History of the Charter School of Excellence
The Charter School of Excellence in Fort Lauderdale was one of the first charter schools to open in Broward County in 1997. The 1996 Florida legislature established the statute to allow charter schools to operate in the state.
Robert Haag, a local businessman and real estate investor, and Hamilton C. Forman, South Florida powerbroker and philanthropist, along with a board consisting of judges, former elected officials and community activists, founded the Charter School of Excellence. Read more about Hamilton C. Forman.
The Charter School of Excellence in Fort Lauderdale began with a student enrollment of 150 in grades K-2. It soon grew to serve more than 300 students in grades K-5. It has been ranked as one of the highest performing schools in the district and state. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Education named it a National Blue Ribbon School and in 2009; it received an EPIC Gold Award from New Leaders for New Schools for outstanding work in helping to raise academic achievement among students.
The Charter School of Excellence was the first charter school to teach character education, instilling effective work and study habits for lifelong learning. In 2008, the second Charter School of Excellence opened in Davie. In August 2021, our Davie Campus was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School.
Throughout the course of the years, CSE has preserved its mission to ensure all students are provided with an equitable education. The success of the Charter School of Excellence can be attributed to a combination of superior instructional staff, an advanced curriculum, a supportive Board of Directors, and a demand for strong parental and community involvement. Our goal within the next few years is to develop a K-8 school. It is our mission to guide our students to reach their highest potential from elementary to secondary instruction.
