Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

W. D. Sugg Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

1135^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 7% of Florida middle schools

Summary

W. D. Sugg Middle School in Bradenton, FL, is a public school serving 1,017 students in grades 6-8 within the Manatee County School District, where a high percentage of students (66%) come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The most critical issue at W. D. Sugg is an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 41.9%, which is dramatically higher than nearby schools like Buffalo Creek Middle School (21.3%) and Rowlett Middle Academy (18.0%). This absenteeism crisis directly contributes to the school's consistently low academic proficiency, with only 24-30% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 20-28% in math—far below district and state averages of 56-62% and 47-64%, respectively. The school also has a high student-to-teacher ratio of 22.6:1, the highest among nearby comparison schools, which may limit individualized attention for struggling students.

Interestingly, the school shows a stark contrast between its general education and advanced course performance. While only 20-30% of students are proficient in grade-level math, 82% are proficient in Algebra 1 and 94% in Geometry, suggesting a small, high-performing subset of students excels while the majority struggles. This pattern, combined with a long-term downward trend in state ranking (from the 19th percentile in 2018-2019 to the 7th percentile in 2025-2026), indicates deep-rooted challenges that spending alone cannot solve—the school spends $10,010 per student, similar to higher-performing schools like Martha B. King Middle School and Rowlett Middle Academy. Nearby Just For Girls Middle School, just 0.16 miles away, faces even higher absenteeism (85%), highlighting significant socio-economic challenges in the immediate neighborhood.

1,017

Students ?

22.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,010

Per pupil spending ?

66.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5602 38th Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34209

(941) 741-3157

District: Manatee

Students who attend W. D. Sugg Middle School usually attend:

High:

Bayshore High School

Feeder schools for W. D. Sugg Middle School:

Elementary:	Blanche H. Daughtrey Elementary
	H. S. Moody Elementary School
	Oneco Elementary School
	Robert H. Prine Elementary School
	More...
	Sea Breeze Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

63.0%

White:

17.9%

African American:

14.1%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare W. D. Sugg Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 12th percentile in 2016 → 7th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (34% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (42% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg58%

Florida avg61%

1,135^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 12% (2016) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 12Middle Schools in the Manatee

40^th of 70Manatee 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	7.3	1135 of 1216	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.6	1111 of 1205	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	1081 of 1196	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.9	1060 of 1177	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	945 of 1148	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.9	936 of 1136	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.5	888 of 1099	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.7	905 of 1035	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.6	883 of 1031	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	14.6	881 of 997	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	18.0	846 of 999	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.2	687 of 956	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	22.7	704 of 897	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.3	663 of 891	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	36.9	576 of 839	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	47.2	452 of 780	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	49.4	409 of 740	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.6	426 of 736	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.7	314 of 675	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	49.9	329 of 602	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	56.8	276 of 593	53.5%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry94%+38 vs state

Algebra 182%+19 vs state

Civics64%-13 vs state

English Language Arts28%-34 vs state

Math24%-34 vs state

Science21%-31 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★0

Rate W. D. Sugg Middle School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Sugg is only as good as the student who attend. My children make good grades and attend each day. They do their homework and have been encouraged to strive for a higher level of education (College). Over half of the students at Sugg are not English as their first language students. There is a lot of violence at school, mostly girl vs girl.

The teachers at Sugg do the best they can with little or no parental participation. To many are one parent households with the parent working two or more jobs to make ends meet or are so strongly attached to the entitlements and therefore don't work at all.

All the teachers I have met and talked to are interested in trying to improve conditions at Sugg, but it is going to take more than 64 teachers and the administrative staff to make a difference. Its going to take Parents to get Involved.

If your child is a good student, he or she will get a good education at Sugg. If their study habits are poor, they will not. If you are a parent who takes an interest in your child's education, take an interest in Sugg too and we will all succeed. Simple as that. Close Quote

Schools Near W. D. Sugg 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 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 Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
W. D. Sugg Middle School	Public	6-8	5602 38th Avenue West	Bradenton	34209	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 741-3157	1,017	45	22.6	66.3%	182 (17.9%)	143 (14.1%)	641 (63.0%)	8 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (4.2%)	7.3	1135^th of 1216 public middle schools	6.7%		9.6	1111^th of 1205 public middle schools	7.8%	24	24.0	30.0	29.0	20.0	25.0	28.0	21.0	82.0	94.0	64.0	$10,010	$1,140	$8,869
Just For Girls Middle School	Public	6-8	3809 59th St W	Bradenton	34209	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 722-1475	33	3	11.0	90.9%	6 (18.2%)	6 (18.2%)	20 (60.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.0%)	2.3	1179^th of 1216 public middle schools	3.0%		11.4	1101^st of 1205 public middle schools	8.6%	78		18.0	8.0		9.0	17.0	0.0			30.0	$7,349	$97	$7,252
Electa Lee Magnet Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	4000 53rd Ave W	Bradenton	34210	Manatee County	Manatee	No	Yes	No	Yes	(941) 727-6500	679	38	17.8	68.8%	130 (19.1%)	114 (16.8%)	397 (58.5%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.9%)	10.2	1117^th of 1216 public middle schools	8.1%		10.7	1105^th of 1205 public middle schools	8.3%	12	36.0	31.0	32.0	22.0	27.0	27.0	28.0	78.0	100.0	57.0	$12,211	$1,471	$10,740
Oasis Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	6417 3rd Ave W	Bradenton	34209	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	No	No	Yes	(941) 749-1979	49	3	16.3	71.4%	8 (16.3%)	7 (14.3%)	29 (59.2%)	1 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.2%)	84.7	138^th of 1216 public middle schools	88.7%		85.2	148^th of 1205 public middle schools	87.7%	10	77.0	79.0	100.0	64.0	92.0		88.0	100.0		100.0	$13,043	$00	$13,043
Martha B. King Middle School	Public	6-8	600 75th St NW	Bradenton	34209	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 798-6820	897	47	19.0	65.6%	376 (41.9%)	143 (15.9%)	321 (35.8%)	12 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (4.9%)	35.7	837^th of 1216 public middle schools	31.2%		34	834^th of 1205 public middle schools	30.8%	3	51.0	52.0	52.0	36.0	28.0	65.0	46.0	96.0	100.0	74.0	$10,161	$712	$9,449
Rowlett Middle Academy	Public, Charter	6-8	400 30th Ave W	Bradenton	34205	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 462-4100	708	37	19.1	45.1%	364 (51.4%)	75 (10.6%)	222 (31.4%)	19 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	26 (3.7%)	73.9	284^th of 1216 public middle schools	76.6%		79.2	217^th of 1205 public middle schools	82.0%	67	68.0	74.0	71.0	78.0	81.0	41.0	66.0	88.0	100.0	94.0	$10,230	$00	$10,230
Lincoln Memorial Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	305 17th St E	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	No	Yes	No	Yes	(941) 708-8770	448	29	15.4	79.7%	31 (6.9%)	172 (38.4%)	224 (50.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.2%)	23.9	989^th of 1216 public middle schools	18.7%		19.2	1020^th of 1205 public middle schools	15.4%	31	37.0	35.0	41.0	42.0	22.0	61.0	38.0	93.0	100.0	70.0	$16,248	$2,547	$13,701
Booker Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2250 Myrtle St	Sarasota	34234	Sarasota County	Sarasota	No	Yes	No	Yes	(941) 359-5824	811	61	13.2	73.2%	163 (20.1%)	157 (19.4%)	416 (51.3%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (8.4%)	37.4	814^th of 1216 public middle schools	33.1%		32.6	853^rd of 1205 public middle schools	29.2%	39	47.0	49.0	48.0	55.0	63.0	52.0	44.0	79.0	91.0	67.0	$18,866	$2,911	$15,955
Sarasota School Of Arts/Sciences	Public, Charter	6-8	717 Central Ave	Sarasota	34236	Sarasota County	Sarasota	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 330-1855	747	40	18.6	40.2%	395 (52.9%)	48 (6.4%)	228 (30.5%)	11 (1.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (8.4%)	84.2	141^st of 1216 public middle schools	88.4%		79.9	210^th of 1205 public middle schools	82.6%	69	78.0	78.0	83.0	81.0	83.0	73.0	75.0	87.0	99.0	96.0	$10,855	$30	$10,824
Carlos E. Haile Middle School	Public	6-8	9501 Fl 64	Bradenton	34212	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 714-7240	715	34	21.0	44.2%	389 (54.4%)	76 (10.6%)	185 (25.9%)	20 (2.8%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (5.9%)	59.4	479^th of 1216 public middle schools	60.6%		63.1	416^th of 1205 public middle schools	65.5%	63	61.0	61.0	61.0	76.0	37.0	71.0	64.0	93.0	100.0	79.0	$10,574	$669	$9,905

Frequently Asked Questions about W. D. Sugg Middle School

How many students attend W. D. Sugg Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,017 students attended W. D. Sugg Middle School.

What district is W. D. Sugg Middle School in?

Manatee

What is the racial makeup of W. D. Sugg Middle School?

Students at W. D. Sugg Middle School are 63% Hispanic, 18% White, 14% African American, 4% Two or more races.

Is W. D. Sugg Middle School a good school?

W. D. Sugg Middle School ranks in the bottom 6.7% of Florida middle schools.

What high school do graduates of W. D. Sugg Middle School attend?

Students who attend W. D. Sugg Middle School usually go on to attend Bayshore High School

Rate W. D. Sugg Middle School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

FLFlorida Middle School Rankings

FLFlorida District Rankings

Schools in Bradenton, FL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for W. D. Sugg Middle School!

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.