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Bear Lakes Middle School

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

920^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 24% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Bear Lakes Middle School in West Palm Beach, FL, serves 841 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Palm Beach School District, with nearly 65% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has historically ranked in the bottom 25% of Florida middle schools, but it shows a clear upward trend, climbing from the 11th percentile in 2021-2022 to the 24th percentile in 2025-2026, with improvements in subjects like 6th-grade English Language Arts (from 28% to 42% proficient) and 8th-grade Science (from 19% to 36% proficient).

One of the most striking features of Bear Lakes is its exceptional performance in advanced math courses, such as Algebra 1 and Geometry, where 92% and 100% of students were proficient in 2025-2026, respectively—far exceeding district averages. However, this success contrasts sharply with struggles in grade-level math and other core subjects; for example, only 37% of 6th graders were proficient in FAST Math. This creates a "two-tiered" academic profile, where a select group of students excels while the majority lags behind. Additionally, the school experienced a dramatic spike in chronic absenteeism, jumping from 7.9% to 25.7% in a single year, a red flag that may be impacting overall performance.

Compared to nearby schools, Bear Lakes spends more per student ($15,296) than higher-performing peers like Palm Springs Middle School ($13,975) and Conniston Middle School ($14,398), yet it has not achieved proportional results in core subjects. The school is also located just 1.76 miles from Bak Middle School of the Arts, a top-10 Florida school with a 5.8% chronic absenteeism rate, highlighting the deep academic and socioeconomic divides in the area. While Bear Lakes is improving, its resource efficiency and attendance challenges remain key areas for attention.

841

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,296

Per pupil spending ?

64.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3505 Shenandoah Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33409

(561) 615-7700

District: Palm Beach

Students who attend Bear Lakes Middle School usually attend:

High:

Palm Beach Lakes High School

Feeder schools for Bear Lakes Middle School:

Elementary:	Egret Lake Elementary School
	Hope-Centennial Elementary School
	Seminole Trails Elementary School
	Westward Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

64.0%

Hispanic:

28.3%

White:

5.2%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Bear Lakes Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 13th percentile in 2016 → 24th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (49% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Civics scores 17 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg64%

Florida avg61%

920^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 24%▲ up 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 13% (2016) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

30^th 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	29.5	920 of 1216	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.0	930 of 1205	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.0	999 of 1196	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.2	1014 of 1177	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.3	1020 of 1148	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.4	996 of 1136	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.8	947 of 1099	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.1	840 of 1035	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	22.6	819 of 1031	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	16.7	868 of 997	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	17.7	849 of 999	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	18.5	794 of 956	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	19.4	736 of 897	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.8	688 of 891	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	20.8	685 of 839	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	19.6	637 of 780	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	26.0	577 of 740	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	25.6	566 of 736	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	23.2	529 of 675	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	24.7	488 of 602	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	28.7	451 of 593	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+44 vs state

Algebra 192%+29 vs state

Civics60%-17 vs state

Math47%-11 vs state

English Language Arts46%-15 vs state

Science36%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bear Lakes Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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
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
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
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
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
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
Sports Leadership And Management (Slam) Middle School Palm	Public, Charter	6-8	2845 Summit Blvd	West Palm Beach	33406	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	Yes	No	No	Yes	(561) 641-4449	324	15	21.0	57.7%	28 (8.6%)	24 (7.4%)	263 (81.2%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	33.1	871^st of 1216 public middle schools	28.4%		35.9	803^rd of 1205 public middle schools	33.4%	68	57.0	46.0	53.0	54.0	49.0	31.0	35.0	57.0		72.0	$8,230	$807	$7,423
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
Palm Springs Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	1560 Kirk Rd	West Palm Beach	33406	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 434-3300	1,397	86	16.3	60.2%	108 (7.7%)	262 (18.8%)	979 (70.1%)	14 (1.0%)	7 (0.5%)	5 (0.4%)	22 (1.6%)	39.9	775^th of 1216 public middle schools	36.3%		36.1	801^st of 1205 public middle schools	33.5%	26	50.0	53.0	55.0	44.0		58.0	48.0	86.0	78.0	65.0	$13,975	$1,025	$12,950
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
Okeeheelee Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2200 Pinehurst Dr	Greenacres	33413	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 434-3200	1,401	79	17.8	60.3%	99 (7.1%)	208 (14.8%)	1,044 (74.5%)	15 (1.1%)	18 (1.3%)	2 (0.1%)	15 (1.1%)	40	773^rd of 1216 public middle schools	36.4%		44	685^th of 1205 public middle schools	43.2%	88	53.0	53.0	51.0	50.0		58.0	45.0	91.0	89.0	67.0	$13,052	$987	$12,066

Frequently Asked Questions about Bear Lakes Middle School

How many students attend Bear Lakes Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 841 students attended Bear Lakes Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Bear Lakes Middle School attend?

Students who attend Bear Lakes Middle School usually go on to attend Palm Beach Lakes High School

What is the racial makeup of Bear Lakes Middle School?

Students at Bear Lakes Middle School are 64% African American, 28% Hispanic, 5% White, 1% Two or more races.

What district is Bear Lakes Middle School in?

Palm Beach

Is Bear Lakes Middle School a good school?

Bear Lakes Middle School ranks in the bottom 24.3% of Florida middle schools.

Rate Bear Lakes 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.