Summary:
This analysis examines 12 middle schools serving grades 6-8 in the Manatee County school district, which ranks 40th out of 70 districts in Florida, placing it in the 43rd percentile statewide.
The district shows a wide performance gap between its top and bottom schools. The highest-performing traditional schools are R. Dan Nolan Middle School (81st percentile) and Dr Mona Jain Middle School (75th percentile), both with low chronic absenteeism rates (19.9% and 24.5% respectively) and low free/reduced lunch rates (28-33%). The magnet Rowlett Middle Academy (77th percentile) also excels, particularly in Civics (94% proficient). A notable outlier is Oasis Middle School, a small school (49 students) that ranks in the 89th percentile despite a 48.2% chronic absenteeism rate and 71.43% free/reduced lunch rate, achieving 100% proficiency in Algebra 1, Civics, and 8th Grade ELA. At the other end, W. D. Sugg Middle School (7th percentile), Electa Lee Magnet Middle School (8th percentile), and Just For Girls Middle School (3rd percentile) face significant challenges with very low test scores and high chronic absenteeism rates (41.9%, 39.6%, and 85.0% respectively).
Key takeaways include a strong link between chronic absenteeism and low performance, with schools like Lincoln Memorial Middle School (46.4% absenteeism, 19th percentile) and Martha B. King Middle School (43.0% absenteeism, 31st percentile) struggling. Interestingly, higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes—Lincoln Memorial spends the most ($16,248/student) but ranks low, while Dr Mona Jain achieves top results with the lowest spending ($8,894/student). A district-wide "7th Grade Math Slump" is evident, with proficiency dropping significantly from 6th to 7th grade at most schools. However, advanced coursework is a bright spot, with even struggling schools like Lincoln Memorial achieving 93% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 100% in Geometry.
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