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Rutherford High School

Public Grades 6-12

648^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 844 Florida High Schools

Better than 23% of Florida high schools

Summary

Rutherford High School is a public high school located in Panama City, Florida, serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 1,423 students. The school is part of the Bay District and is rated 3 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger. Over the past 10 years, Rutherford High School's statewide ranking has declined, going from 325 out of 687 Florida high schools in 2013-2014 to 648 out of 844 in 2024-2025.

Rutherford High School faces several challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate ranging from 30.9% to 49.2% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state and district averages. The school also consistently underperforms compared to the Bay District and Florida state averages across various standardized tests, with proficiency rates in 2024-2025 of 40% in Algebra 1, 28% in Geometry, and 31% in 10th grade English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 60%, 55%, and 58%, respectively. Additionally, Rutherford High School has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 61.35% to 63.2% over the past few years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Interestingly, the nearby charter schools, such as North Bay Haven Career Academy and Palm Bay Preparatory Academy 6-12, significantly outperform Rutherford High School on various metrics, including test scores, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism. Within the Bay District, Rutherford High School also ranks lower than other district high schools, such as Bay High School and A. Crawford Mosley High School, on measures like test scores and graduation rates.

1,394

Students ?

17.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,918

Per pupil spending ?

57.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1000 School Ave
Panama City, FL 32401

(850) 767-4500

District: Bay

Feeder schools for Rutherford High School:

Elementary:	Callaway Elementary School
	Parker Elementary School
	Tommy Smith Elementary School
	Tyndall Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

33.5%

African American:

32.1%

Hispanic:

21.8%

See top rated Florida high schools

Compare Rutherford High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 53rd percentile in 2014 → 23rd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (38% vs 60% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (49% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg59%

Florida avg60%

Middle school

1,051^st of 1,205

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 13%▬ steady since 2021

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

648^th of 844

Florida public high schools ?

Bottom 23%▼ down 23 pts since 2016

From bottom 47% (2016) to bottom 23% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 9High Schools in the Bay

35^th of 67Bay among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2025	16.6	1051 of 1205	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.6	1020 of 1196	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.6	1053 of 1177	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.6	1053 of 1148	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.4	995 of 1136	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2025	23.0	648 of 844	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.9	616 of 807	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.2	575 of 792	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.1	590 of 774	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.2	514 of 746	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.5	494 of 734	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.3	500 of 716	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	35.8	417 of 714	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	40.4	370 of 693	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	50.0	325 of 687	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	35.8	411 of 648	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.7	283 of 606	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	61.2	256 of 622	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	63.7	229 of 620	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.0	189 of 587	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	70.0	149 of 577	74.2%	★★★★☆
2007	70.0	155 of 563	72.5%	★★★★☆
2006	66.0	152 of 477	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	73.6	118 of 487	75.8%	★★★★☆
2004	73.2	118 of 484	75.6%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

US History62%-9 vs state

Biology 159%-12 vs state

Algebra 140%-20 vs state

Civics40%-31 vs state

English Language Arts34%-23 vs state

Science33%-16 vs state

Math30%-26 vs state

Geometry28%-27 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rutherford High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)					FAST Math (2025)			Statewide Science Science (2025)	EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Biology 1 (2025)	EOC US History (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Rutherford High School	Public	6-12	1000 School Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4500	1,394	80	17.4	57.7%	467 (33.5%)	447 (32.1%)	304 (21.8%)	24 (1.7%)	3 (0.2%)	7 (0.5%)	142 (10.2%)	23	648^th of 844 public high schools	23.2%		22.9	616^th of 807 public high schools	23.7%	32	45.0	23.0	31.0	41.0	31.0	34.0	21.0	35.0	33.0	40.0	28.0	59.0	62.0	40.0	$10,918	$1,091	$9,828
Rosenwald High School	Public	6-12	924 Bay Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4580	351	27	13.0	62.1%	194 (55.3%)	90 (25.6%)	46 (13.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.1%)	2	808^th of 844 public high schools	4.3%		3.2	755^th of 807 public high schools	6.4%	53		10.0	9.0	16.0	0.0		10.0	5.0	5.0	9.0	2.0	12.0	15.0	15.0	$18,158	$1,852	$16,307
Chautauqua Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	1118 Magnolia Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 785-5056	52	5	10.4	32.7%	33 (63.5%)	8 (15.4%)	9 (17.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.8%)								(n/a)
Bay High School	Public	9-12	1200 Harrison Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4600	1,289	65	19.8	44.2%	562 (43.6%)	343 (26.6%)	244 (18.9%)	24 (1.9%)	7 (0.5%)	3 (0.2%)	106 (8.2%)	40.5	459^th of 844 public high schools	45.6%		46	352^nd of 807 public high schools	56.4%	107				53.0	52.0					29.0	42.0	71.0	70.0		$9,050	$813	$8,237
Amikids Maritime Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	200 E Beach Dr	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(850) 919-2213	26	5	5.2	23.1%	16 (61.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (19.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (19.2%)								(n/a)															$30,671	$00	$30,671
New Horizons Learning Center	Public	6-12	3200 Minnesota Ave	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1110	93	17	5.4	79.6%	50 (53.8%)	32 (34.4%)	6 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.4%)	4.1	762^nd of 844 public high schools	9.7%		3.3	751^st of 807 public high schools	6.9%	11	7.0	15.0	14.0			13.0	10.0	14.0	7.0		25.0	10.0		29.0	$36,492	$4,648	$31,845
A. Crawford Mosley High School	Public	9-12	501 Mosley Dr	Lynn Haven	32444	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 767-4400	1,864	81	23.0	29.7%	1,291 (69.3%)	189 (10.1%)	208 (11.2%)	33 (1.8%)	6 (0.3%)	8 (0.4%)	129 (6.9%)	54.4	279^th of 844 public high schools	66.9%		55.7	245^th of 807 public high schools	69.6%	34				63.0	66.0					44.0	45.0	78.0	78.0		$7,164	$340	$6,825
Palm Bay Preparatory Academy 6-12	Public, Charter	6-12	1104 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	Yes	(850) 215-0770	203	11	18.4	54.7%	86 (42.4%)	39 (19.2%)	60 (29.6%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (7.9%)	48.3	355^th of 844 public high schools	57.9%		44.7	369^th of 807 public high schools	54.3%	14	63.0	58.0	67.0	71.0	32.0	30.0	53.0	57.0	56.0	58.0		77.0	88.0	64.0	$11,366	$1,813	$9,554
Bay Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)	Public, Virtual	6-12	1311 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	Yes	No	(850) 767-4377	14	0		42.9%	13 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (7.1%)								(n/a)															$5,417	$36	$5,381
Central High School	Public, Charter	9-12	1250 W 17th St	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	Yes	(850) 215-0770	99	4	24.7	40.4%	47 (47.5%)	18 (18.2%)	22 (22.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (12.1%)	6.5	718^th of 844 public high schools	14.9%		8	684^th of 807 public high schools	15.2%	34				30.0	19.0					5.0	0.0	33.0	35.0		$13,762	$1,552	$12,211

Frequently Asked Questions about Rutherford High School

Is Rutherford High School a good school?

Rutherford High School ranks in the bottom 23.2% of Florida high schools.

How many students attend Rutherford High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,394 students attended Rutherford High School.

What district is Rutherford High School in?

Bay

What is the racial makeup of Rutherford High School?

Students at Rutherford High School are 34% White, 32% African American, 22% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools feed into Rutherford High School?

Rutherford High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Callaway Elementary School
Elementary : Parker Elementary School
Elementary : Tommy Smith Elementary School
Elementary : Tyndall Academy

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.