And, just like that, school is back.
The 2026-27 school year kicks off on Monday, Aug. 10, when buses will again be on the roll, stuffed with backpack-bearing students making their trek to schools throughout the Palm Beach County School District.
"There's nothing like the first day of school with all of the students coming back and the schools get filled with energy and positivity," Superintendent Mike Burke said during a back-to-school press conference on Friday, Aug. 7. "We're going to have a great school year."
Burke touted the district as the best choice for parents considering where to have their children educated.
"Families here have options no one else can match," he said. "We have more than 330 choice and career programs."
New programs being
launched this school year include artificial intelligence at Palm Beach Gardens, biomedical engineering and a 9-1-1 operator program at Atlantic High in Delray Beach, a quantum-AI nexus academy at Royal Beach High and an expansion of the construction academy at Santaluces High in Lantana.
"We know here in Palm Beach County there are a lot of well-paying jobs in that industry," Burke said.
The district is expanding its career dual enrollment program where students can go to a technical education center and get industry training. Those students get dual enrollment credits they can take to an institution like Palm Beach State College and get additional credentials.
"This helps young people get right into the field of interest they have and start on the path to a well-paying career," Burke said. "We know a pathway may look different for every child. We've got a lot of students going off to higher education. We want to make sure the trades are available. The arts, entrepreneurship. Our job is to build a pathway that gets them all there."
Where to find back-to-school answers
The district has set up a back-to-school web page to answer questions parents might have at the start of the school year. And district officials are hoping would-be bus drivers go to its careers web page and apply.
The district has also put together information on transportation and school meals.
What's new in Palm Beach County schools?
At the start of the 2025-26 school year, the district celebrated the opening of a new school near the Arden community, Saddle View Elementary. That school got an 'A' grade in its first year of operation, matching the grade the state Department of Education again gave the district as a whole.
There is no new school opening its doors this school year, but West Riviera Elementary in Riviera Beach has undergone a $52 million renovation that includes a soundproof television studio, new smartboards and new classroom desks and chairs.
West Riviera will switch from being a traditional elementary school that educates students through the fifth grade to one that will focus on reading for students in pre-kindergarten through second grade.
While West Riviera's enrollment is expected to go from 400 students to around 600 students, district officials are predicting another overall decline in enrollment this school year.
Is the district still seeing enrollment losses?
The enrollment decline is expected to be around 2,900 students as the district, like others throughout the state, feels the impact of a drop in the nation's birthrate, demographic changes and the rising cost of living, which has driven some families away from ultra-expensive Palm Beach County.
Burke has noted that the class of 2026 had 13,000 students but the kindergarten students coming in behind them numbered around 10,500.
Social service officials have said the Trump administration's aggressive push to detain and deport undocumented people has created fear that has spurred some immigrant families to flee Florida. The children of some who remain avoid school out of fear they will be deported or that their attendance will lead to the deportation of their parents.
Burke emphasized that the district has not and will not ask the immigration status of students.
"Our schools are a safe place," he said. "We've been fortunate. We've never had any visits from Homeland Security or ICE. And, if we were to have a visit, we're not providing anyone with access to your child, to our students, without a valid warrant."
Burke added: "Our principals have all been trained on how to handle that situation should it were ever to occur. We'd immediately engage our general counsel's office to make sure the warrant was valid. We are going to protect your children on campus. We do not ask of anyone's immigration status. We do not care. We want students in the classroom. Every young person has a right to a free and appropriate education, and we want to provide it. We want to alleviate any fears that may be out there."
The superintendent also took the opportunity to praise the district's teachers and staff members.
"To team Palm Beach, I look forward to another great school year," he said. "I think we've got a lot of positive momentum. You did amazing work last year, and we're really excited to just keep building off that success for the upcoming year. Thank you for truly dedicating your lives to public education. It's important."
Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education and Riviera Beach development for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County Superintendent touts what's ahead in new school year
