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Bartow Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

999^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 18% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Bartow Middle School is a public school in Bartow, FL, serving 881 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Polk district, where over 71% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This school presents a unique "tale of two schools" dynamic: while it consistently ranks in the bottom 20-25% of Florida middle schools for standard subjects like FAST ELA and Math, it dramatically outperforms both the district and state in advanced coursework, with 95% proficiency in Geometry and 94% in Civics End-of-Course exams—results that rival top-tier schools.

Chronic absenteeism has been a major challenge, but it is improving, dropping from 38.2% in 2021-2022 to 30.9% in 2023-2024, now below the district average of 39.1% and nearly on par with the state average. This improvement is a positive sign, especially compared to Compass Middle Charter School, which shares the same address but has a 66.7% chronic absenteeism rate and abysmally low test scores (e.g., 4% proficient in 8th-grade Math). In contrast, Union Academy, just 1.45 miles away, is a 4-star school with a 14.5% absenteeism rate and outperforms Bartow in every subject, highlighting that the challenges are tied to school-level factors rather than location.

The school's per-student spending ($10,530) and student-teacher ratio (19.1) are average for its peers, suggesting performance issues stem from instructional quality and serving a high-needs population rather than funding. A glimmer of hope is 8th-grade Science, which has held steady at 36% proficiency for three years, a relative strength compared to nearby schools like Denison Middle School (32%) and Crystal Lake Middle School (31%). The key takeaway for parents is that Bartow excels at accelerating its top students but must work to replicate that success for the broader student body in standard subjects.

881

Students ?

19.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,530

Per pupil spending ?

71.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

550 Clower St E
Bartow, FL 33830

(863) 534-7415

District: Polk

Students who attend Bartow Middle School usually attend:

High:

Bartow Senior High School

Feeder schools for Bartow Middle School:

Elementary:	Alturas Elementary School
	Floral Avenue Elementary School
	Highland City Elementary School
	James E. Stephens Academy
	More...
	Spessard L Holland Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.8%

Hispanic:

33.3%

African American:

19.5%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 17th percentile in 2016 → 18th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (46% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (18th percentile)

!Math scores 20 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school46%

District avg48%

Florida avg61%

999^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 18%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 25Middle Schools in the Polk

61^st of 70Polk 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	23.4	999 of 1216	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.4	972 of 1205	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.3	935 of 1196	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.3	905 of 1177	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.5	909 of 1148	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.2	861 of 1136	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.0	826 of 1099	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.4	839 of 1035	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.5	863 of 1031	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	19.2	827 of 997	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	23.2	794 of 999	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	27.9	704 of 956	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	23.8	688 of 897	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.0	694 of 891	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	29.0	626 of 839	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	28.9	579 of 780	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	25.6	580 of 740	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	30.5	534 of 736	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	23.9	525 of 675	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	28.0	468 of 602	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	25.2	470 of 593	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry95%+39 vs state

Civics94%+17 vs state

Algebra 172%+9 vs state

English Language Arts46%-15 vs state

Math38%-20 vs state

Science36%-16 vs state

2.0

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What people are saying

by a student
Friday, April 15, 2016

I have teachers that actually care, but there are some that I really think don't. In the beginning of my second year there, I had no stable teacher for, like, 4 or 5 out of my 7 classes. Two teachers quit on us, while the others found a better job or were on maternity leave. As far as the students... well. Last year we got water bottles banned because some idiots brought alcohol in a water bottle because they got drunk. It's also common that administration finds kids selling drugs or doing drugs. Just a few weeks ago, Someone was smoking pot in the bathroom around my lunch time, when everyone was in the hallway, so he got caught. Another student issue that happens ALL the time: FIGHTS. It's like they can't get enough of them. Unless you don't have anywhere to send your children, then send them here. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it. Close Quote

Schools Near Bartow 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 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th 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
Bartow Middle School	Public	6-8	550 Clower St E	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 534-7415	881	46	19.1	71.3%	377 (42.8%)	172 (19.5%)	293 (33.3%)	6 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	29 (3.3%)	23.4	999^th of 1216 public middle schools	17.8%		22.4	972^nd of 1205 public middle schools	19.3%	27		47.0	51.0	41.0		42.0	39.0	32.0		36.0	72.0	95.0	94.0	$10,530	$1,385	$9,146
Compass Middle Charter School	Public, Charter	5-8	550 Clower St E	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	Yes	(863) 519-8701	168	9	18.6	86.9%	47 (28.0%)	45 (26.8%)	73 (43.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	4.1	1150^th of 1216 public middle schools	5.4%		3.7	1161^st of 1205 public middle schools	3.7%	11	36.0	21.0	33.0	23.0	28.0	4.0	23.0	5.0	14.0	9.0			40.0	$8,325	$1,559	$6,766
Union Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	1795 Wabash St E	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 534-7435	382	20	19.1	49.0%	200 (52.4%)	81 (21.2%)	71 (18.6%)	16 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.7%)	72.1	304^th of 1216 public middle schools	75.0%		72.6	295^th of 1205 public middle schools	75.5%	9		72.0	76.0	79.0		71.0	49.0	60.0		68.0	78.0	83.0	94.0	$11,630	$1,208	$10,422
Mulberry Middle School	Public	6-8	500 Dr Mlk Jr Ave SE	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 701-1066	1,058	46	23.0	74.1%	391 (37.0%)	87 (8.2%)	545 (51.5%)	8 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (2.5%)	31.1	895^th of 1216 public middle schools	26.4%		29	899^th of 1205 public middle schools	25.4%	4		50.0	50.0	45.0		57.0	48.0	39.0		40.0	77.0	83.0	94.0	$9,785	$1,433	$8,353
Lakeland Highlands Middle School	Public	6-8	740 Lake Miriam Dr	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 648-3500	1,118	61	18.3	52.4%	543 (48.6%)	170 (15.2%)	331 (29.6%)	39 (3.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	32 (2.9%)	48	649^th of 1216 public middle schools	46.6%		48.6	611^th of 1205 public middle schools	49.3%	38		66.0	56.0	61.0		59.0	30.0	52.0		53.0	88.0	93.0	90.0	$9,544	$1,172	$8,372
Crystal Lake Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2410 Crystal Lake Dr N	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2970	753	32	23.5	83.1%	213 (28.3%)	180 (23.9%)	310 (41.2%)	11 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	34 (4.5%)	18.4	1051^st of 1216 public middle schools	13.6%		8	1129^th of 1205 public middle schools	6.3%	78		39.0	39.0	39.0		30.0	46.0	39.0		31.0	85.0	82.0	88.0	$11,361	$1,695	$9,665
Westwood Middle School	Public	6-8	3520 Avenue J NW	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5484	712	44	16.1	77.2%	123 (17.3%)	233 (32.7%)	322 (45.2%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.4%)	22	1014^th of 1216 public middle schools	16.6%		19.9	1005^th of 1205 public middle schools	16.6%	9		36.0	32.0	48.0		47.0	16.0	38.0		41.0	84.0	65.0	94.0	$12,030	$1,699	$10,331
Southwest Middle School	Public	6-8	2815 Eden Pkwy	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2840	746	32	23.3	73.3%	218 (29.2%)	175 (23.5%)	317 (42.5%)	9 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (3.4%)	23.2	1000^th of 1216 public middle schools	17.8%		20.4	997^th of 1205 public middle schools	17.3%	3		46.0	49.0	45.0		40.0	36.0	35.0		38.0	79.0	85.0	90.0	$9,973	$1,386	$8,587
Denison Middle School	Public	6-8	400 Avenue A SE	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5353	684	28	24.4	75.4%	128 (18.7%)	265 (38.7%)	270 (39.5%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.9%)	14	1098^th of 1216 public middle schools	9.7%		16.1	1054^th of 1205 public middle schools	12.5%	44		43.0	35.0	35.0		34.0	24.0	31.0		32.0	81.0	100.0	89.0	$10,243	$1,529	$8,714
Jere L. Stambaugh Middle	Public	6-8	226 Main St N	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5494	1,013	46	22.0	75.8%	369 (36.4%)	196 (19.3%)	405 (40.0%)	7 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	31 (3.1%)	22.5	1008^th of 1216 public middle schools	17.1%		19.3	1016^th of 1205 public middle schools	15.7%	8		33.0	42.0	43.0		38.0	47.0	26.0		45.0	79.0	100.0	83.0	$9,690	$1,501	$8,188

Frequently Asked Questions about Bartow Middle School

What high school do graduates of Bartow Middle School attend?

Students who attend Bartow Middle School usually go on to attend Bartow Senior High School

What district is Bartow Middle School in?

Polk

How many students attend Bartow Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 881 students attended Bartow Middle School.

Is Bartow Middle School a good school?

Bartow Middle School ranks in the bottom 17.8% of Florida middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Bartow Middle School?

Students at Bartow Middle School are 43% White, 33% Hispanic, 20% African American, 3% Two or more races.

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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.