Summary:
Jackson County, Florida, is home to one middle school, Grand Ridge School, which serves grades 5 through 8 with an enrollment of 359 students in a community where about half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Grand Ridge School presents a mixed picture of performance. The school is a standout in 8th grade, with 74% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 63% proficient in Science, both well above state averages. It also excels in Algebra 1 (70% proficient) and 7th grade Math (60% proficient). However, math performance is inconsistent across grades: while 7th graders shine, only 30% of 6th graders are proficient in math, a significant weakness. The school holds a 2-star state ranking, placing it in the 49th percentile of Florida middle schools, a slight decline from its previous 3-star rating.
The most striking finding is the school's 50.4% chronic absenteeism rate, which is alarmingly higher than the state average of 31.4%. This high absenteeism coexists with strong performance in several subjects, suggesting a "two-tiered" student body where a core group of consistently attending students performs very well, while a large group of chronically absent students may be falling behind. The school spends $11,585 per student and maintains a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. Parents should note that while the school shows clear strengths in upper-grade academics, the high absenteeism rate and inconsistent math performance across grade levels are important factors to consider.
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