Palm Beach Public School

The Vice Principal, M. Garcia, is a compassionate, professional, and devoted member of the Palm Beach Public staff. All schools have strengths and weaknesses, but PBP is a good representation of a school with a culturally and economically diverse student group taught by teachers of all types, abilites, and interests. Public schools seem more bureaucratic than most private schools, but all in all, PBP is effective and a pleasant environment for primary school students.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two children in the gifted program at Palm Beach Public. We chose this school over Palm Beach Day Academy and are very happy with our choice. In general, we have found the teaching is above par. We are particularly excited about the new Kindergarten gifted teacher, Ms. Paine. I had heard that she is exceptional, and we are finding that to be true. In addition, Andy Matzgow's strings program is phenomonal. My children came into the school without any violin training. One is playing very well and loves the violin. The other will begin to learn this year through the Kinderstrings program two mornings a week. We are very grateful for all the school has given our family.
--Submitted by a parent

My son started this year in Kindergarten and he loves it. I think the teachers and staff and wonderful and dedicated individuals. I look forward to my daughter starting in the future!
--Submitted by a parent

I have sent 4 kids through PBPE and 2 more on there way. Everyone in the school is great. The principal is right ontop of everything and makes very fair judgements. The teachers are great I have seen old ones leave and new ones come and all are very nice and dedicated to the childrens education. Special thanks to MRS. Angie Brown!!!!
--Submitted by a parent

Love this school. Moved down from NJ a year ago and came from a private school up there. The teachers I have had experience with are communicative and knowledgable about child development and learning tradegies. My older son is in the gifted program and it is the perfect balance of challenging without getting too much pressure.Would recommend it to anyone new to the palm beach area who is looking for a great public school. Also has a great recreation center right next door for afterschool activities
--Submitted by a parent

I went to Palm Beach Day School across the street and loved my experience there, but now I am thrilled to have one child at Palm Beach Public with the prospect of one or two other children attending there. I agree with another comment on this site that PB Public is of the caliber of a very good private school (at least within our reference of the gifted program). Ms. Campbell's kindergarten gifted class is superb. She is both creative and stimulating. My son, who had Ms. Campbell last year, continually refers to all the interesting and amazing things he learned in her class. As for first grade gifted this year, we are very pleased thus far with a newly hired teacher, Rachel Denahey. She has a strong science background (which my son loves) and she seems to take an interest in each student individually.
--Submitted by a parent

PB Public is as good a public school as I have ever seen. However, if you are looking to challenge your child you will be disappointed. I found out quickly that my child was only one of a handful of children in the gifted program that qualified legitimately by school testing. Most of the children in the gifted program are there via private testing paid for by the student's parents. These children are no more gifted than any other child at the school. I subsequently enrolled my child in PB Day School and have seen my child blossom.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had two kids go to palm beach public. It is a wonderful school with very caring and professional teachers. When my oldest daughter moved on to middle school she did so very confidently and was able to maintain A's. The 4th grade teachers earned the school the highest percent of proficient writers on the FCAT writes for 2006 in all of PB county! The gifted program could improve though.
--Submitted by a parent

Not a great school academically. I do agree that you don't have to worry about bullying at this school. I am somewhat reluctant to pull my daughter out of the school, because of the bullying issues in schools. However, I also feel that their academics are not at all challenging. They need to step up in this area to be competitive with other schools in the west palm beach area much less statewide.
--Submitted by a parent

GREAT SCHOOL! I moved my child from Private School to Palm Beach Public and we could not be happier. With under 400 children, in a brand new building with beautiful architecture, it feels like a private school. The technology in the classroom is second to none, with pull down monitors and the teachers equipped with microphones. My child is thriving in the gifted program, under Ms. Campbell's tutelage, and it exceeds any academic programming I've seen elsewhere, by emphasizing development and creative learning, rather than 'busy work'. Parents are warmly welcomed by Ms. Campbell, a superb gifted teacher, and excess volunteers had to be divided into groups of two, daily. The strings program director, Mr. Matzgow, is unbelievably dedicated and provides an amazing opportunity for these children. The environment is safe, without the intolerance/bullying we saw at our last school, and the Principal, Ms. Stevens, is extremely responsive. A hidden treasure.
--Submitted by a parent