Moving to Boca Raton with children often starts with one question: where will they go to school? Many of the families I work with, whether they are relocating from New York, New Jersey or overseas, compare private schools before they even decide on a neighborhood. Boca Raton has a wide choice of independent, faith-based and international schools, and where they sit in the city can shape your home search as much as your budget does.
This guide gives you a starting list. Programs, grade levels and admissions change, so please confirm the details directly with each school before you make plans.
Why the School Search Shapes the Home Search
Boca Raton spreads from the beach to well west of the Florida Turnpike, and a daily drive across town at school hours adds up. Many parents narrow their list to two or three schools first, then focus their home search on the communities with an easy commute to them. If you are also weighing public schools, see my Boca Raton school zone home searches.
Independent Schools (Pre-K Through 12)
Saint Andrew's School: an Episcopal independent school serving junior kindergarten through grade 12 on a large campus off Jog Road in west Boca, with boarding for high school students.
Grandview Preparatory School: a nonsectarian independent school serving pre-K through grade 12, located in a residential area of Boca Raton between Florida Atlantic University and the ocean.
Boca Prep International School: an independent pre-K through grade 12 school and an IB World School, popular with international families.
Pine Crest School at Boca Raton: the Boca Raton campus of Pine Crest serves pre-K through grade 8. Pine Crest's upper school is on its Fort Lauderdale campus, so families often plan ahead for the high school years.
Faith-Based Schools
Boca Raton has a strong selection of Catholic, Christian and Jewish day schools, including:
Saint John Paul II Academy: a Catholic, Lasallian high school (grades 9 to 12) in the Diocese of Palm Beach.
St. Jude Catholic School: a Catholic school serving pre-K through grade 8.
Spanish River Christian School and St. Paul Lutheran School: Christian schools serving pre-K through grade 8.
Boca Raton Christian School: a Christian school serving pre-K through grade 12.
Donna Klein Jewish Academy: a K through 12 Jewish day school on the campus of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County in west Boca.
Katz Hillel Day School (pre-K through 8) and Katz Yeshiva High School (grades 9 to 12): Modern Orthodox schools, also near the Federation campus in west Boca.
Torah Academy of Boca Raton: a pre-K through grade 8 yeshiva with several campuses.
How School Location Lines Up With Neighborhoods
As a general rule, several of the larger campuses, including Saint Andrew's, Pine Crest's Boca campus and the schools around the Jewish Federation, are in west and central Boca. That makes west Boca country club and gated communities a natural fit for many families. Grandview Prep sits closer to the east side, which can work well for families who want to be near downtown, the beach or the Intracoastal. Because campuses are spread across the city, check the exact address of each school on your list against the homes you are considering.
To compare areas, start with my guides to West Boca Raton luxury communities, Central Boca Raton luxury communities and East Boca Raton luxury communities.
Questions to Ask Every School
Which grades have openings for the year you plan to move, and is there a waitlist?
What are the application deadlines, and does the school admit students mid-year?
What does tuition cover, and what fees, uniforms or transportation costs are extra?
Does the school offer bus service or carpools from your target neighborhoods?
For high school students, which academic programs, such as IB, AP or dual enrollment, are offered?
Timing Your Move Around Admissions
Many private schools run their main admissions cycle in the winter for the following fall, and popular grades can fill early. If you are relocating, it often helps to tour schools and homes on the same trip, so you can see how the drive actually feels at drop-off time.
More reading for relocating families: Parkland vs. West Boca for families, moving from New York to Boca Raton, moving from New Jersey and buying a Boca Raton home from out of state.
Let's Plan Your Search Together
Finding the right school and the right home at the same time takes some planning, and I'm happy to help you map it out. Call or text me at 561-888-3115, or send me a message and tell me which schools are on your list.
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