Coral Glades High Hits 91% College and Career Readiness

A five-year climb from 55% reflects more Coral Springs students completing college-level and career coursework before graduation.

 

Coral Glades High School in Coral Springs has reached a 91% college and career readiness rate, according to newly released data from the Florida Department of Education.

 

The figure represents a sharp improvement for the school and reflects a broader shift in how students prepare for life after graduation.

 

College and career readiness measures the percentage of students who complete at least one advanced academic or career focused program before finishing high school.

 

At Coral Glades High, the readiness rate has climbed steadily in recent years. The school reported a 55% rate in the 2020–21 school year, meaning nearly half of graduating students had not yet completed an advanced academic or workforce pathway.

 

Today, more than nine out of ten students leave the school having finished at least one college level or career acceleration program.

 

What the Readiness Rate Measures

 

Florida tracks readiness through what it calls the college and career acceleration rate. The metric counts students who successfully complete programs such as:

 

• Advanced Placement courses
• Dual enrollment college classes
• Industry certification programs
• Advanced International Certificate of Education coursework

 

Each pathway allows students to build academic credits, technical credentials, or workforce skills before graduation.

 

For students and families, these programs can lower college costs, shorten time to a degree, or provide an immediate career entry point after high school.

 

A Sharp Improvement In One Year

 

Coral Glades High reached 91% readiness in the 2024–25 school year, a 12 percentage point increase from the previous year. That improvement placed the school among eight Broward County public schools that recorded gains of 10% or more.

 

Districtwide, Broward County Public Schools reported its readiness rate rising to 74%, a five percentage point increase from the previous year and a 13 point gain since the 2022–23 school year.

 

Superintendent Howard Hepburn said the district has focused on expanding opportunities that prepare students for the next stage of their education or career.

 

“Our goal is to ensure every BCPS graduate is prepared for life after high school, with the skills, experiences and confidence to succeed,” Hepburn said.

 

Why This Trend Matters Locally

 

Education outcome data rarely moves dramatically from one year to the next. The steady rise at Coral Glades suggests that access to advanced coursework and career programs has expanded significantly over the past several years.

 

For Coral Springs families, those programs often determine whether students graduate with college credits already completed or with professional certifications that open early job opportunities.

 

For the community more broadly, rising readiness rates signal that more students are leaving local schools prepared for college pathways, technical careers, or specialized workforce training.

 

Why This Matters Now

 

Local school performance often influences how families evaluate neighborhoods and community stability.

 

When readiness rates increase across multiple years, it can signal improvements in academic opportunity, program availability, and long term student outcomes.

 

At Coral Glades High School, the data suggests that the majority of students are now graduating with at least one step already taken toward their next stage of education or career.

 

Insider Layer: Families exploring these programs should know that many of them begin before junior year.

 

Dual enrollment, industry certification tracks, and advanced coursework often require students to plan their academic schedules early in high school.

 

Parents interested in these pathways can usually find program details through their school’s guidance office or through Broward County Public Schools academic acceleration resources.

 

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This story is part of The Bright Side, which is an ongoing series from Coral Springs Insider that highlights positive developments and community moments around Coral Springs.

 

Editor’s note: This piece was selected and adapted for Coral Springs Insider to provide local context and perspective on an issue relevant to our community.