A.d. Henderson University School & Fau High School, Boca Raton FL

Original Research by School Decision on A.d. Henderson University School & Fau High School

A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School sits on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, and that location shapes almost everything about what the school is. It runs from kindergarten through twelfth grade as a public lab school operated by FAU, giving families a single pathway from the earliest elementary years through high school graduation without changing institutions.

The academic numbers are among the strongest in Palm Beach County. Across Florida's state assessments in math, the school reaches near-universal proficiency from third grade through eighth grade, with several grades reporting every tested student as proficient. Reading and language arts scores run nearly as high, consistently in the mid-to-high nineties across all tested middle grades. Science assessments at the fifth- and eighth-grade levels land at similarly exceptional levels. When placed against other districts in Palm Beach County, the school's overall proficiency index sits at the top of that comparison set, which covers the county's districts. A graduation rate was not available in the data provided.

The peer group is broadly diverse. White students make up roughly two-fifths of enrollment, Hispanic students about a quarter, Asian students and Black students each represent meaningful shares, and students of two or more races add another layer. About a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a relatively modest share for a Florida public school. IEP and English learner data were not reported, so a parent with a child who receives special education services or language support should ask the school directly about program depth and capacity.

A major context for any family considering this school is the physical setting. Publicly reported coverage from FAU confirms the school celebrated the opening of a brand-new campus in late 2025, replacing the original building and adding facilities that go well beyond what most K-12 schools carry. The new complex includes a biomechanics and robotics lab, a drone and flight program space called a Skylab, a rapid-prototyping lab with 3D printers and laser cutters, a university-level lecture hall, an archaeological dig site, a robotic farming area, and an aquatic facility. For families weighing what kind of environment their children will spend the next several years in, this is a concrete and recent development worth factoring in.

Another recent structural addition: a tuition-free, Montessori-style Bezos Academy preschool opened on the FAU campus for income-eligible families with children ages three through five. Publicly reported information indicates FAU reserves a share of kindergarten slots at A.D. Henderson for children who attended the preschool and meet minimum qualifications, creating an early-entry pathway for qualifying families.

Boca Raton itself is one of the more affluent communities in Florida, with a major corporate and commercial base that includes the headquarters of Office Depot, ADT, and several financial services and life-sciences firms, alongside Florida Atlantic University as the city's main higher-education anchor. The Mizner Park cultural district provides theaters, galleries, and museums. Home values in the zip code where the school sits are well above both the Florida and national medians, and rents have been rising. The housing market here is among the more expensive in the state, which is a practical constraint for families who do not already live in Boca Raton.

The school's enrollment spans kindergarten through twelfth grade, with the high school grades noticeably larger than the elementary grades, suggesting the school draws students in as they approach high school age. Program offerings beyond what the new facilities imply were not available in the data provided. The school is not a charter school and carries no Title I designation.

For a family seeking a K-12 public school with exceptional academic outcomes, a university research setting, and a newly built facility with specialized STEM infrastructure, this school represents one of the more distinctive options in South Florida. The relevant questions to bring to the school directly would be around admission processes, the experience for students with IEPs or language needs, and how the university setting shapes daily life at each grade band.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

>=95%Cohort of 153 students · Class of 2021

The federal source publishes a banded range instead of an exact rate when the graduating cohort is small enough that an exact number could risk identifying individual students.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

867 schools plotted. 183 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 398%

School 98% · District 98%

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

Grade 4100%

School 100% · District 100%

▲ 39 pts above state median · ▲ 48 pts above county median

Grade 598%

School 98% · District 98%

▲ 43 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

Grade 6100%

School 100% · District 100%

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 7100%

School 100% · District 100%

▲ 51 pts above state median · ▲ 56 pts above county median

Grade 8100%

School 100% · District 100%

▲ 49 pts above state median · ▲ 40 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 389%

School 89% · District 89%

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 39 pts above county median

Grade 494%

School 94% · District 94%

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

Grade 596%

School 96% · District 96%

▲ 42 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

Grade 698%

School 98% · District 98%

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Grade 795%

School 95% · District 95%

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Grade 896%

School 96% · District 96%

▲ 42 pts above state median · ▲ 40 pts above county median

Science

Grade 595%

School 95% · District 95%

▲ 42 pts above state median · ▲ 46 pts above county median

Grade 899%

School 99% · District 99%

▲ 53 pts above state median · ▲ 54 pts above county median

This schoolFAU LAB SCH, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income88%Higher-income89%2 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income90%Higher-income96%6 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income96%Higher-income96%0 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income96%Higher-income99%3 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income83%Higher-income98%15 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income77%Higher-income100%23 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income100%Higher-income98%2 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income100%Higher-income100%0 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income100%Higher-income98%2 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income100%Higher-income100%0 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income100%Higher-income100%0 pp gap