1. Bak Middle School of the Arts
Bak Middle School of the Arts offers a unique and eclectic education that blends rigorous academic instruction with immersive arts education. Bak is a full-choice arts middle school educating students from around PB County in grades sixth through eighth. Students audition for one of eight art areas: Band, Communications, Dance, Piano, Strings, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Vocal. Due to the school’s success and commitment to nurturing children’s artistic abilities while fostering the highest levels of growth and academics, Bak stands as a model for excellence in education for the arts and academics.
Bak has a long tradition of academic excellence, being recognized at the national, state, and district levels. Most recently, Bak was given a National Blue Ribbon Award as an Exemplary High Performing School, ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as the 4th Best Middle School in Florida in 2025, ranked as one of the top three academic-achieving middle schools in Florida in 2024 and 2025, received the coveted Florida Department of Education Middle School of Excellence, and was one of only nine schools in the State of Florida to achieve 80% or greater in all state testing categories and 80% or greater in Learning Gains and Lowest 25% Learning Gains for English Language Arts and math.
In the arts, students receive individual, small-group, and whole-group instruction and master classes by experts in the field. Students also travel, compete, and perform nationwide, including at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, California Disney Concert Hall, Steinway, National Scholastic Arts & Writing, and FL Scholastic Press Association.
Bak Middle School of the Arts’ commitment to providing students with one-of-a-kind experiences and opportunities, coupled with a supportive and challenging learning environment, empowers students to gain the knowledge, skills, and self-confidence needed to reach their potential in the arts, academics, and life.
2. Historical Society of Palm Beach County
The Historical Society of Palm Beach County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich history and cultural heritage of Palm Beach County. The HSPBC maintains a large archive on the history of Palm Beach County, Florida, and the Caribbean. Through its archives, which comprise four million photographic images, as well as maps, newspapers, journals, periodicals, architectural drawings, and research files, the Society maintains an active research facility and documents the people and events that have shaped Palm Beach County. In addition, the Society’s multiple educational programs and initiatives in schools and communities are of primary importance to our vision of building an understanding and appreciation of local history among our children.
After the Historical Society was formed in 1937, West Palm Beach attorney A. Stanley Bussey donated a vintage black-and-white photograph of an island street scene to the newly established Society, marking the first gift to what would become a remarkable collection of artifacts and documents representing the cultures, communities, failures, and successes of life in Palm Beach County.
The creation of the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum in 2008 finally allowed the collection to fully serve its critical purpose: to share and showcase the rich history of Palm Beach County and the larger context of Florida’s heritage dating back at least 12,000 years.
3. Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Since 1989, through extensive outreach and collaboration with a network of community partners, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County has been dedicated to ensuring that individuals in Palm Beach County receive the help they need to improve their literacy skills. Without a foundation in literacy, children struggle in school. As youth, they drop out without a high school diploma and lack job readiness skills to obtain meaningful employment. As adults, they cannot find a job paying a livable wage. To address this, the Literacy Coalition provides programs throughout the county from birth through adulthood to help 55,716 adults and children each year. The Literacy Coalition brings the community together in book discussions and events which celebrate reading and encourage adults and children to read for enjoyment. Many volunteer opportunities are available. Visit LiteracyPBC.org to learn more.
4. Path to College
Path to College is a non-profit organization committed to igniting the potential of overlooked and underestimated students in our community. Path to College provides comprehensive leadership development, mentoring, tutoring, and college and career guidance to low-income students in our community so they can solidify acceptances to the best colleges with the best scholarships.
5. Rosarian Academy
Rosarian Academy, founded in 1925 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, is an independent Catholic school in West Palm Beach serving students from Early Childhood through 8th grade. Rooted in faith and academic excellence, Rosarian provides a nurturing environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, moral integrity, and a lifelong love of learning. The school’s rigorous curriculum is enriched by robust programs in the arts, athletics, service, and spiritual development. With small class sizes and a commitment to individualized instruction, Rosarian empowers students to think critically, lead confidently, and serve with compassion. Experiential learning opportunities, including educational trips and community service projects, help students grow into globally aware citizens. As Rosarian celebrates its 100th year, the school remains dedicated to building strong foundations for life—academically, socially, and spiritually.
