Is Stoneman Douglas in Parkland the best vs. any other High School? (Coral Springs: theater, high schools)

[Funshine]

We are moving to Florida from Long Island NY. Schools here are excellent. I need to find the best High School in Florida. My friend told me Stoneman Douglas in Parkland/Coral Springs was good. Does anyone know that school or any other great High Schools in Florida. Teen is interested in Theater/Singing and acting. Please Help!!!!

[StilltheSame]

If you are looking at academics your outcome will be different than if you are looking at performing arts. Moreover, even then "best" is subjective. Once you have some defining factors you will likely get some responses.

[Chelsa1075]

Douglas has gone from an A school to a B school, but I see a lot of schools have gone down in their rating. I'm not sure why.

[Funshine]

I am moving from Long Island, Ny to Florida I have a child in high School. I am looking for an A rating school. Basically, once I have that knowledge I will call the schools to find out if they have any performing arts programs. Please help and thank you very much

[fauve]

The best high schools in Florida are East Side in Gainesville and Pine View in Sarasota. The best high school in South Florida is Stoneman Douglas in Parkland.

[Chelsa1075]

Funshine - first question you need to answer is what part of Florida are you moving to. Then when you have established that, you can begin your search for an A rated high school. I will tell you that a few of the A rated high schools have lost a letter rating and are down to a B now. I think you have to take multiple things into consideration when searching for a school. I personally went to the schools in the areas I was thinking of moving to and watched the kids coming out. Watched how they behaved or misbehaved. Then I went in and asked what their extra curricular activities were. How they ranked in the state and country with testing, etc. A school may receive a B rating but really be excellent! I know that some states (NY) rate there schools lower so that when they succeed it looks a lot better in the end, but it really means nothing. The school neither performed worse nor better than the previous year.

[Chelsa1075]

Hey Fauve - good to talk to you again. Is Douglas still the best? It is now rated a B, which I would assume has taken a little something away from it. Let me know. Hope you and your family are well.

[fauve]

I'm going by US News & World Report's ratings, not by the A/B/C thing, because USNWR bases it on AP availability and AP test results or IB availability & results, rather than whatever nonsense the ABC thing is about - Im not even sure - it it FCATs?

And, thanks for asking - family is great but I miss my son - just started freshman year of college all the way in california.

[Chelsa1075]

oh man that is far! Is he your only child?

[Desdemona25]

If performing arts is your thing, then you need to be looking at Dreyfoos in West Palm Beach.