Summary:
In zip code 33870, there is one middle school, Sebring Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with 840 students in the Sebring area of the Highlands School District.
Sebring Middle School presents a mixed picture of performance. The school is a standout in advanced math, with an exceptional 96% of students proficient in Algebra 1, far exceeding the state average of 63%. It also performs above the state average in 8th-grade math (69% vs. 61%). However, the school struggles in English Language Arts (ELA), with proficiency rates in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades all falling below state averages (55%, 55%, and 51% respectively, compared to 62%, 62%, and 60%). A major concern is the chronic absenteeism rate of 39.2%, which is significantly higher than the state average of 31.4% and likely impacts overall academic performance. The school has a 2-star rating and has seen a slight decline in its state ranking over the past three years, now sitting in the 40th percentile.
Key metrics show that 59.29% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, indicating a majority of the student body comes from economically disadvantaged households. The school spends $10,071 per student and has a student-teacher ratio of 19.5:1. The most interesting takeaway is the "Algebra 1 anomaly"—the school excels in advanced math while lagging in foundational math for 6th and 7th grades, suggesting a highly effective program for a select group of students. The high spending per student does not appear to be translating into broad-based success in core subjects like ELA, highlighting a critical area for improvement.
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