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Watson B. Duncan Middle School

Q: Is Watson B. Duncan Middle School a good school?

Watson B. Duncan Middle School ranks 500 th of 1216 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

500^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 59% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Watson B. Duncan Middle School in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, serves 1,042 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the Palm Beach district, a mid-sized school with a moderate free/reduced lunch rate of about 39%.

This school is a standout for advanced math and science, with 93% of students proficient in Algebra 1 and a perfect 100% in Geometry on end-of-course exams—far exceeding district and state averages. Eighth-grade science proficiency is also strong at 59%, outperforming nearby schools like Jeaga Middle School (29%) and Bear Lakes Middle School (36%). However, there's a notable weakness in 7th-grade math, where only 26% of students are proficient—the lowest among comparable schools in the area and well below the district (45%) and state (53%) averages. This persistent issue over the past four years suggests a need for targeted curriculum improvements. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism is low at 18.8%, better than the district average of 23.4% and many peers like Roosevelt Middle School (23.5%).

Compared to top-performing neighborhood schools like Independence Middle School (82nd percentile) and Western Pines Community Middle (75th percentile), Watson B. Duncan holds its own in advanced math and science but lags in English Language Arts (ELA), where 6th-grade proficiency (58%) is below the district average (63%). The school's student-teacher ratio of 15.8 is favorable, suggesting manageable class sizes. While the Bak Middle School Of The Arts magnet school is an outlier with near-perfect scores, Watson B. Duncan is a solid choice for families prioritizing advanced math and science pathways, though it needs to address its 7th-grade math gap and boost overall ELA performance to reach the next level.

1,042

Students ?

15.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,578

Per pupil spending ?

39%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5150 117th Ct N
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

(561) 776-3500

District: Palm Beach

Feeder schools for Watson B. Duncan Middle School:

Elementary:	Jupiter Farms Elementary School
	Marsh Pointe Elementary
	Timber Trace Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.2%

African American:

25.2%

Hispanic:

24.2%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Watson B. Duncan Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 75th percentile in 2016 → 59th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (68% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Above the Florida median (59th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg64%

Florida avg61%

500^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Top 41%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to top 41% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

19^th of 38Middle Schools in the Palm Beach

33^rd of 70Palm Beach 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	57.9	500 of 1216	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.2	343 of 1205	71.5%	★★★★☆
2024	71.1	316 of 1196	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	65.4	376 of 1177	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.8	306 of 1148	73.3%	★★★★☆
2021	66.2	350 of 1136	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.4	288 of 1099	73.8%	★★★★☆
2018	72.1	269 of 1035	74.0%	★★★★☆
2017	72.3	266 of 1031	74.2%	★★★★☆
2016	72.3	254 of 997	74.5%	★★★★☆
2014	84.9	117 of 999	88.3%	★★★★☆
2013	83.9	119 of 956	87.6%	★★★★☆
2012	77.8	181 of 897	79.8%	★★★★☆
2011	80.5	151 of 891	83.1%	★★★★☆
2010	81.4	126 of 839	85.0%	★★★★☆
2009	76.9	169 of 780	78.3%	★★★★☆
2008	72.4	197 of 740	73.4%	★★★★☆
2007	71.6	203 of 736	72.4%	★★★★☆
2006	68.5	204 of 675	69.8%	★★★★☆
2005	72.3	148 of 602	75.4%	★★★★☆
2004	77.9	115 of 593	80.6%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+44 vs state

Algebra 193%+30 vs state

Civics80%+3 vs state

Math64%+5 vs state

English Language Arts62%~ state avg

Science59%+7 vs state

5.0

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Schools Near Watson B. Duncan 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 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 Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Watson B. Duncan Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	5150 117th Ct N	Palm Beach Gardens	33418	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 776-3500	1,042	66	15.8	39.0%	419 (40.2%)	263 (25.2%)	252 (24.2%)	59 (5.7%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (4.3%)	57.9	500^th of 1216 public middle schools	58.9%		68.2	343^rd of 1205 public middle schools	71.5%	157	58.0	68.0	60.0	54.0	26.0	80.0	59.0	93.0	100.0	80.0	$14,578	$753	$13,826
Howell L. Watkins Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	9480 MacArthur Blvd	Palm Beach Gardens	33403	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 776-3600	705	43	16.3	67.1%	54 (7.7%)	494 (70.1%)	131 (18.6%)	7 (1.0%)	6 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	11 (1.6%)	27.8	942^nd of 1216 public middle schools	22.5%		30.3	886^th of 1205 public middle schools	26.5%	56	46.0	44.0	53.0	37.0	39.0	46.0	42.0	89.0		63.0	$16,206	$1,298	$14,907
Independence Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	4001 Greenway Dr	Jupiter	33458	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	No	(561) 799-7500	1,236	65	19.0	20.1%	802 (64.9%)	42 (3.4%)	287 (23.2%)	56 (4.5%)	6 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (3.4%)	77.2	223^rd of 1216 public middle schools	81.7%		80.1	208^th of 1205 public middle schools	82.7%	15	82.0	79.0	72.0	67.0		72.0	67.0	92.0	99.0	83.0	$11,575	$340	$11,234
Jupiter Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	15245 Military Trl	Jupiter	33458	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 745-7200	1,272	76	16.7	32.4%	595 (46.8%)	71 (5.6%)	517 (40.6%)	33 (2.6%)	7 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (3.9%)	69.5	337^th of 1216 public middle schools	72.3%		70	332^nd of 1205 public middle schools	72.4%	5	68.0	69.0	67.0	68.0	43.0	80.0	69.0	94.0	97.0	78.0	$13,386	$605	$12,781
John F. Kennedy Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	1901 Avenue S	Riviera Beach	33404	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 845-4500	821	50	16.4	66.6%	47 (5.7%)	502 (61.1%)	242 (29.5%)	5 (0.6%)	14 (1.7%)	4 (0.5%)	7 (0.9%)	30.9	899^th of 1216 public middle schools	26.1%		20.9	990^th of 1205 public middle schools	17.8%	91	44.0	44.0	49.0	45.0	34.0	78.0	39.0	88.0	85.0	58.0	$14,672	$1,074	$13,598
Bak Middle School Of The Arts	Public, Magnet	6-8	1725 Echo Lake Dr	West Palm Beach	33407	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	No	(561) 882-3870	1,246	72	17.3	19.7%	481 (38.6%)	188 (15.1%)	320 (25.7%)	167 (13.4%)	9 (0.7%)	3 (0.2%)	78 (6.3%)	96.3	8^th of 1216 public middle schools	99.3%		96.6	11^th of 1205 public middle schools	99.1%	3	96.0	95.0	96.0	96.0	93.0	99.0	89.0	100.0	99.0	98.0	$13,313	$402	$12,911
Bear Lakes Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3505 Shenandoah Blvd	West Palm Beach	33409	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 615-7700	841	50	16.9	64.8%	44 (5.2%)	538 (64.0%)	238 (28.3%)	8 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	11 (1.3%)	29.5	920^th of 1216 public middle schools	24.3%		26	930^th of 1205 public middle schools	22.8%	10	42.0	45.0	52.0	37.0	41.0	64.0	36.0	92.0	100.0	60.0	$15,296	$1,357	$13,940
Jeaga Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	3777 N Jog Rd	West Palm Beach	33411	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 242-8000	862	50	17.2	61.7%	50 (5.8%)	386 (44.8%)	399 (46.3%)	6 (0.7%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (2.0%)	24.3	985^th of 1216 public middle schools	19.0%		25.1	939^th of 1205 public middle schools	22.1%	46	41.0	46.0	43.0	23.0	20.0	68.0	29.0	89.0	86.0	49.0	$14,760	$1,022	$13,739
Roosevelt Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	1900 N Australian Ave	West Palm Beach	33407	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 822-0200	793	57	13.9	73.4%	17 (2.1%)	481 (60.7%)	276 (34.8%)	7 (0.9%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.0%)	38.5	801^st of 1216 public middle schools	34.1%		43.2	701^st of 1205 public middle schools	41.8%	100	54.0	47.0	47.0	58.0	55.0	61.0	40.0	85.0	87.0	57.0	$16,580	$827	$15,753
Western Pines Community Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	5949 140th Ave N	Royal Palm Beach	33411	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 792-2500	1,097	61	17.9	33.8%	457 (41.7%)	140 (12.8%)	395 (36.0%)	47 (4.3%)	6 (0.5%)	7 (0.6%)	45 (4.1%)	71.6	306^th of 1216 public middle schools	74.8%		76.3	258^th of 1205 public middle schools	78.6%	48	74.0	72.0	72.0	60.0	37.0	79.0	69.0	98.0	97.0	87.0	$12,571	$409	$12,161

Frequently Asked Questions about Watson B. Duncan Middle School

Is Watson B. Duncan Middle School a good school?

Watson B. Duncan Middle School ranks 500^th of 1216 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Watson B. Duncan Middle School?

Students at Watson B. Duncan Middle School are 40% White, 25% African American, 24% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Watson B. Duncan Middle School in?

Palm Beach

How many students attend Watson B. Duncan Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,042 students attended Watson B. Duncan Middle School.

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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.