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Rising Leaders Academy

Q: Is Rising Leaders Academy a good school?

Rising Leaders Academy ranks 497 th of 2240 Florida alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

497^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Alternative Schools

Better than 78% of Florida alternative schools

Summary

Rising Leaders Academy in Panama City, FL, is an alternative school serving 311 students in grades K-12 within the Bay district, and it stands out for its exceptional academic performance that far exceeds both district and state averages across nearly all subjects and grade levels.

This school defies the typical "alternative school" label by delivering results that rival top-performing schools in the state. For example, in the 2025-2026 school year, 95% of 8th graders were proficient in ELA and math, compared to just 60% district-wide, and 100% of students were proficient in US History. This performance is notably higher than nearby schools like Deane Bozeman School, which scored 58% in Algebra 1, and Surfside Middle School, which had only 38% proficiency in 6th-grade math. The school also maintains a low chronic absenteeism rate of 27.7%, well below the district average of 35.3% and the 53% rate at Margaret K. Lewis In Millville. Additionally, only 31.83% of students receive free or reduced lunch, a lower rate than many nearby schools, suggesting a different demographic profile.

However, there is one notable concern: a significant drop in 7th-grade math proficiency, which fell to just 30% in 2025-2026 from 79% the previous year, well below the district average of 58%. Despite this, the school operates efficiently, spending $9,205 per student—close to the district average and far less than the $42,176 spent at Margaret K. Lewis. Overall, Rising Leaders Academy is a standout choice for parents seeking a high-performing, resource-efficient school with consistent year-over-year excellence, though the math dip warrants attention.

311

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,205

Per pupil spending ?

31.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1527 Lincoln Ave
Panama City, FL 32405

(850) 215-0844

District: Bay

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.1%

African American:

16.1%

Hispanic:

16.1%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Rising Leaders Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 88th percentile in 2023 → 94th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (79% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of Florida alternative schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 6 percentile points since 2023

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school79%

District avg62%

Florida avg62%

Elementary school

497^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 22%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From top 6% (2016) to top 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

159^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Top 13%▼ down 11 pts since 2017

From top 2% (2017) to top 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

53^rd of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Top 6%▲ up 1 pts since 2021

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Alternative Schools in the Bay

28^th of 70Bay 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	75.4	497 of 2240	77.8%	★★★★☆
2025	69.3	658 of 2258	70.9%	★★★★☆
2024	65.2	751 of 2256	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	80.6	395 of 2240	82.4%	★★★★☆
2022	70.0	625 of 2219	71.8%	★★★★☆
2021	75.6	516 of 2247	77.0%	★★★★☆
2019	84.3	304 of 2182	86.1%	★★★★☆
2018	74.0	506 of 2118	76.1%	★★★★☆
2017	91.5	115 of 2112	94.6%	★★★★★
2016	91.9	115 of 2087	94.5%	★★★★★
2014	87.7	198 of 2064	90.4%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	82.7	159 of 1216	86.9%	★★★★☆
2025	84.3	156 of 1205	87.1%	★★★★☆
2024	90.0	81 of 1196	93.2%	★★★★★
2023	94.2	41 of 1177	96.5%	★★★★★
2022	74.7	254 of 1148	77.9%	★★★★☆
2021	76.1	246 of 1136	78.3%	★★★★☆
2019	94.6	41 of 1099	96.3%	★★★★★
2018	98.2	5 of 1035	99.5%	★★★★★
2017	95.9	20 of 1031	98.1%	★★★★★

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	82.5	53 of 838	93.7%	★★★★★
2025	87.0	38 of 844	95.5%	★★★★★
2024	89.4	25 of 807	96.9%	★★★★★
2023	76.3	92 of 792	88.4%	★★★★☆
2022	82.3	58 of 774	92.5%	★★★★★
2021	81.3	56 of 746	92.5%	★★★★★

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

US History100%+26 vs state

Civics93%+16 vs state

Algebra 180%+17 vs state

English Language Arts78%+18 vs state

Science78%+21 vs state

Math76%+14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Rising Leaders Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				FAST English Language Arts (2026)								FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	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 English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th 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 Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Rising Leaders Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1527 Lincoln Ave	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 215-0844	311	20	15.5	31.8%	162 (52.1%)	50 (16.1%)	50 (16.1%)	18 (5.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (9.3%)								(n/a)	82.0	54.0	76.0	89.0	85.0	95.0			85.0	67.0	82.0	71.0	30.0	95.0	71.0	90.0	80.0			100.0	93.0	$9,205	$50	$9,155
Exceptional Student Education	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1311 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 872-4100	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Bay Virtual Instruction Program	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	1311 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	Yes	No	(850) 747-4460	2	0			0 (0.0%)	2 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Bay Virtual Franchise	Public, Virtual, Alternative	3-12	1311 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	Yes	No	(850) 767-4460	25	0		12.0%	21 (84.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																						$8,104	$24	$8,080
Bay Regional Juvenile Detention Center	Public, Alternative	K-12	450 E 11th St	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 872-4706	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Margaret K. Lewis In Millville	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	203 N East Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1792	170	28	6.0	51.8%	106 (62.4%)	31 (18.2%)	17 (10.0%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (8.2%)								(n/a)																						$42,176	$6,965	$35,211
Surfside Middle School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	300 Nautilus St	Panama City Beach	32413	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 767-5180	755	46	16.4	34.2%	481 (63.7%)	65 (8.6%)	141 (18.7%)	16 (2.1%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (6.2%)								(n/a)				67.0	62.0	61.0						38.0	45.0	72.0		61.0	90.0	96.0			71.0	$10,494	$803	$9,691
Deane Bozeman School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	13410 Highway 77	Panama City	32409	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 767-1300	1,690	84	20.1	37.2%	1,515 (89.6%)	17 (1.0%)	90 (5.3%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	62 (3.7%)								(n/a)	62.0	68.0	74.0	62.0	61.0	66.0	58.0	69.0	75.0	65.0	63.0	72.0	74.0	83.0	69.0	61.0	58.0	54.0	75.0	87.0	85.0	$9,050	$548	$8,500

Frequently Asked Questions about Rising Leaders Academy

What district is Rising Leaders Academy in?

Bay

What is the racial makeup of Rising Leaders Academy?

Students at Rising Leaders Academy are 52% White, 16% African American, 16% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

Is Rising Leaders Academy a good school?

Rising Leaders Academy ranks 497^th of 2240 Florida alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Rising Leaders Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 311 students attended Rising Leaders Academy.

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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.