Education in Brevard County, Florida facts for kids
Education in Brevard County, Florida is all about learning! It includes public and private schools, from elementary (primary) and middle schools to high schools, and even colleges. It's a place where students can get a great education from their first school days all the way through to university.
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College and University Learning
In Brevard County, you can continue your education after high school at several colleges and universities. These places offer different types of degrees, like two-year degrees (called Associate degrees) or four-year degrees (called Bachelor's degrees). Some even offer advanced degrees like Master's or Doctorates.
Eastern Florida State College
Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) is a big college with four campuses and online classes. It used to be called Brevard Community College. About 15,000 students go to EFSC. Its campuses are in Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, and Cocoa.
At EFSC, you can earn an Associate in Arts degree, which helps you transfer to a university later. Since 2013, EFSC also offers four-year Bachelor's degrees. They also have programs for technical and job-focused training, helping students learn skills for specific careers. For example, you can get a two-year nursing degree or train to become a police officer at their Law Enforcement Academy.
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology, often called Florida Tech, is a university that focuses on science and technology. It offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate degrees. Around 4,400 students attend Florida Tech in Melbourne, and many of them are studying for advanced degrees. A good number of students also come from other countries to study here.
Other Colleges and Universities
The University of Central Florida has a branch on EFSC's Cocoa Campus. It also runs the Florida Solar Energy Center, which is a cool place to learn about solar power. Other colleges in the area include Barry University, Columbia College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (through a special program), Florida Metropolitan University-Melbourne, Keiser University - Melbourne, and Webster University.
Elementary and High School Learning
Brevard County's public schools are known for being very good! Here are some of their achievements:
- In 2005, students in Brevard County had higher scores on the SAT (a big college entrance exam) than students in any other school district in Florida.
- The superintendent (the main leader) of Brevard schools was chosen as the best in the state by other superintendents in 2005.
- More teachers in Brevard County (9%) had special "National Board Certified" qualifications than in most other large districts in Florida in 2005. This means they are highly skilled teachers!
- In 2005, Brevard County had the most "A"-rated schools among the 10 largest districts in Florida.
- The school district was even ranked No. 8 on a national list of "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" in 2005 by AARP. It was the only public school system on that list!
- Brevard County led the state in science test scores for fifth and eleventh graders in 2005.
- Brevard students won almost a third of all prizes at the state science fair in both 2006 and 2007, including the most first-place awards!
- In 2007, a team of high school students from Brevard came in second place in the world robotics championship!
- In 2006, five of the top 10 elementary schools in Florida were in Brevard County, according to the state's Department of Education.
- Brevard County is consistently in the top ten statewide for all 22 areas of the standard exams given to students each year.
- Newsweek magazine ranked Cocoa Beach High School among the top 100 high schools in the U.S. in 2005 and 2006. This was partly because of its International Baccalaureate program, which is a challenging academic program.
- Tenth graders in Brevard led the state in the writing exam in 2006.
- The state has recognized 15 elementary schools in Brevard as being among the best in Florida, including South Lake, which used to be a lower-rated school!
- Brevard County leads the state in the number of high school students who are "dual enrolled." This means they take both high school and college courses at the same time!
Sports
In 2013, about one percent of the county's 8,500 student athletes received scholarships to play sports in college. This was lower than the national average, even though Brevard had a very good Division II football team. One reason might be that college scouts often look for athletes in nearby Orlando, where there are more potential candidates.
Learning for Life
Learning doesn't stop after high school or college! Brevard County offers ways for people of all ages to keep learning.
Eastern Florida State College and the University of Central Florida provide continuing education courses. EFSC offers "lifelong learning" classes at its four campuses and evening classes at high schools.
The County School Board also runs BPS-TV, a local TV station. On BPS-TV, you can study for the General Education Development (GED) exam, learn a new language, or explore the arts. From midnight to 6 a.m., the station shows "Classic Arts Showcase," featuring ballet, jazz, and classical music.
The University of Florida also has an agricultural training and information center in the county. This is part of its Cooperative extension service, which helps people learn about farming and related topics.
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