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Max Bruner Junior Middle School

Q: Is Max Bruner Junior Middle School a good school?

Max Bruner Junior Middle School ranks 674 th of 1216 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

674^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 45% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Max Bruner Junior Middle School in Fort Walton Beach, FL, serves 677 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the high-performing Okaloosa School District, though the school itself has a 2-star rating and faces significant challenges. The most pressing issue is a chronic absenteeism crisis: 34.5% of students are chronically absent, which is 1.7 times higher than the district average and 3.6 times higher than nearby C. W. Ruckel Middle School (9.6%). This absenteeism rate is a major driver of the school's academic struggles, as proficiency in ELA (52-56%) and math (56-61%) lags well behind the district averages of 67-70% and 69-74%, respectively. The school also has a high poverty rate, with 66.3% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, nearly 2.7 times higher than C. W. Ruckel (24.7%).

Despite these challenges, Max Bruner shows some bright spots. It outperforms its closest neighbor, W. C. Pryor Middle School, which has similar demographics, by 11-12 points in 6th-grade ELA and math. Additionally, the school has a strong Algebra 1 program, with 87% of test-takers scoring proficient—significantly higher than the district (73%) and state (63%) averages. This creates a "two-tiered" academic environment where high-achieving math students excel, but the majority of students struggle with grade-level concepts. The school's state ranking has declined from the 68th percentile in 2015-2016 to the 45th percentile in 2025-2026, a trend that contrasts sharply with peers like Destin Middle School and Okaloosa Stemm Center, which maintain 4- and 5-star ratings.

Interestingly, Max Bruner spends $11,428 per student, which is higher than higher-performing peers like C. W. Ruckel ($8,101) and Destin Middle ($9,372), suggesting that funding alone is not the solution. The data also highlights significant educational inequality within the Okaloosa district: a student's address strongly predicts their academic outcomes, with Max Bruner's experience differing greatly from schools just 12 miles away in Destin or Niceville. For parents, this means that while Max Bruner has some effective practices, particularly for advanced math students, the school's high absenteeism and economic challenges are critical factors to consider when evaluating the school environment.

677

Students ?

18.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,428

Per pupil spending ?

66.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

322 Holmes Blvd NW
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

(850) 833-3266

District: Okaloosa

Students who attend Max Bruner Junior Middle School usually attend:

High:

Fort Walton Beach High School

Feeder schools for Max Bruner Junior Middle School:

Elementary:	Annette P. Edwins Elementary School
	Florosa Elementary School
	Mary Esther Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

37.7%

Hispanic:

29.0%

African American:

18.6%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Max Bruner Junior Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 68th percentile in 2016 → 45th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 23 percentile points since 2016

!Near the bottom of Okaloosa's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school60%

District avg71%

Florida avg62%

674^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 45%▼ down 23 pts since 2016

From top 32% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 9Middle Schools in the Okaloosa

12^th of 70Okaloosa 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	46.3	674 of 1216	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.7	539 of 1205	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.7	600 of 1196	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.4	616 of 1177	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.8	627 of 1148	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.3	620 of 1136	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.9	506 of 1099	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.7	481 of 1035	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.2	376 of 1031	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.0	320 of 997	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	65.4	334 of 999	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	65.7	325 of 956	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.4	296 of 897	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	71.5	245 of 891	72.5%	★★★★☆
2010	71.2	239 of 839	71.5%	★★★★☆
2009	75.1	186 of 780	76.2%	★★★★☆
2008	74.5	174 of 740	76.5%	★★★★☆
2007	72.8	192 of 736	73.9%	★★★★☆
2006	76.1	147 of 675	78.2%	★★★★☆
2005	85.2	72 of 602	88.0%	★★★★☆
2004	80.4	99 of 593	83.3%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Algebra 187%+24 vs state

Civics82%+5 vs state

Math58%~ state avg

English Language Arts55%-7 vs state

Science54%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Max Bruner Junior Middle School

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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 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 Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Max Bruner Junior Middle School	Public	6-8	322 Holmes Blvd NW	Fort Walton Beach	32548	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3266	677	37	18.2	66.3%	255 (37.7%)	126 (18.6%)	196 (29.0%)	18 (2.7%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	77 (11.4%)	46.3	674^th of 1216 public middle schools	44.6%		53.7	539^th of 1205 public middle schools	55.3%	135				56.0	56.0	52.0				56.0	57.0	61.0		54.0	87.0		82.0	$11,428	$929	$10,499
Northwest Florida Ballet Academie	Public	3-8	310 Perry Ave SE	Fort Walton Beach	32548	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 664-7787	134	8	17.6	33.6%	92 (68.7%)	8 (6.0%)	13 (9.7%)	4 (3.0%)	3 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (10.4%)	92.4	40^th of 1216 public middle schools	96.7%		96.7	10^th of 1205 public middle schools	99.2%	30	92.0	87.0	100.0	76.0	92.0	100.0	89.0	93.0	100.0	100.0		100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0			$11,048	$58	$10,990
W. C. Pryor Middle School	Public	6-8	201 Racetrack Rd NW	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3613	721	36	20.0	71.3%	197 (27.3%)	105 (14.6%)	337 (46.7%)	14 (1.9%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	63 (8.7%)	40.8	760^th of 1216 public middle schools	37.5%		40.4	742^nd of 1205 public middle schools	38.4%	18				55.0	54.0	48.0				44.0	62.0	60.0		43.0	90.0	82.0	76.0	$10,031	$984	$9,047
Clifford Meigs Middle School	Public	6-8	150 Richbourg Ave	Shalimar	32579	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 833-4301	612	33	18.5	57.8%	392 (64.1%)	72 (11.8%)	75 (12.3%)	13 (2.1%)	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.8%)	53 (8.7%)	66.6	369^th of 1216 public middle schools	69.7%		60	460^th of 1205 public middle schools	61.8%	91				64.0	62.0	68.0				67.0	73.0	74.0		69.0	94.0	100.0	90.0	$10,350	$370	$9,980
Okaloosa Stemm Center	Public, Magnet	6-8	379 Edge Ave	Valparaiso	32580	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	Yes	No	No	(850) 833-4120	366	21	17.4	27.9%	264 (72.1%)	13 (3.6%)	43 (11.7%)	6 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (10.7%)	98	1^st of 1216 public middle schools	99.9%		98.4	1^st of 1205 public middle schools	99.9%					100.0	99.0	99.0						100.0		100.0	98.0	100.0	100.0	$11,157	$315	$10,843
C. W. Ruckel Middle School	Public	6-8	201 Partin Dr N	Niceville	32578	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 833-4142	1,061	53	20.0	24.7%	824 (77.7%)	25 (2.4%)	118 (11.1%)	11 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	80 (7.5%)	83.4	148^th of 1216 public middle schools	87.8%		85.9	139^th of 1205 public middle schools	88.5%	9				75.0	77.0	77.0				77.0	87.0	88.0		80.0	93.0	98.0	96.0	$8,101	$149	$7,952
Destin Middle School	Public	5-8	4608 Legendary Marina Dr	Destin	32541	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 833-7655	799	41	19.4	43.8%	529 (66.2%)	33 (4.1%)	152 (19.0%)	33 (4.1%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	48 (6.0%)	80	200^th of 1216 public middle schools	83.6%		79.1	218^th of 1205 public middle schools	81.9%	18			69.0	78.0	78.0	73.0			70.0	75.0	72.0	78.0	70.0	72.0	93.0	100.0	86.0	$9,372	$187	$9,186
Holley-Navarre Middle School	Public	6-8	1976 Williams Creek Dr	Navarre	32566	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 936-6040	823	41	20.0	41.4%	521 (63.3%)	39 (4.7%)	132 (16.0%)	13 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.9%)	110 (13.4%)	63.4	418^th of 1216 public middle schools	65.6%		72.4	299^th of 1205 public middle schools	75.2%	119				69.0	63.0	61.0				64.0	61.0	76.0		60.0	100.0		88.0	$8,693	$569	$8,124

Frequently Asked Questions about Max Bruner Junior Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Max Bruner Junior Middle School?

Students at Max Bruner Junior Middle School are 38% White, 29% Hispanic, 19% African American, 11% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Is Max Bruner Junior Middle School a good school?

Max Bruner Junior Middle School ranks 674^th of 1216 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Max Bruner Junior Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 677 students attended Max Bruner Junior Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Max Bruner Junior Middle School attend?

Students who attend Max Bruner Junior Middle School usually go on to attend Fort Walton Beach High School

What district is Max Bruner Junior Middle School in?

Okaloosa

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2024–25 attendance dataNewAug 18, 2026

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

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

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.