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Howell L. Watkins Middle School

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

942^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 23% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Howell L. Watkins Middle School in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, serves 705 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Palm Beach School District, with 67% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Watkins Middle School has faced persistent academic challenges, ranking in the bottom quarter of Florida middle schools for the past decade and holding a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for nine consecutive years. This is a stark contrast to nearby schools like Independence Middle School (82nd percentile) and Jupiter Middle School (72nd percentile), which consistently earn 4-star ratings. Chronic absenteeism has been a significant issue, with 39.4% of students chronically absent in 2021-2022, though this has improved to 23.5% in 2023-2024—still higher than the district average and notably above the 14.2% rate at Independence Middle School. Interestingly, the school spends more per student ($16,206) than any comparable school in the area, including top performers like Independence ($11,575) and Jupiter ($13,386), yet academic outcomes remain low, suggesting potential issues with resource allocation.

A standout finding is the school's "tale of two subjects" in math. While only 37% of 6th graders and 39% of 7th graders were proficient in standard math in 2025-2026—well below district averages—students in advanced courses excelled, with 89% proficient in Algebra 1 and 100% in Geometry. This suggests a strong program for high-achieving students, which could offer lessons for the broader curriculum. The presence of Bak Middle School Of The Arts, a magnet school ranked in the 99th percentile just 4.45 miles away, likely draws many top students away from Watkins, contributing to the performance gap. Despite these challenges, there are glimmers of improvement: the state ranking has risen from 12th to 23rd percentile over three years, and chronic absenteeism has dropped significantly, indicating that recent interventions may be starting to take effect.

705

Students ?

16.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,206

Per pupil spending ?

67.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9480 MacArthur Blvd
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33403

(561) 776-3600

District: Palm Beach

Feeder schools for Howell L. Watkins Middle School:

Elementary:	Allamanda Elementary School
	Dwight D. Eisenhower K-8
	Lake Park Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

70.1%

Hispanic:

18.6%

White:

7.7%

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Compare Howell L. Watkins Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 12th percentile in 2023 → 23rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 23rd (2026) from a 12th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (49% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!Math scores 18 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg65%

Florida avg62%

942^nd of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 23%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From bottom 30% (2016) to bottom 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

31^st of 38Middle Schools in the Palm Beach

33^rd of 70Palm Beach 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	27.8	942 of 1216	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.3	886 of 1205	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.8	973 of 1196	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.4	1036 of 1177	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	19.0	971 of 1148	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.3	983 of 1136	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.0	874 of 1099	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.9	813 of 1035	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.4	831 of 1031	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	30.2	695 of 997	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	28.0	743 of 999	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.8	786 of 956	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	24.4	685 of 897	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	27.5	676 of 891	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	26.4	647 of 839	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	20.4	633 of 780	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	20.2	605 of 740	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	26.3	561 of 736	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	24.5	522 of 675	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	23.4	500 of 602	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	25.9	464 of 593	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Algebra 189%+26 vs state

Civics63%-14 vs state

English Language Arts48%-14 vs state

Science42%-10 vs state

Math41%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Howell L. Watkins 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
Howell L. Watkins Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	9480 MacArthur Blvd	Palm Beach Gardens	33403	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 776-3600	705	43	16.3	67.1%	54 (7.7%)	494 (70.1%)	131 (18.6%)	7 (1.0%)	6 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	11 (1.6%)	27.8	942^nd of 1216 public middle schools	22.5%		30.3	886^th of 1205 public middle schools	26.5%	56	46.0	44.0	53.0	37.0	39.0	46.0	42.0	89.0		63.0	$16,206	$1,298	$14,907
John F. Kennedy Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	1901 Avenue S	Riviera Beach	33404	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 845-4500	821	50	16.4	66.6%	47 (5.7%)	502 (61.1%)	242 (29.5%)	5 (0.6%)	14 (1.7%)	4 (0.5%)	7 (0.9%)	30.9	899^th of 1216 public middle schools	26.1%		20.9	990^th of 1205 public middle schools	17.8%	91	44.0	44.0	49.0	45.0	34.0	78.0	39.0	88.0	85.0	58.0	$14,672	$1,074	$13,598
Watson B. Duncan Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	5150 117th Ct N	Palm Beach Gardens	33418	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 776-3500	1,042	66	15.8	39.0%	419 (40.2%)	263 (25.2%)	252 (24.2%)	59 (5.7%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (4.3%)	57.9	500^th of 1216 public middle schools	58.9%		68.2	343^rd of 1205 public middle schools	71.5%	157	58.0	68.0	60.0	54.0	26.0	80.0	59.0	93.0	100.0	80.0	$14,578	$753	$13,826
Bak Middle School Of The Arts	Public, Magnet	6-8	1725 Echo Lake Dr	West Palm Beach	33407	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	No	(561) 882-3870	1,246	72	17.3	19.7%	481 (38.6%)	188 (15.1%)	320 (25.7%)	167 (13.4%)	9 (0.7%)	3 (0.2%)	78 (6.3%)	96.3	8^th of 1216 public middle schools	99.3%		96.6	11^th of 1205 public middle schools	99.1%	3	96.0	95.0	96.0	96.0	93.0	99.0	89.0	100.0	99.0	98.0	$13,313	$402	$12,911
Bear Lakes Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3505 Shenandoah Blvd	West Palm Beach	33409	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 615-7700	841	50	16.9	64.8%	44 (5.2%)	538 (64.0%)	238 (28.3%)	8 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	11 (1.3%)	29.5	920^th of 1216 public middle schools	24.3%		26	930^th of 1205 public middle schools	22.8%	10	42.0	45.0	52.0	37.0	41.0	64.0	36.0	92.0	100.0	60.0	$15,296	$1,357	$13,940
Roosevelt Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	1900 N Australian Ave	West Palm Beach	33407	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 822-0200	793	57	13.9	73.4%	17 (2.1%)	481 (60.7%)	276 (34.8%)	7 (0.9%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.0%)	38.5	801^st of 1216 public middle schools	34.1%		43.2	701^st of 1205 public middle schools	41.8%	100	54.0	47.0	47.0	58.0	55.0	61.0	40.0	85.0	87.0	57.0	$16,580	$827	$15,753
Independence Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	4001 Greenway Dr	Jupiter	33458	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	No	(561) 799-7500	1,236	65	19.0	20.1%	802 (64.9%)	42 (3.4%)	287 (23.2%)	56 (4.5%)	6 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (3.4%)	77.2	223^rd of 1216 public middle schools	81.7%		80.1	208^th of 1205 public middle schools	82.7%	15	82.0	79.0	72.0	67.0		72.0	67.0	92.0	99.0	83.0	$11,575	$340	$11,234
Jupiter Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	15245 Military Trl	Jupiter	33458	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 745-7200	1,272	76	16.7	32.4%	595 (46.8%)	71 (5.6%)	517 (40.6%)	33 (2.6%)	7 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (3.9%)	69.5	337^th of 1216 public middle schools	72.3%		70	332^nd of 1205 public middle schools	72.4%	5	68.0	69.0	67.0	68.0	43.0	80.0	69.0	94.0	97.0	78.0	$13,386	$605	$12,781
Jeaga Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3777 N Jog Rd	West Palm Beach	33411	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 242-8000	862	50	17.2	61.7%	50 (5.8%)	386 (44.8%)	399 (46.3%)	6 (0.7%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (2.0%)	24.3	985^th of 1216 public middle schools	19.0%		25.1	939^th of 1205 public middle schools	22.1%	46	41.0	46.0	43.0	23.0	20.0	68.0	29.0	89.0	86.0	49.0	$14,760	$1,022	$13,739
Conniston Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3630 Parker Ave	West Palm Beach	33405	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 802-5400	1,153	74	15.5	60.3%	147 (12.7%)	160 (13.9%)	816 (70.8%)	9 (0.8%)	9 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (1.0%)	32.6	880^th of 1216 public middle schools	27.6%		29.4	891^st of 1205 public middle schools	26.1%	11	58.0	49.0	49.0	41.0	25.0	53.0	41.0	88.0	100.0	62.0	$14,398	$1,205	$13,193

Frequently Asked Questions about Howell L. Watkins Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Howell L. Watkins Middle School?

Students at Howell L. Watkins Middle School are 70% African American, 19% Hispanic, 8% White, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Howell L. Watkins Middle School in?

Palm Beach

How many students attend Howell L. Watkins Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 705 students attended Howell L. Watkins Middle School.

Is Howell L. Watkins Middle School a good school?

Howell L. Watkins Middle School ranks in the bottom 22.5% of Florida middle schools.

Rate Howell L. Watkins 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.