Florida Schools of Excellence
Understanding the designation, the criteria, and the data you can explore.
OVERVIEWThe School of Excellence designation highlights public schools whose sustained academic performance places them among Florida's top performers. The interactive map and downloadable CSVs on this site help families, researchers, and policy observers quickly see where these schools are located and how they have performed across multiple years.
Designation is governed by Section 1003.631, Florida Statutes. Rather than reproducing the statute verbatim (you can consult the official text directly), this page summarizes its core ideas in plain language.
Key Eligibility Concepts (Plain‑Language Summary)
- High sustained performance – Schools must remain in the upper tier statewide (historically top decile or similar percentile threshold) based on the state accountability system.
- Multiple-year consistency – Performance is evaluated over consecutive years; brief spikes alone are insufficient.
- Comprehensive indicators – Points and grade draw on achievement, learning gains, graduation (where applicable), and other state-defined components.
- Continued qualification review – Each year a school must continue meeting the performance benchmark to renew the designation.
Note: Exact numeric cutoffs and calculation formulas come from the Florida accountability framework; for precision consult current DOE documentation and rule references.
Why the Designation Matters
- Signal for families – Provides a simple marker of sustained excellence, not just one-year results.
- Encourages stability – Multi-year criteria reward strategic improvement and maintenance.
- Resource & autonomy considerations – Some designations in Florida confer flexibilities or recognition that can support innovation.
- Transparency – Public availability of longitudinal data supports informed community discussion.
Using the Interactive Map
- Filter by grade level using the buttons (Elementary, Middle, High, Combination).
- Search by ZIP or address to focus on a geographic area (district auto-hints).
- Click a school to open grouped details: identifiers, designation longevity, 2023–2025 performance, and demographics flags.
- Download CSVs directly from the map panel for external analysis.
Data Dictionary (Selected Columns)
| Column Name | Meaning | Type / Format |
|---|---|---|
| District Number | Numeric code identifying the Florida school district (county-based). | Integer |
| District Name | Official district name (often county). | String |
| School Number | Florida school code within district. | Integer |
| School Name | Official campus name. | String |
| School of Excellence 2025 | "Y" if designated for current year; blank otherwise. | Y / blank |
| Years Since Most Recent Qualification... | Count of years since the most recent qualifying performance event. | Integer |
| Total Consecutive Years... | Current streak length as a School of Excellence. | Integer |
| Percent of Total Possible Points YYYY | Performance index compared to maximum achievable points (accountability system). | Numeric (0–100) |
| Grade YYYY | State accountability letter grade for that year. | A–F |
| Final Percentile Rank YYYY | Relative statewide percentile rank (higher is better). | Numeric (0–100) |
| School Type YYYY | Grade span classification (Elementary, Middle, High, Combination). | String |
| Charter | Charter status indicator. | YES / NO / blank |
| Alternative/ESE Center School | Flag if designated alternative or ESE center. | Y/N or blank |
| Title I | Title I funding status. | YES / NO / blank |
| Percent of Economically Disadvantaged Students | Share of students meeting the economic disadvantage criteria. | Numeric (%) |
Good Practices When Interpreting the Data
- Consider trends, not single points: Look across 2023–2025 columns for consistency.
- Account for context: Demographic indicators help interpret relative performance.
- Combine quantitative & qualitative: Use this dataset with local narratives, school improvement plans, and community feedback.
Official Statute Reference
You can review the authoritative text of Section 1003.631, Florida Statutes, on the Florida Legislature's website for precise language and any recent amendments.
Ready to explore? Open the interactive map or download the raw CSV files.
Open Map Elementary CSV Middle CSV High CSV Combination CSV