Freeport Middle School

Freeport Middle School in Freeport, FL, serves 790 students in grades 5 through 8 and is part of the high-performing Walton County School District, which ranks in the top 15% of Florida districts. The school has shown impressive, consistent improvement over the past decade, climbing from the 57th percentile statewide to the 82nd percentile and earning a 4-star rating. This upward trend is especially notable in English Language Arts (ELA), where 8th-grade proficiency has risen steadily from 51% to 74% over the last four years, now outperforming nearby Walton Middle School in the same grade.

One of Freeport’s standout features is its exceptional performance in advanced math. Over the past four years, Algebra 1 proficiency has held steady at 88%, while Geometry proficiency has been a perfect 100% for three of those years—far exceeding district and state averages. This consistency, particularly in Geometry, sets Freeport apart even from high-performing neighbors like C. W. Ruckel Middle School and Emerald Coast Middle School. However, the school presents a fascinating contrast: while its advanced math students are among the best in the state, grade-level math scores in 5th and 7th grades (65% and 68%) lag behind the district average, suggesting an opportunity to strengthen core math instruction for all students.

Freeport also serves a unique role in the community as one of only two schools in the area that includes 5th grade, making it a key transition point for younger students. A notable concern is the "5th-grade dip," where performance in science (53%) and math (65%) falls significantly below district averages—likely due to the challenges of transitioning into middle school. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism at 23.1% is lower than the state average of 31.4%, though higher than at Emerald Coast Middle School (13.4%). With per-student spending of $12,145—higher than some top-performing peers but lower than Walton Middle School—Freeport demonstrates effective resource use, achieving strong results while serving a student body with moderate economic diversity (45.82% eligible for free/reduced lunch).