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Southwest Middle

Q: Is Southwest Middle a good school?

Southwest Middle ranks 594 th of 1224 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

594^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,224 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 51% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Southwest Middle in Orlando, FL, is a mid-sized public school serving 1,290 students in grades 6-8, located in the desirable Dr. Phillips area of the Orange school district. The school serves a relatively affluent community, with only 33.1% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, a rate significantly lower than nearby schools like Carver Middle (75.1%) and Memorial Middle (69.2%). Academically, Southwest Middle is a solid, average performer, currently ranked in the 51st percentile statewide, placing it in the "3-star" category.

One of the school's standout features is its exceptional performance in advanced math courses. In the 2025-2026 school year, 100% of students taking the Geometry End-of-Course (EOC) exam passed, and 87% passed Algebra 1—dramatically higher than the district and state averages. This success, however, contrasts sharply with a significant weakness in 7th-grade math, where only 35% of students are proficient, well below the state average of 53%. This "tale of two math scores" suggests the school excels at accelerating its top-tier students but struggles to support the average learner. Despite its relative affluence, the school also faces a high chronic absenteeism rate of 37.3%, which is above the state average of 31.4% and higher than some schools with much higher poverty rates, such as Robinswood Middle (35.7%).

On a positive note, there is a clear upward trend in core subject proficiency over the last three years, with 6th-grade English Language Arts rising from 37% to 62% and 8th-grade Science from 50% to 62%. This suggests recent instructional changes may be benefiting the general student body. Interestingly, the school's per-student spending ($10,680) is in the middle of the pack compared to neighbors, reinforcing that outcomes are more influenced by factors like school culture than spending alone. For parents considering options, Horizon West Middle (75th percentile) and Gotha Middle (58th percentile) in the even more affluent Windermere area outperform Southwest, while the Fl Virtual Florida Virtual Middle School offers a contrasting model with lower absenteeism and higher proficiency in core subjects.

1,290

Students ?

19.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,680

Per pupil spending ?

33.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6450 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 370-7200

District: Orange

Feeder schools for Southwest Middle:

Elementary:	Bay Meadows Elementary
	Dr. Phillips Elementary
	Millennia Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

44.3%

White:

25.5%

African American:

20.7%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 40th percentile in 2023 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 51st (2026) from a 40th-percentile low (2023)

✓Above the Florida median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 29% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg62%

Florida avg61%

594^th of 1,224

Florida public middle schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

20^th of 43Middle Schools in the Orange

30^th of 70Orange 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	52.2	594 of 1224	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.7	627 of 1205	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.4	567 of 1196	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.9	703 of 1177	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.7	628 of 1148	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.3	554 of 1136	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.0	605 of 1099	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.6	539 of 1035	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	55.4	452 of 1031	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	55.9	420 of 997	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	72.0	254 of 999	74.6%	★★★★☆
2013	73.7	232 of 956	75.7%	★★★★☆
2012	76.1	195 of 897	78.3%	★★★★☆
2011	73.3	224 of 891	74.9%	★★★★☆
2010	72.4	227 of 839	72.9%	★★★★☆
2009	75.9	177 of 780	77.3%	★★★★☆
2008	78.8	140 of 740	81.1%	★★★★☆
2007	83.8	96 of 736	87.0%	★★★★☆
2006	82.2	101 of 675	85.0%	★★★★☆
2005	85.4	70 of 602	88.4%	★★★★☆
2004	80.6	98 of 593	83.5%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+44 vs state

Algebra 187%+24 vs state

Civics78%~ state avg

Science62%+10 vs state

English Language Arts60%~ state avg

Math56%-3 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, May 15, 2012

This school is HORRIBLE. if you are moving here i suggest sending your child to private school. The teachers here are overwhelmed with bad students. It is very dirty and my child doess't feel safe here. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN HERE! Close Quote

Schools Near Southwest Middle

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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 Biology 1 (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 (2025)	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 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southwest Middle	Public	6-8	6450 Dr Phillips Blvd	Orlando	32819	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 370-7200	1,290	67	19.2	33.1%	329 (25.5%)	267 (20.7%)	571 (44.3%)	92 (7.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	28 (2.2%)	52.2	594^th of 1224 public middle schools	51.5%		47.7	627^th of 1205 public middle schools	48.0%	33	62.0	57.0	60.0	57.0	35.0	66.0	62.0	87.0	100.0		78.0	$10,680	$981	$9,699
Chain Of Lakes Middle	Public	6-8	8700 Conroy Windermere Rd	Orlando	32835	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 909-5400	955	43	22.2	41.6%	125 (13.1%)	393 (41.2%)	394 (41.3%)	25 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.5%)	13 (1.4%)	21.8	1025^th of 1224 public middle schools	16.3%		24.1	950^th of 1205 public middle schools	21.2%	75	38.0	49.0	41.0	33.0	33.0	40.0	41.0	75.0			57.0	$9,867	$563	$9,302
Florida Virtual Middle School	Public, Virtual	6-8	5422 Carrier Dr	Orlando	32819	Orange County	Fl Virtual	No	No	Yes	Yes	(800) 374-1430	2,559	95	26.9	32.1%	1,217 (47.6%)	262 (10.2%)	826 (32.3%)	83 (3.2%)	4 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	165 (6.4%)	61.9	440^th of 1224 public middle schools	64.1%		60.2	457^th of 1205 public middle schools	62.1%	17	79.0	77.0	70.0	62.0	42.0	55.0	49.0	79.0	90.0	99.0	82.0
Gotha Middle	Public	6-8	9155 Gotha Rd	Windermere	34786	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 521-2360	988	50	19.7	36.8%	267 (27.0%)	355 (35.9%)	284 (28.7%)	49 (5.0%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	28 (2.8%)	57	516^th of 1224 public middle schools	57.8%		53.1	547^th of 1205 public middle schools	54.6%	31	66.0	55.0	61.0	64.0	20.0	68.0	66.0	91.0	98.0		76.0	$10,716	$811	$9,905
Westridge Middle	Public	6-8	3800 W Oak Ridge Rd	Orlando	32809	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 354-2640	1,136	57	19.9	60.5%	41 (3.6%)	508 (44.7%)	550 (48.4%)	17 (1.5%)	4 (0.4%)	5 (0.4%)	11 (1.0%)	23.7	1001^st of 1224 public middle schools	18.2%		22.1	977^th of 1205 public middle schools	18.9%	24	36.0	39.0	37.0	42.0	38.0	55.0	41.0	94.0			62.0	$9,730	$1,328	$8,402
Horizon West Middle	Public	6-8	8200 Tattant Blvd	Windermere	34786	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 905-3731	1,333	66	20.1	15.7%	409 (30.7%)	60 (4.5%)	733 (55.0%)	92 (6.9%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (2.6%)	71.7	309^th of 1224 public middle schools	74.8%		67.2	354^th of 1205 public middle schools	70.6%	45	73.0	70.0	66.0	80.0	57.0	75.0	63.0	96.0	100.0		79.0	$9,499	$719	$8,780
Carver Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	4500 W Columbia St	Orlando	32811	Orange County	Orange	No	Yes	No	Yes	(407) 296-5110	639	38	16.8	75.1%	10 (1.6%)	544 (85.1%)	78 (12.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	24.9	985^th of 1224 public middle schools	19.5%		20.4	995^th of 1205 public middle schools	17.4%	10	43.0	47.0	34.0	39.0	36.0	56.0	40.0	89.0			64.0	$14,670	$2,729	$11,941
Freedom Middle	Public	6-8	2850 Taft Vineland Rd	Orlando	32837	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 858-6130	1,150	59	19.4	35.6%	154 (13.4%)	130 (11.3%)	788 (68.5%)	53 (4.6%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.6%)	17 (1.5%)	32.7	887^th of 1224 public middle schools	27.5%		35.4	808^th of 1205 public middle schools	32.9%	79	47.0	54.0	49.0	45.0	28.0	51.0	47.0	80.0	100.0		71.0	$10,102	$817	$9,285
Memorial Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	2220 W 29th St	Orlando	32805	Orange County	Orange	No	Yes	No	Yes	(407) 245-1810	712	40	17.8	69.2%	20 (2.8%)	464 (65.2%)	215 (30.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.7%)	5 (0.7%)	19.2	1050^th of 1224 public middle schools	14.2%		14.1	1073^rd of 1205 public middle schools	11.0%	23	38.0	46.0	33.0	39.0	34.0	49.0	29.0	82.0			52.0	$13,668	$2,627	$11,041
Robinswood Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	6305 Balboa Dr	Orlando	32818	Orange County	Orange	No	Yes	No	Yes	(407) 296-5140	985	49	20.1	65.2%	16 (1.6%)	848 (86.1%)	102 (10.4%)	6 (0.6%)	3 (0.3%)	7 (0.7%)	3 (0.3%)	17.7	1066^th of 1224 public middle schools	12.9%		19.9	1004^th of 1205 public middle schools	16.7%	62	37.0	42.0	36.0	32.0	21.0	42.0	39.0	80.0			67.0	$10,598	$1,514	$9,085

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Middle

What district is Southwest Middle in?

Orange

Is Southwest Middle a good school?

Southwest Middle ranks 594^th of 1224 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Southwest Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,290 students attended Southwest Middle.

What is the racial makeup of Southwest Middle?

Students at Southwest Middle are 44% Hispanic, 26% White, 21% African American, 7% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2024–25 attendance dataAug 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.