MAJOR MILESTONE: Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation opens

After more than 40 years of service to schools, students, and teachers in our community, the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County marked a historic milestone on January 16, 2025 with the ribbon cutting and grand opening of its 32,000 sq. ft. Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation.

The new state-of-the-art building, located at 1515 Barton Road in Lake Worth Beach, right next to Barton Elementary School, will serve as an education innovation hub, helping ensure high-quality public education by providing Palm Beach County students and teachers with access to resources and innovative programming.

In addition to housing a training facility that offers professional development for teachers, program offices, and a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse, the Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation greatly expands the Education Foundation’s signature Red Apple Supplies store, which serves the highest needs Title I schools throughout Palm Beach County.

The expanded store, which is open to teachers by appointment, equips educators with free and essential supplies for their classrooms, including a larger inventory of STEM, health, financial literacy, and digital inclusion resources.

Since opening in 2016, Red Apple Supplies has distributed more than $8 million in school supplies and classroom resources to Title I schools, including 35,555 packets of Crayola crayons, 127,408 glue sticks, 370,008 ball point pens, and 403,101 pencils.

To make an appointment to shop at our Red Apple Supplies store, click here.

Crews broke ground on the Center for Public School Excellence and Innovation in November of 2023. The Education Foundation is encouraging the public to help us shape the future of education by stocking the shelves of our massive warehouse with essential school supplies for students and teachers in support of our Red Apple Supplies program.

To donate to the Stock the Shelves initiative, click here.

The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County is the nexus of Palm Beach County’s public school system, the private sector, and the community. The Education Foundation facilitates student achievement by supporting high-quality public education through partnerships, grants, events, and public awareness.

Between its programs, grants, and Red Apple Supplies, the Education Foundation provided just under $3 million in value to the School District of Palm Beach County during the 2023/24 fiscal year.

To learn more about the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and how it supports local schools, students, and teachers, click here.

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