Middle Schools in Alachua

This analysis covers 10 middle schools in the Alachua County school district in Florida, serving grades 6-8, where the district itself ranks in the 29th percentile statewide, indicating significant performance challenges.

The standout school is Alachua Learning Academy Middle, a small charter school with 63 students that ranks in the 96th percentile and has earned a 5-star rating for three consecutive years, with 100% of its 6th graders proficient in ELA. At the opposite end, The Einstein School Inc. ranks in the 8th percentile with a 0-star rating and critically low test scores, including 0% proficiency in several subjects. The most consistent mid-tier performers are Kanapaha Middle School, Oak View Middle School, and Fort Clarke Middle School, all earning 3-star ratings and performing at or above district averages. Abraham Lincoln Middle School shows a notable declining trend, dropping from the 62nd to the 49th percentile in recent years.

Key findings reveal a "small school paradox" where the two smallest schools represent the best and worst outcomes, suggesting school size is not a determining factor. Spending is inversely related to performance: Alachua Learning Academy spends the least per student ($6,391) yet achieves the best results, while The Einstein School spends the most ($12,187) with the worst outcomes. A district-wide issue is the sharp drop in 8th-grade math proficiency, with schools like Kanapaha seeing a decline from 69% in 7th grade to 39% in 8th grade. Chronic absenteeism is not a simple predictor, as Resilience Charter School has the lowest rate (16.1%) but is one of the lowest-performing schools, while Fort Clarke has the highest rate (37.7%) but performs above average.