Vernon Middle School

Vernon Middle School is a small, rural school in Vernon, FL, serving 259 students in grades 6 through 8 as part of the Washington County School District. The school has shown a strong positive trajectory in recent years, climbing from a 1-star rating in the 2023-2024 school year to a 2-star rating in 2025-2026, ranking in the 42nd percentile statewide. This improvement is notable given that over half of its students (59.46%) come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, though this rate has been declining from a high of 75% just a few years ago.

One of the most striking findings is the school's exceptional performance in mathematics, particularly in advanced courses. Vernon's 7th graders achieved a 73% proficiency rate in math, far exceeding the state average of 53% and dramatically outperforming nearby Roulhac Middle School in Chipley, which had only 40% proficiency. Even more impressive, 86% of Vernon students taking Algebra 1 scored proficient, compared to 63% statewide. However, this math success stands in stark contrast to English Language Arts (ELA), where Vernon consistently lags behind both the district and state averages, with proficiency rates ranging from 48% to 52% across grades 6-8—significantly lower than Roulhac's 59-66% range. This suggests the school has developed highly effective math instruction that hasn't yet translated to other subjects.

Despite these academic gains, chronic absenteeism remains a serious challenge at 36.1%, higher than the state average of 31.4% and Roulhac's 29.8%. The school spends $11,588 per student, more than Roulhac's $10,721, indicating investment in addressing its challenges. The key to Vernon's continued improvement will be replicating its math success strategies across ELA and other subjects while tackling attendance issues. The school's recent upward trend across civics, science, and math suggests that recent changes in curriculum or instruction are having a tangible, positive impact on student learning.