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R. Frank Nims Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

1131^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 7% of Florida middle schools

Summary

R. Frank Nims Middle School in Tallahassee, FL, is a public school serving 625 students in grades 6-8 within the Leon district, and it serves a community where nearly 72% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most critical challenge facing Nims is an extremely high rate of chronic absenteeism—62.1% of students missed significant school in 2023-2024. This rate is nearly double the state average and far exceeds nearby schools like Deerlake Middle School (23.0%) and William J Montford III Middle School (24.2%). This absenteeism is directly linked to low academic proficiency; for example, only 10% of 6th graders were proficient in math and 25% in English Language Arts, compared to district averages around 60%. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 15% of Florida middle schools.

Despite these struggles, there is a notable bright spot: students in advanced courses perform exceptionally well. In 2023-2024, 94% of Nims students taking Algebra 1 were proficient, far exceeding the district average of 57%. This creates a "two-schools-in-one" dynamic, where a small group excels while the majority struggles. While Nims faces similar challenges to Griffin Middle School, it shows slightly better performance in 8th-grade math and science. The school's primary focus must be on reducing chronic absenteeism to unlock academic progress for all students.

625

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,488

Per pupil spending ?

71.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

723 W Orange Ave
Tallahassee, FL 32310

(850) 488-5960

District: Leon

Students who attend R. Frank Nims Middle School usually attend:

High:

James Rickards High School

Feeder schools for R. Frank Nims Middle School:

Elementary:	Oak Ridge Elementary School
	Pineview Elementary School
	Sabal Palm Elementary School
	Woodville School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

76.0%

Hispanic:

12.5%

White:

5.8%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare R. Frank Nims Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 15th percentile in 2016 → 7th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (29% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (62% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school29%

District avg61%

Florida avg62%

1,131^st of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From bottom 15% (2016) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 8Middle Schools in the Leon

39^th of 70Leon 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	7.9	1131 of 1216	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.5	1040 of 1205	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.0	970 of 1196	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.0	1086 of 1177	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.0	1031 of 1148	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	9.6	1072 of 1136	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.0	963 of 1099	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.9	912 of 1035	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	11.8	937 of 1031	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	17.9	849 of 997	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	28.7	732 of 999	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	20.1	780 of 956	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	14.3	769 of 897	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	12.1	787 of 891	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	6.8	763 of 839	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	12.5	676 of 780	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	20.7	599 of 740	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	12.4	638 of 736	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	11.7	583 of 675	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	15.2	520 of 602	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	19.0	505 of 593	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Biology 158%-16 vs state

Civics45%-32 vs state

Algebra 142%-21 vs state

Geometry33%-23 vs state

English Language Arts28%-34 vs state

Science26%-26 vs state

Math22%-37 vs state

1.0

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a student
Monday, November 16, 2020

Former student, from many years ago. Going there was the worst three years of my life. Its sad to see it hasn't changed other than a barbed wire fence that completes the prison look and feel it had then. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, August 17, 2011

That school is very disrespectful to everyone that goes to that school will not be able to make it to the next grade because they just play around so much and the teachers uses very bad language as well the students I just think that it not possible to have this school still open just like you all shut down mulitpule or middle school I think you should shut down R. Frank Nims as well...... Close Quote

Schools Near R. Frank Nims Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)			FAST Math (2026)			Statewide Science Science (2026)	EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th 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 Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
R. Frank Nims Middle School	Public	6-8	723 W Orange Ave	Tallahassee	32310	Leon County	Leon	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 488-5960	625	35	17.8	71.8%	36 (5.8%)	475 (76.0%)	78 (12.5%)	7 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.3%)	7.9	1131^st of 1216 public middle schools	7.0%		17.5	1040^th of 1205 public middle schools	13.7%	91	25.0	31.0	26.0	10.0	24.0	30.0	26.0	42.0	33.0	58.0	45.0	$10,488	$1,740	$8,749
Fairview Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3415 Zillah St	Tallahassee	32305	Leon County	Leon	No	Yes	No	Yes	(850) 488-6880	735	41	17.7	50.6%	77 (10.5%)	484 (65.9%)	64 (8.7%)	71 (9.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.2%)	46.6	672^nd of 1216 public middle schools	44.7%		27.8	913^th of 1205 public middle schools	24.2%	241	57.0	52.0	57.0	59.0	45.0	55.0	64.0	100.0	95.0	98.0	78.0	$10,436	$1,587	$8,850
Griffin Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	800 Alabama St	Tallahassee	32304	Leon County	Leon	No	Yes	No	Yes	(850) 488-8436	457	26	17.5	74.0%	19 (4.2%)	353 (77.2%)	55 (12.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (5.9%)	12.3	1108^th of 1216 public middle schools	8.9%		9.4	1114^th of 1205 public middle schools	7.6%	6	37.0	35.0	33.0	37.0	36.0	20.0	23.0	69.0		85.0	74.0	$12,347	$2,236	$10,110
Elizabeth Cobb Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	915 Hillcrest Ave	Tallahassee	32308	Leon County	Leon	No	Yes	No	No	(850) 488-3364	675	36	18.8	40.1%	181 (26.8%)	365 (54.1%)	53 (7.9%)	29 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.0%)	49.6	628^th of 1216 public middle schools	48.4%		38.7	766^th of 1205 public middle schools	36.4%	138	61.0	65.0	54.0	53.0	60.0	56.0	50.0	100.0	100.0	99.0	78.0	$9,785	$802	$8,983
Raa Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	401 W Tharpe St	Tallahassee	32303	Leon County	Leon	No	Yes	No	No	(850) 488-6287	928	46	20.2	46.8%	231 (24.9%)	535 (57.7%)	70 (7.5%)	17 (1.8%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	70 (7.5%)	32.9	875^th of 1216 public middle schools	28.0%		43.8	688^th of 1205 public middle schools	42.9%	187	53.0	58.0	45.0	48.0	61.0	41.0	27.0	90.0	100.0	99.0	78.0	$9,016	$582	$8,434
Swift Creek Middle School	Public	6-8	2100 Pedrick Rd	Tallahassee	32317	Leon County	Leon	No	No	No	No	(850) 487-4868	793	43	18.4	28.6%	370 (46.7%)	236 (29.8%)	77 (9.7%)	47 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (7.8%)	64.6	402^nd of 1216 public middle schools	66.9%		66.4	365^th of 1205 public middle schools	69.7%	37	74.0	74.0	67.0	67.0	64.0	53.0	49.0	85.0	100.0	99.0	90.0	$9,415	$550	$8,864
William J Montford III Middle School	Public	6-8	5789 Pimlico Dr	Tallahassee	32309	Leon County	Leon	No	No	No	No	(850) 922-6011	1,016	50	20.1	19.4%	685 (67.4%)	121 (11.9%)	113 (11.1%)	28 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (6.8%)	74.8	271^st of 1216 public middle schools	77.7%		80	209^th of 1205 public middle schools	82.7%	62	75.0	75.0	69.0	88.0	82.0	59.0	51.0	99.0	100.0	100.0	88.0	$8,981	$571	$8,410
Riversprings Middle School	Public	6-8	800 Spring Creek Hwy	Crawfordville	32327	Wakulla County	Wakulla	No	No	No	No	(850) 926-2300	552	32	17.2	33.0%	425 (77.0%)	77 (13.9%)	23 (4.2%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	21 (3.8%)	70.6	323^rd of 1216 public middle schools	73.4%		64.8	392^nd of 1205 public middle schools	67.5%	69	76.0	78.0	71.0	67.0	63.0	40.0	69.0	80.0	100.0		82.0	$10,116	$432	$9,684
Deerlake Middle School	Public	6-8	9902 Deer Lk W	Tallahassee	32312	Leon County	Leon	No	No	No	No	(850) 922-6545	876	43	20.2	15.0%	565 (64.5%)	89 (10.2%)	86 (9.8%)	90 (10.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (5.1%)	80.6	189^th of 1216 public middle schools	84.5%		81.2	194^th of 1205 public middle schools	83.9%	5	85.0	77.0	70.0	85.0	81.0	65.0	66.0	100.0	100.0	98.0	91.0	$9,672	$561	$9,111

Frequently Asked Questions about R. Frank Nims Middle School

What district is R. Frank Nims Middle School in?

Leon

How many students attend R. Frank Nims Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 625 students attended R. Frank Nims Middle School.

What high school do graduates of R. Frank Nims Middle School attend?

Students who attend R. Frank Nims Middle School usually go on to attend James Rickards High School

Is R. Frank Nims Middle School a good school?

R. Frank Nims Middle School ranks in the bottom 7.0% of Florida middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of R. Frank Nims Middle School?

Students at R. Frank Nims Middle School are 76% African American, 12% Hispanic, 6% White, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Rate R. Frank Nims Middle School!

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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.