Summary:
In zip code 32784, there is one middle school, Umatilla Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with 633 students in the Umatilla area of Lake County, Florida.
Umatilla Middle School presents a mixed picture for parents. On one hand, the school excels in advanced math courses, with 100% of students proficient in Geometry and 80% proficient in Algebra 1, far exceeding district and state averages. However, the school struggles significantly with chronic absenteeism, with nearly half of students (49.7%) chronically absent, which is much higher than the district average of 37.7% and the state average of 31.4%. This absenteeism likely contributes to the school's declining state ranking, which has dropped from the 57th percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 42nd percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. The school also shows below-average proficiency in most core subjects, including English Language Arts across all grades, 7th and 8th grade math, science, and civics.
Despite spending $10,698 per student, which is a reasonable amount, the school's overall academic outcomes are weak compared to the Lake district and state averages. The standout performance in advanced math creates a "barbell effect," where top students thrive while the majority of students struggle to meet grade-level standards. For parents, the key takeaway is that while the school offers strong advanced math programs, addressing the high chronic absenteeism rate and improving core subject proficiency are critical challenges that need attention to reverse the school's downward trajectory.
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