Summary:
In zip code 33409, there is one middle school, Bear Lakes Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with 841 students in West Palm Beach, Florida, as part of the Palm Beach school district.
Bear Lakes Middle School presents a striking contrast in academic performance. The school excels in advanced math, with 100% of students proficient in Geometry and 92% proficient in Algebra 1, far exceeding district and state averages. However, core subject proficiency is a significant concern, with only 37% of 6th graders and 41% of 7th graders proficient in math, and just 36% of 8th graders proficient in science—all well below district norms. The school’s state ranking has declined over three years, currently sitting in the 24th percentile. A bright spot is 8th grade math, which saw a remarkable jump from 41% to 64% proficiency year-over-year, now above the state average.
Key metrics reveal challenges beyond test scores. The school spends $15,296 per student, a high amount that does not translate into broad academic success. Chronic absenteeism affects 25.7% of students, higher than the district average, and 64.8% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The student-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. This data suggests a "two schools" dynamic where advanced math programs thrive while general education struggles, and the high spending and absenteeism rates are critical factors for parents to consider when evaluating this school.
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