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Thomas L Sims Middle School

Q: Is Thomas L Sims Middle School a good school?

Thomas L Sims Middle School ranks 239 th of 1205 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

239^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,205 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 80% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Thomas L Sims Middle School is a public middle school in Pace, Florida, serving around 850 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Santa Rosa school district, which is ranked 20th out of 67 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Thomas L Sims Middle School consistently ranks among the top 20% of middle schools in Florida, with a current ranking of 194 out of 1,148 schools. The school's students perform significantly better than the district and state averages across various subjects and grade levels, with 90% proficiency in Algebra 1, 100% in Geometry, and 79% in Civics. This exceptional academic performance is further highlighted by the school's ability to outperform the nearby middle schools in the Escambia school district, which are generally lower-performing compared to the state average.

However, the school has experienced an increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 14.4% in 2020-2021 to 31.4% in 2023-2024, which is higher than the district average of 20%. The school's higher spending per student and rising free and reduced lunch rates suggest that it serves a diverse student population with varying socioeconomic backgrounds, which may contribute to the school's strong academic performance. Despite this challenge, Thomas L Sims Middle School has maintained a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for several years, indicating a consistently high level of academic achievement.

823

Students ?

20.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,999

Per pupil spending ?

40.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5500 Education Dr
Pace, FL 32571

(850) 995-3676

District: Santa Rosa

Students who attend Thomas L Sims Middle School usually attend:

High:

Pace High School

Feeder schools for Thomas L Sims Middle School:

Elementary:	S. S. Dixon Intermediate School
	S. S. Dixon Primary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.1%

Two or more races:

9.6%

Hispanic:

8.4%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Thomas L Sims Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2014 → 80th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (74% vs 58% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Florida middle schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 10 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school74%

District avg66%

Florida avg58%

239^th of 1,205

Florida public middle schools ?

Top 20%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From top 9% (2016) to top 20% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 7Middle Schools in the Santa Rosa

20^th of 67Santa Rosa 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
2025	77.6	239 of 1205	80.2%	★★★★☆
2024	79.8	204 of 1196	82.9%	★★★★☆
2023	79.1	208 of 1177	82.3%	★★★★☆
2022	80.8	194 of 1148	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	82.8	154 of 1136	86.4%	★★★★☆
2019	83.6	156 of 1099	85.8%	★★★★☆
2018	86.0	132 of 1035	87.2%	★★★★☆
2017	84.6	143 of 1031	86.1%	★★★★☆
2016	88.7	87 of 997	91.3%	★★★★★
2014	86.4	103 of 999	89.7%	★★★★☆
2013	82.4	138 of 956	85.6%	★★★★☆
2012	84.1	116 of 897	87.1%	★★★★☆
2011	82.7	130 of 891	85.4%	★★★★☆
2010	82.0	124 of 839	85.2%	★★★★☆
2009	86.3	79 of 780	89.9%	★★★★☆
2008	87.3	73 of 740	90.1%	★★★★★
2007	89.1	59 of 736	92.0%	★★★★★
2006	86.2	72 of 675	89.3%	★★★★☆
2005	90.5	40 of 602	93.4%	★★★★★
2004	86.6	58 of 593	90.2%	★★★★★

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Geometry100%+45 vs state

Algebra 190%+30 vs state

Civics79%+8 vs state

Math77%+21 vs state

English Language Arts69%+12 vs state

Science65%+16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Thomas L Sims Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)			FAST Math (2025)			Statewide Science Science (2025)	EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Biology 1 (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Thomas L Sims Middle School	Public	6-8	5500 Education Dr	Pace	32571	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 995-3676	823	40	20.5	40.1%	626 (76.1%)	25 (3.0%)	69 (8.4%)	17 (2.1%)	2 (0.2%)	5 (0.6%)	79 (9.6%)	77.6	239^th of 1205 public middle schools	80.2%		79.8	204^th of 1196 public middle schools	82.9%	35	69.0	71.0	68.0	74.0	68.0	86.0	65.0	90.0	100.0		79.0	$7,999	$486	$7,513
Hobbs Middle School	Public	6-8	5317 Glover Ln	Milton	32570	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 983-5630	743	31	23.9	62.3%	526 (70.8%)	61 (8.2%)	53 (7.1%)	6 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.5%)	91 (12.2%)	46.7	645^th of 1205 public middle schools	46.5%		48.4	614^th of 1196 public middle schools	48.7%	31	60.0	51.0	53.0	49.0	45.0	60.0	46.0	93.0			70.0	$8,102	$521	$7,580
Avalon Middle School	Public	6-8	5445 King Arthurs Way	Milton	32583	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 983-5540	768	41	18.7	55.5%	545 (71.0%)	50 (6.5%)	80 (10.4%)	15 (2.0%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	71 (9.2%)	59.1	475^th of 1205 public middle schools	60.6%		48.9	611^th of 1196 public middle schools	48.9%	136	59.0	54.0	58.0	64.0	57.0	78.0	49.0	100.0	100.0		76.0	$8,803	$648	$8,155
Martin Luther King Middle School	Public	6-8	5928 Stewart St	Milton	32570	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5660	621	34	18.2	65.5%	440 (70.9%)	53 (8.5%)	42 (6.8%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.5%)	3 (0.5%)	76 (12.2%)	40.4	741^st of 1205 public middle schools	38.5%		35	794^th of 1196 public middle schools	33.6%	53	53.0	43.0	52.0	49.0	31.0	59.0	48.0	97.0			58.0	$10,177	$724	$9,453
Ferry Pass Middle School	Public	6-8	8355 Yancey Ave	Pensacola	32514	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 494-5650	897	48	18.6	58.1%	316 (35.2%)	359 (40.0%)	104 (11.6%)	35 (3.9%)	5 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	76 (8.5%)	34.3	829^th of 1205 public middle schools	31.2%		36.2	775^th of 1196 public middle schools	35.2%	54	49.0	47.0	46.0	52.0	20.0	49.0	40.0	88.0		68.0	74.0	$9,276	$1,032	$8,244
J. H. Workman Middle School	Public	6-8	6299 Lanier Dr	Pensacola	32504	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 494-5665	602	36	16.7	68.9%	108 (17.9%)	345 (57.3%)	114 (18.9%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	27 (4.5%)	24.6	943^rd of 1205 public middle schools	21.7%		24.6	932^nd of 1196 public middle schools	22.1%	11	45.0	37.0	40.0	42.0	39.0	40.0	30.0	86.0		72.0	55.0	$12,126	$1,369	$10,758
Ransom Middle School	Public	6-8	1000 W Kingsfield Rd	Cantonment	32533	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	No	(850) 937-2220	1,180	63	18.7	46.2%	789 (66.9%)	206 (17.5%)	74 (6.3%)	18 (1.5%)	7 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	84 (7.1%)	60.8	446^th of 1205 public middle schools	63.0%		55.2	511^th of 1196 public middle schools	57.3%	65	63.0	54.0	54.0	71.0	55.0	69.0	59.0	94.0		83.0	61.0	$8,764	$688	$8,076
Brown Barge Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	201 Hancock Ln	Pensacola	32503	Escambia County	Escambia	No	Yes	No	No	(850) 494-5640	542	30	18.0	30.8%	287 (53.0%)	96 (17.7%)	58 (10.7%)	34 (6.3%)	3 (0.6%)	3 (0.6%)	61 (11.3%)	88.7	93^rd of 1205 public middle schools	92.3%		88.6	98^th of 1196 public middle schools	91.8%	5	85.0	85.0	81.0	85.0	45.0	90.0	70.0	93.0	88.0		82.0	$9,017	$405	$8,612
Bellview Middle School	Public	6-8	6201 Mobile Hwy	Pensacola	32526	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 777-5800	719	43	16.7	66.1%	149 (20.7%)	379 (52.7%)	117 (16.3%)	13 (1.8%)	3 (0.4%)	6 (0.8%)	52 (7.2%)	15.8	1060^th of 1205 public middle schools	12.0%		9.8	1109^th of 1196 public middle schools	7.3%	49	40.0	31.0	27.0	33.0	27.0	39.0	23.0	70.0		76.0	37.0	$11,790	$1,514	$10,277
Beulah Academy Of Science	Public, Charter	6-8	8633 Beulah Rd	Pensacola	32526	Escambia County	Escambia	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 944-2822	318	19	16.7	28.3%	232 (73.0%)	19 (6.0%)	26 (8.2%)	15 (4.7%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (7.2%)	76.4	256^th of 1205 public middle schools	78.8%		65.3	381^st of 1196 public middle schools	68.1%	125	83.0	59.0	62.0	82.0	80.0	83.0	49.0	91.0		94.0	95.0	$7,098	$00	$7,098

Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas L Sims Middle School

How many students attend Thomas L Sims Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 823 students attended Thomas L Sims Middle School.

Is Thomas L Sims Middle School a good school?

Thomas L Sims Middle School ranks 239^th of 1205 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Thomas L Sims Middle School?

Students at Thomas L Sims Middle School are 76% White, 10% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Thomas L Sims Middle School attend?

Students who attend Thomas L Sims Middle School usually go on to attend Pace High School

What district is Thomas L Sims Middle School in?

Santa Rosa

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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.