Lake Worth in Palm Beach County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Palm Beach Junior College
Florida's First Public Junior College
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, August 3, 2016
1. Palm Beach Junior College Marker
Inscription.
Palm Beach Junior College. Florida's First Public Junior College. The earliest junior colleges in Florida were established under private auspices, beginning in 1907 with Palmer College at DeFuniak Springs. The first public junior college was instituted by the Palm Beach County school board during the Depression years to make college opportunities available to those local high school graduates unable to meet the expenses of attending school away from home. Palm Beach Junior College admitted its first students in 1933. Its first goal was to provide two years of acceptable college work. Soon it also offered career or vocational education for persons desiring to work after graduation and adult education programs. In 1939, state legislation provided legal status for the junior college program by authorizing county school boards to organize and maintain such institutions using county school funds. In 1947, Palm Beach Junior College began to receive state assistance under new legislation. Beginning in the 1950’s the junior college program in Florida began to expand, aided by the long-term plans of the Community College council created in 1955. The educational goals of Palm Beach Junior College served as a model for Florida’s developing community college program.
The earliest junior colleges in Florida were established under private auspices, beginning in 1907 with Palmer College at DeFuniak Springs. The first public junior college was instituted by the Palm Beach County school board during the Depression years to make college opportunities available to those local high school graduates unable to meet the expenses of attending school away from home. Palm Beach Junior College admitted its first students in 1933. Its first goal was to provide two years of acceptable college work. Soon it also offered career or vocational education for persons desiring to work after graduation and adult education programs. In 1939, state legislation provided legal status for the junior college program by authorizing county school boards to organize and maintain such institutions using county school funds. In 1947, Palm Beach Junior College began to receive state assistance under new legislation. Beginning in the 1950’s the junior college program in Florida began to expand, aided by the long-term plans of the Community College council created in 1955. The educational goals of Palm Beach Junior College served as a model for Florida’s developing community college program.
Erected 1976 by Palm Beach Junior College in cooperation with Department of State. (Marker Number F-248.)
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.
Location. 26° 36.731′ N, 80° 5.187′ W. Marker is in Lake Worth, Florida, in Palm Beach County. Marker can be reached from South Congress Avenue north of 6th Avenue South, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in front of the administration building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4200 Congress Avenue, Lake Worth FL 33461, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Palm Beach Junior College Marker and administration building
Credits. This page was last revised on August 9, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 365 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
