Turning Points Academy: Top Alternative High School in FL (2026 List)

About Turning Points Academy

Turning Points Academy is a public alternative high school in West Palm Beach, Florida, that teaches students in grades 9–12 in a special way. It is one of 58 high schools in the School District of Palm Beach County and is known as one of the best because it focuses on social-emotional development and helping students get back on track with their schoolwork. The academy has a small, community-focused environment with about 8 students for every teacher, which makes sure that each student gets the help they need. The student body is very diverse, with 93% of students being minorities and 77% of students being economically disadvantaged. According to the performance data, only 4% of students are good at math and 10% are good at reading. The school sets up extra tests like the SAT and ACT to help students do well in school in the future. Turning Points Academy is one of the most respected schools because it is dedicated to helping students get better. The average home price in the area is about $415,000. It provides a hopeful and helpful setting that focuses on giving students the tools they need to finish high school, and it is one of the best high schools in Florida.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 4%

Reading 10%

State average proficiency is 4% in Math and 10% in Reading.

12

Full-time Teachers

7 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

1

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

86

Total Students

$66972

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 6.98%

Asian 0%

Hispanic 29.07%

Black 62.79%

Two+ Races 1.16%

Native Am. 0%

White

6.98%

Asian

0%

Hispanic

29.07%

Black

62.79%

Two+ Races

1.16%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 86

27.91%

24 Female

72.09%

62 Male

Student Population

86 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 7 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

86 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Turning Points Academy Contact Information

Address

1950 BENOIST FARMS RD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL, 33411

View on Map

Phone

(561) 681-3700

Call Now

Website

http://tpa.palmbeachschools.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 9:30 AM to 3:20 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 9:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Turning Points Academy is still committed to its goal of giving students a safe place to start over. Recently, the school started a new restorative justice program that will be used throughout the school. The campus has added new, better technology to classrooms to make learning more interactive and small-group, which meets the needs of each student. The academy has also started a new outdoor garden project that lets students get hands-on science experience while helping to make the school look better.

FAQ

Q1. Do students get help with standardized tests?

Ans. Yes. The school has resources to help students get ready for the SAT and ACT tests.

Q2. Do they use traditional periods or block scheduling at Turning Points Academy?

Ans. Turning Points Academy has a traditional schedule with the same class rotations every day.

Q3. How does Turning Points Academy encourage a good environment?

Ans. To make the space safe, welcoming, and open to everyone, people are told to be respectful, work together, and be responsible.

Q4. Are students able to look into more than one career path?

Ans. Yes, Turning Points Academy has a lot of different programs that help students find out what they're good at and what they like.

Q5. Do students have lockers in Turning Points Academy?

Ans. Yes, students are given lockers in the hallways at the start of the school year.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say