Merritt Brown Middle School

Merritt Brown Middle School in Panama City, FL, serves 634 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Bay County School District, which holds a 3-star rating. The school has a 2-star rating and ranks in the 38th percentile statewide, with just over half of its students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. It spends $10,960 per student, which is higher than nearby schools, and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 17.1:1.

Merritt Brown shows a striking contrast in academic performance. It excels in advanced math courses, with 72% of students passing Algebra 1 and 90% passing Geometry in the 2025-2026 school year—well above district and state averages. However, grade-level math proficiency lags, with only 45% of 7th graders and 50% of 8th graders meeting standards, below district and state averages. English Language Arts also varies: 7th graders achieve 59% proficiency, close to district and state averages, but 8th graders drop to 50%, falling 10 points behind. Chronic absenteeism is a significant challenge at 34.7%, much higher than nearby charter schools like Bay Haven Charter Middle School (13.3%) and North Bay Haven Charter Academy Middle School (14.6%), though lower than Jinks Middle School (49.4%).

Compared to its peers, Merritt Brown is a stronger option than Jinks Middle School, outperforming it in nearly every academic metric. However, it is outpaced by charter schools that have lower poverty rates and higher attendance. The school has shown a positive trajectory, moving from the 25th percentile to the 38th percentile over the last three years, but remains below its historical peak. Its key challenges are addressing chronic absenteeism and replicating the success of its advanced programs for the broader student population, especially in grade-level math and 8th-grade ELA.