Clewiston Middle School

Clewiston Middle School in Clewiston, FL, serves 679 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Hendry school district, which ranks near the bottom of the state. The school has a history of low performance, earning a 1-star rating in four of the last five years, but recent data shows a promising upward trend to a 2-star rating and a rank in the 36th percentile. Serving a high-poverty population, with nearly 69% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school spends $12,117 per student—significantly less than the nearby Lake Shore Middle School in Belle Glade, which spends $18,160 per student.

Clewiston Middle School is a study in contrasts, excelling in advanced math while struggling with core subjects. In advanced courses, the school achieves remarkable results: 100% proficiency in Geometry and 79% in Algebra 1, both well above state averages. However, 8th-grade math proficiency is a dismal 12%, far below the state average of 61%, suggesting that students not tracked into advanced classes are being left behind. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate of 40.7% is a critical issue—more than double the district average and slightly higher than Lake Shore’s 39.6%—meaning two out of every five students miss 10% or more of the school year, which directly impacts learning.

Despite these challenges, Clewiston shows signs of improvement and efficiency. Its Civics (82%) and 8th-grade Science (46%) scores are relative strengths, outperforming district averages and competing with Lake Shore. The school’s upward trend in state ranking, despite high absenteeism, suggests that instructional quality or leadership may be improving. For parents, the key takeaway is that Clewiston Middle School offers a strong advanced math program but faces a severe absenteeism crisis that undermines its general education. The most impactful intervention would be a comprehensive strategy to reduce chronic absenteeism, which could unlock the school’s potential to serve all students better.