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Sanford Middle School

Q: Is Sanford Middle School a good school?

Sanford Middle School ranks 213 th of 1216 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

213^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 82% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Sanford Middle School in Sanford, FL, is a large public school serving 1,385 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the highly-rated Seminole County Public Schools district. This school stands out for its exceptional academic performance, particularly in advanced coursework, where it dramatically outperforms both district and state averages. For instance, in the 2025-2026 school year, Sanford achieved a 92% proficiency rate in Algebra 1, far exceeding the district's 66% and the state's 63%, and it posted perfect 100% scores in both Geometry and Biology 1—a feat unmatched by most nearby schools like Galaxy Middle School or South Seminole Middle School.

Sanford also consistently excels in core English Language Arts (ELA), with 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade proficiency rates (74%, 75%, and 77%) all surpassing district averages, a trend not seen at many peer schools like Milwee Middle School or Millennium Middle School. Interestingly, the school achieves these top-tier results while spending less per student ($8,983) than the average of its Seminole County peers ($9,470), suggesting efficient resource use. However, a notable concern is a recent spike in chronic absenteeism, which jumped from 18.3% in 2022-2023 to 29.7% in 2023-2024—now the second-highest rate among local Seminole County schools, though still below the state average.

Sanford's upward trajectory is remarkable, climbing from a 63rd percentile ranking in 2017-2018 to an 82nd percentile in 2025-2026, a more pronounced improvement than any nearby school. A standout strength is 7th-grade math, where Sanford's 82% proficiency rate ties for the highest among all schools in the dataset, far above the state's 53%. While 8th-grade math proficiency (34%) is below the state average (61%), it actually exceeds the district average (37%), indicating a district-wide challenge that Sanford manages slightly better. Overall, Sanford Middle School offers a strong, efficient educational model that consistently outperforms its peers, though families should be aware of the recent absenteeism trend.

1,385

Students ?

17.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,983

Per pupil spending ?

42.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1700 S French Ave
Sanford, FL 32771

(407) 320-6150

District: Seminole

Students who attend Sanford Middle School usually attend:

High:

Seminole High School

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

27.9%

White:

26.6%

Hispanic:

21.8%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 72nd percentile in 2016 → 82nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (79% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of Florida middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school79%

District avg69%

Florida avg62%

213^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Top 18%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From top 28% (2016) to top 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 12Middle Schools in the Seminole

8^th of 70Seminole 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	78.1	213 of 1216	82.5%	★★★★☆
2025	76.5	254 of 1205	78.9%	★★★★☆
2024	69.0	341 of 1196	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	70.1	324 of 1177	72.5%	★★★★☆
2022	75.7	248 of 1148	78.4%	★★★★☆
2021	70.8	297 of 1136	73.9%	★★★★☆
2019	66.7	343 of 1099	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.9	382 of 1035	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.7	289 of 1031	72.0%	★★★★☆
2016	69.6	277 of 997	72.2%	★★★★☆
2014	83.0	135 of 999	86.5%	★★★★☆
2013	81.9	143 of 956	85.0%	★★★★☆
2012	81.6	138 of 897	84.6%	★★★★☆
2011	81.6	140 of 891	84.3%	★★★★☆
2010	80.0	138 of 839	83.6%	★★★★☆
2009	80.3	130 of 780	83.3%	★★★★☆
2008	78.8	141 of 740	80.9%	★★★★☆
2007	78.7	133 of 736	81.9%	★★★★☆
2006	69.3	196 of 675	71.0%	★★★★☆
2005	70.7	160 of 602	73.4%	★★★★☆
2004	68.8	178 of 593	70.0%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+44 vs state

Biology 1100%+26 vs state

Algebra 192%+29 vs state

Civics83%+6 vs state

Science77%+25 vs state

English Language Arts75%+14 vs state

Math72%+14 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, March 8, 2013

My daughter attend this middle school as our "zoned" school for 6th and part of 7th grade. The school is considered a magnet school and offers alot of different electives, however I don't feel that the school is strong in basic academics. The school is located in a bad part of town and you end up with alot of kids coming from very troubled backrounds. My daughter saw fist fights daily between kids, cursing and foul language ran rampat and very few kids participated in class. She was tested for the schools gifted program and wasn't accepted into the program because of our race and income status even though her IQ far exceeded the requirements. I had a meeting with the guidance counselor and she informed me that unless we were on free/reduced lunch and black or hispanic then we would not make it into the program. I questioned what race and income has to do with IQ and she said "It doesn't but we HAVE to have different races and income levels in the program and so unless you meet the race and income requirements, there is no room"
What a complete joke and an insult to any child regardless of their backround that a school is using race/income to determine if there is room. IQ is IQ, it doesn't matter what color your skin is or how much money your parents make, but in this school it does.
My daughter was never challenged in this school even in the "pre-IB" program. She earned straight A's without having to work hard. She went to school in fear of being harassed and the kids that are in that school really don't care about learning. I would be very careful before putting your child here.
An apple can look birght and shiny on the outside but be rotten on the inside. That is this school Close Quote

Schools Near Sanford 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 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	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
Sanford Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	1700 S French Ave	Sanford	32771	Seminole County	Seminole	No	Yes	No	No	(407) 320-6150	1,385	78	17.7	42.8%	368 (26.6%)	268 (19.4%)	302 (21.8%)	386 (27.9%)	5 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	55 (4.0%)	78.1	213^th of 1216 public middle schools	82.5%		76.5	254^th of 1205 public middle schools	78.9%	41	74.0	75.0	77.0	70.0	82.0	34.0	77.0	92.0	100.0	100.0	83.0	$8,983	$482	$8,501
Millennium Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2330 E Sr 46	Sanford	32771	Seminole County	Seminole	No	Yes	No	Yes	(407) 320-6550	1,323	78	16.9	67.1%	317 (24.0%)	431 (32.6%)	478 (36.1%)	31 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	63 (4.8%)	43.1	730^th of 1216 public middle schools	40.0%		33.4	842^nd of 1205 public middle schools	30.1%	112	53.0	57.0	53.0	36.0	69.0	34.0	55.0	89.0	98.0		66.0	$9,498	$855	$8,643
Deltona Middle School	Public	6-8	250 Enterprise Rd	Deltona	32725	Volusia County	Volusia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 575-4150	1,132	62	18.3	55.7%	391 (34.5%)	146 (12.9%)	522 (46.1%)	19 (1.7%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	47 (4.2%)	37.9	810^th of 1216 public middle schools	33.4%		41.1	733^rd of 1205 public middle schools	39.2%	77	57.0	51.0	52.0	43.0	37.0	52.0	54.0	84.0	100.0		68.0	$9,434	$946	$8,488
Greenwood Lakes Middle School	Public	6-8	601 Lake Park Dr	Lake Mary	32746	Seminole County	Seminole	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 320-7650	858	52	16.6	59.1%	343 (40.0%)	116 (13.5%)	330 (38.5%)	33 (3.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (4.1%)	53.1	574^th of 1216 public middle schools	52.8%		55.4	514^th of 1205 public middle schools	57.3%	60	56.0	60.0	64.0	44.0	73.0	33.0	61.0	77.0	98.0		78.0	$10,082	$1,015	$9,068
Markham Woods Middle School	Public	6-8	6003 Markham Woods Rd	Lake Mary	32746	Seminole County	Seminole	No	No	No	No	(407) 871-1750	900	49	18.3	49.4%	358 (39.8%)	193 (21.4%)	240 (26.7%)	60 (6.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (5.2%)	62.5	430^th of 1216 public middle schools	64.6%		53	550^th of 1205 public middle schools	54.4%	120	68.0	67.0	62.0	58.0	71.0	37.0	64.0	88.0	98.0		76.0	$9,714	$515	$9,199
Indian Trails Middle School	Public	6-8	415 Tuskawilla Rd	Winter Springs	32708	Seminole County	Seminole	No	No	No	No	(407) 320-4350	1,116	62	18.0	41.0%	632 (56.6%)	87 (7.8%)	318 (28.5%)	33 (3.0%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.4%)	39 (3.5%)	65.3	388^th of 1216 public middle schools	68.1%		70.3	330^th of 1205 public middle schools	72.6%	58	70.0	70.0	69.0	47.0	77.0	23.0	65.0	85.0	91.0		83.0	$8,828	$500	$8,329
Rock Lake Middle School	Public	6-8	250 Slade Dr	Longwood	32750	Seminole County	Seminole	No	No	No	No	(407) 746-9350	898	47	19.3	38.4%	517 (57.6%)	57 (6.3%)	269 (30.0%)	21 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	31 (3.5%)	77.6	218^th of 1216 public middle schools	82.1%		76.2	259^th of 1205 public middle schools	78.5%	41	73.0	74.0	74.0	78.0	77.0	62.0	70.0	94.0	98.0		80.0	$8,662	$489	$8,173
Heritage Middle School	Public	6-8	1001 Parnell Ct	Deltona	32738	Volusia County	Volusia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 575-4113	932	50	18.6	54.9%	367 (39.4%)	114 (12.2%)	396 (42.5%)	9 (1.0%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	42 (4.5%)	36.2	830^th of 1216 public middle schools	31.7%		36.4	798^th of 1205 public middle schools	33.8%	32	51.0	40.0	56.0	42.0	22.0	56.0	60.0	89.0	100.0		58.0	$9,895	$850	$9,045
Milwee Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	1341 S Ronald Reagan Blvd	Longwood	32750	Seminole County	Seminole	No	Yes	No	Yes	(407) 746-3850	1,334	74	17.9	60.9%	433 (32.5%)	263 (19.7%)	519 (38.9%)	51 (3.8%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	62 (4.6%)	54.7	544^th of 1216 public middle schools	55.3%		52.3	565^th of 1205 public middle schools	53.1%	21	60.0	68.0	66.0	34.0	67.0	27.0	60.0	76.0	92.0		76.0	$9,036	$888	$8,147
Galaxy Middle School	Public	6-8	2400 Eustace Ave	Deltona	32725	Volusia County	Volusia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 575-4144	939	49	19.1	57.4%	306 (32.6%)	141 (15.0%)	433 (46.1%)	13 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	43 (4.6%)	30.2	910^th of 1216 public middle schools	25.2%		38.1	774^th of 1205 public middle schools	35.8%	136	52.0	56.0	40.0	51.0	21.0	44.0	43.0	74.0	88.0		69.0	$9,655	$856	$8,800

Frequently Asked Questions about Sanford Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Sanford Middle School?

Students at Sanford Middle School are 28% Asian, 27% White, 22% Hispanic, 19% African American, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Sanford Middle School in?

Seminole

Is Sanford Middle School a good school?

Sanford Middle School ranks 213^th of 1216 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Sanford Middle School attend?

Students who attend Sanford Middle School usually go on to attend Seminole High School

How many students attend Sanford Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,385 students attended Sanford Middle School.

Rate Sanford 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.