 students in pre-K through grade 6. 88% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 86% scored at or above that level for reading.

4. Viera Elementary School

Viera Elementary School came in at No. 4 in Brevard and No. 23 in the state. It serves 585 students in grades pre-K through grade 6. 87% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 87% scored at or above proficient level for reading.

5. Manatee Elementary School

Manatee Elementary School in Viera ranked at No. 5 for the county and No. 55 for the state. Its student population is 842, ranging from grade pre-K through grade 6. 85% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 84% scored at or above the proficient level for reading.

6. Educational Horizons Charter School

Educational Horizons Charter School is an elementary charter school in Melbourne, ranking at No. 6 in Brevard and No. 65 in the state. It serves a student population of 116 in grades K-6. 75% of students scored at or above the proficient level in math, while 95% scored at or above that level for reading.

7. Longleaf Elementary School

Longleaf Elementary School in Melbourne was No. 7 in Brevard and No. 76 in the state. It serves 594 students in grades pre-K through grade 6. 83% of students scored at or above the proficient level in math, while 79% scored at or above that level in reading.

8. Quest Elementary School

Quest Elementary School in Melbourne ranked at No. 8 in Brevard and No. 112 in the state. The school serves grades pre-K through 6, with a student population of 673. 83% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 80% scored at or above that level for reading.

9. South Lake Elementary School

South Lake Elementary School in Titusville came in at No. 9 in the county and No. 122 in Florida. The school serves 396 students in grades K-6. 77% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 77% scored at or above that level for reading.

10. Suntree Elementary School

Suntree Elementary School in Melbourne ranked at No. 10 for the county and No. 169 for the state. The school serves 595 students in pre-K through grade 6. 80% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 80% scored at or above the proficient level for reading.

For a complete list of Brevard elementary school rankings, click here.

Buddy the Bobcat greets the kids after the Longleaf Elementary Walk to School Day in October 2022. About 200 students, parents, siblings, and staff took part in the event.
Buddy the Bobcat greets the kids after the Longleaf Elementary Walk to School Day in October 2022. About 200 students, parents, siblings, and staff took part in the event.

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Top 10 Brevard middle schools

1. West Shore Junior/Senior High School

West Shore Junior/Senior High School in Melbourne is ranked at No. 1 for middle schools in Brevard and No. 4 in the state. The school serves 946 students in grades 7-12. 95% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 94% scored at or above proficient level for reading.

2. Edgewood Junior/Senior High School

Edgewood Junior/Senior High School on Merritt Island ranked at No. 2 for middle schools in the county and No. 10 in the state. The school serves 922 students in grades 7-12. 95% of students scored at or above proficient level for math, and 91% scored at or above proficient level for reading.

3. Pinecrest Academy Space Coast

Pinecrest Academy Space Coast is a charter school in Viera, ranking at No. 3 for Brevard middle schools and No. 109 in the state. Because it serves grades K-8, it also ranked at no. 782 in the state in the category of elementary schools.

The school has a population of 603 students. 70% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 76% scored at or above that level for reading.

4. Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School

Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School ranked at No. 4 in the county and 133 in the state. The school serves 943 students in grades 7-12. 65% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 66% scored at or above that level for reading.

5. Sculptor Charter School

Sculptor Charter School in Titusville ranked at No. 5 in Brevard and No. 166 in the state. Because it serves students in grades K-8, it also ranked at 1,309 in the state in the category of elementary schools.

The school has a population of 556 students. 58% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 69% scored at or above that level for reading.

From left, the "Bacteria Boys" -- Evan Ireland, Connor Santore, Eric DiStasi, Liam Hauser and Luke Costa -- of Pinecrest Academy Space Coast designed a science experiment that will launch aboard the NASA-SpaceX CRS-29 resupply mission to the International Space Station.
From left, the "Bacteria Boys" -- Evan Ireland, Connor Santore, Eric DiStasi, Liam Hauser and Luke Costa -- of Pinecrest Academy Space Coast designed a science experiment that will launch aboard the NASA-SpaceX CRS-29 resupply mission to the International Space Station.

6. Delaura Middle School

Delaura Middle School in Satellite Beach ranked at No. 6 in Brevard and 172 in the state. The school serves a population of 843 students in grades 7 and 8. 74% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 70% scored at or above that level for reading.

7. Pineapple Cove Classical Academy at West Melbourne

Pineapple Cove Classical Academy at West Melbourne is a charter school, ranking at No. 7 for Brevard middle schools and No. 173 in the state. It serves kids in grades K-8, so it also ranked at No. 389 in the state for elementary schools.

The school has a population of 823 students. 74% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 76% scored at or above that level for reading.

8. Odyssey Charter School

Odyssey Charter School is located in Palm Bay and ranks at No. 8 in Brevard and 200 in the state. Serving grades K-12, it also ranks at No. 215 in the state for elementary schools.

The school has a student population of 1,821. 70% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 63% scored at or above that level for reading.

9. Royal Palm Charter School

Royal Palm Charter School is a charter school in Palm Bay and ranks No. 9 in Brevard and No. 226 in the state. Because it serves grades K-8, it also ranks at No. 1,503 in the state for elementary schools.

The school has a student population of 332. 44% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 54% scored at or above that level for reading.

10. Viera Charter School

Viera Charter School ranked at No. 10 in Brevard and at No. 252 in the state. Serving grades K-8, it also ranked at 239 for elementary schools in the state.

The school has a student population of 1,351. 75% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, while 74% scored at or above that level for reading.

For a complete list of Brevard middle school rankings, click here.

Top 10 Brevard high schools

1. West Shore Junior/Senior High School

In addition to ranking at No. 1 for Brevard's middle schools, West Shore Junior/Senior High School in Melbourne also ranks at No. 1 for Brevard high schools. It ranks at No. 4 among Florida high schools and No. 43 among the nation's high schools, with a 100% Advanced Placement participation rate.

95% of high school students scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 95% scored at or above proficiency level for reading.

2. Edgewood Junior/Senior High School

Edgewood Junior/Senior High School on Merritt Island ranks at No. 2 for both middle and high school in Brevard, ranking at No. 7 in the state among high schools. It also ranks at No. 74 among all high schools in the country, with 100% of high schoolers participating in at least one Advanced Placement course last year.

90% of high schoolers scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 93% scored at the same level for reading.

3. Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School

Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School ranks at No. 3 in the county and 91 in Florida. The school reports 66% of students participating in AP courses.

51% of high schoolers scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 67% scored at that level for reading.

Edgewood Junior/ Senior High School in Merritt Island held their commencement ceremony at the Maxwell C. King King Center for the Performing Arts at EFSC in Melbourne.
Edgewood Junior/ Senior High School in Merritt Island held their commencement ceremony at the Maxwell C. King King Center for the Performing Arts at EFSC in Melbourne.

4. Satellite High School

Satellite High School in Satellite Beach ranks at No. 4 in Brevard and 115 in the state. 54% of its 1,497 students in grades 9-12 participate in AP coursework.

62% of high schoolers scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 71% scored at that same level for reading.

5. Viera High School

Viera High School ranks at No. 5 in the county and 130 in the state. With a student body of 2,202 in grades 9-12, 53% of students participate in AP courses.

56% of students scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 71% scored at or above the same level for reading.

6. Titusville High School

Titusville High School ranks at No. 6 in the county and No. 229 in Florida. With a population of 1,230 students in grades 9-12, 54% participate in AP courses.

31% of students scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 53% scored at or above the same level for reading.

7. Melbourne High School

Melbourne High School ranks at No. 7 in Brevard and 241 in the state. The school has a student population of 2,210 students in grades 9-12, with 39% participating in AP courses.

42% of students scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 58% scored at or above the same level for reading.

8. Merritt Island High School

Ranked at No. 8 in Brevard, Merritt Island High School ranks at 254 in the state among high schools. With a student population of 1,509 in grades 9-12, 44% of students participate in AP courses.

35% of students scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 56% scored at or above the same level for reading.

9. Odyssey Charter School

Odyssey Charter School in Palm Bay ranked at No. 9 in Brevard and 294 in the state. It serves grades K-12, with 383 high schoolers attending the school. 29% of those students participate in AP courses.

45% of students scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 55% scored at or above the same level for reading.

10. Space Coast Junior/Senior High School

Ranking at No. 10 in Brevard, Space Coast Junior/Senior High School in Cocoa ranks at 309 among high schools in Florida. It serves grades 7-12, with 969 high schoolers in attendance; 46% of those students participate in AP courses.

43% of high school students scored at or above grade proficiency level for math, while 45% scored at or above the same level for reading.

For a complete list of Brevard middle school rankings, click here.

Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at 321-290-4744 or fwalker@floridatoday.com. X: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: U.S. News posts annual list of top schools: Here's how Brevard ranks