Summary:
In zip code 32401, Panama City, Florida, there is one middle school, Jinks Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with 541 students in the Bay district, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide.
Jinks Middle School faces significant challenges, most notably a chronic absenteeism rate of 49.4% for the 2023-2024 school year, which is dramatically higher than the district average of 35.3% and the state average of 31.4%. This issue is likely the primary driver of the school's consistently low state ranking, placing in the bottom 17% of Florida middle schools with a 1-star rating for three consecutive years. The school's overall average proficiency across all subjects was 39.9% in 2025-2026 and 41.7% in 2024-2025, reflecting persistent academic struggles. With 59.52% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a majority low-income population, and its per-student spending of $10,771 does not appear to translate into improved outcomes.
Despite these difficulties, there are notable bright spots. In the 2024-2025 school year, Jinks Middle School outperformed both district and state averages in advanced math courses, with 64% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 65% in Geometry. However, this success was not sustained, as Algebra 1 proficiency dropped to 39% in 2025-2026, suggesting volatility dependent on specific student cohorts or teachers. Civics proficiency showed a remarkable 21-point jump from 48% to 69% between the two school years, while 8th-grade science improved from 28% to 39%. These inconsistent year-over-year results indicate that performance is heavily cohort-dependent, and the school struggles to maintain stable academic progress, particularly as students move from 6th to 7th grade.
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