Summary:
In zip code 34491, there is one middle school, Lake Weir Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 with 1,141 students in the Marion County district, an area where 66.78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Lake Weir Middle School presents a striking contrast in performance. On one hand, it excels in advanced math courses, with Algebra 1 proficiency at 86% and Geometry at 96% (2025-2026), far exceeding state averages of 63% and 56% respectively. On the other hand, grade-level math proficiency is critically low, especially in 7th grade at just 21% and 6th grade at 36%. Science proficiency is also weak at 32% compared to the state's 52%. The school has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranks in the bottom 16th percentile statewide, with a slight downward trend over the past three years.
The most alarming issue is a 54.6% chronic absenteeism rate, nearly double the state average of 31.4%, which is likely the primary driver of low core subject scores. This creates a "two-schools-in-one" dynamic where resources appear concentrated on a small group of advanced math students while the majority struggle with foundational skills. The student-teacher ratio is 20.7:1, slightly above the state average, and spending per student is $10,467. For parents, the key takeaway is that while the school offers exceptional advanced math opportunities for select students, the overall academic environment is challenged by high absenteeism and low grade-level proficiency in reading, math, and science.
Thank you for your feedback!