Education

Southwest Ranches is part of the Broward County Public Schools system, which is the sixth largest and fully accredited system in the country. Students typically attend Hawkes Bluff Elementary School, Manatee Bay Elementary School, Falcon Cove Middle School and Cypress Bay School, depending on where they reside. Broward County Public Schools are excellent, and many of their high schools are frequently honored in Newsweek’s Top High Schools in the Nation. The schools also have programs for children with special needs as well as Nova schools, which come with specialized literary programs and pre-training for teachers to be able to teach in a very diverse environment. In addition, K-8 schools typically over after-school programs, which offers snacks, academics, technology, the arts and playtime. There are also 63 magnet programs spread out among the schools for students who are deemed as gifted and talented.

There are trade/vocational universities within the area, as well as traditional colleges. Some of the trade/vocational schools include ASM Beauty World Academy, Mcfatter Technical Center, and American Advanced Technicians Institute. Some of the more traditional colleges within the area include Trinity International University, Nova Southeastern University and Saint Thomas University.


Economy/Job Market

The job market in Southwest Ranches includes rural and equestrian businesses. However, other jobs include work in retail, entertainment, the medical field and education among others. Quite a few of these jobs are located outside of Southwest Ranches, but have great benefits and exciting challenges while one enjoys life in the country. In addition, many neighboring cities such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale offer a variety of jobs, from local businesses all the way to massive corporations. In Broward County, many of the jobs also vary from small businesses (where assistance for one to start their own is given) to environmental jobs. The economy is relatively strong in this area of Florida, and will only continue to grow. In fact, life is actually cheaper here as well as exciting and beautiful, which is just another one of the great things about Southwest Ranches.


Attractions/Points of Interest

The main attraction of Southwest Ranches is indeed, ranches. Those who enjoy horses will love the many equestrian-friendly parks of Southwest Ranches. However, many neighboring cities provide even more attractions. Flamingo Gardens, which is located in Davie is very popular for its lush scenery and variety of animals. Some of the more popular exhibits include Tour by Tram, a tour of the entire park that takes one through exotic rainforests, wetlands and gorgeous groves; Flamingo Island, a stunning habitat of flamingos in their natural environment; and the butterfly and hummingbird gardens, which display these unique creatures in spectacular pea green patches. The gardens also are available for birthdays, weddings, workshops and group tours.

Broward County offers an array of attractions, but among the most popular are the four ‘arts parks’ in Broward County, each designated with their own cultural/arts section. Currently, the parks have evening concerts, an interactive play area, and many sculptures featured from artists around the globe. In addition, Pembroke Pines Arts Park features dance and art classes, as well as an interactive art gallery and a 450 seat theater. There are also many performing arts venues in Broward County. These venues feature live concerts and shows all year long, as well as classes in the arts. Literature is also part of the culture, as Broward County has many writers’ societies, such as the Florida’s Freelance Writers Association and the Poetry Society of America.


Parks/Recreation

The town of Southwest Ranches is a rural, emerald paradise. It has over 150 acres of parks and open spaces. Southwest Ranches’ many parks come equipped with playgrounds, picnic areas, horse trails, concession stands, fitness centers, hiking trails, fishing areas, and historical museums. In addition to the charming parks that are already laid out, many future parks as well as recreational areas will be built in the next few years. Among them are the Southwest Meadows Sanctuary and Rolling Oaks Passive.

In Broward County, many parks and recreational activities are offered. A favorite among locals are the many water parks, including Paradise Cove and Safari Isle. All of these water parks are open mainly in the summer, but some do have open weekends in the fall and spring. These parks come with sections geared for children six and under, as well as wonderful waterfalls, water slides and lagoons. In addition, there are also many other outdoor recreational activities that locals enjoy engaging in such as biking, boating and tennis.