Summary:
In zip code 34950, there is a single middle school, Dan McCarty Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in Fort Pierce, Florida, with 657 students and a high level of economic disadvantage, where 68% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Dan McCarty Middle School is a school of extremes, excelling in advanced coursework while struggling with foundational skills. Its standout strength is Algebra 1, where 70% of students are proficient, outperforming both the St. Lucie district (54%) and the state (63%). However, the school faces a critical weakness in 7th grade math, with only 23% of students proficient—far below the district (39%) and state (50%) averages. The most pressing issue is a chronic absenteeism rate of 55.6%, nearly double the state average of 31.4%, which directly undermines academic progress. The school's state ranking has been volatile, dropping from the 34th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 25th percentile in 2025-2026, and overall proficiency is below district and state averages in seven out of nine tested subjects.
Despite spending $14,127 per student, the investment is not translating into strong outcomes for most students, suggesting resources may need to be redirected toward addressing absenteeism and providing intensive math support, especially for 7th graders. A glimmer of hope exists in 8th grade math, where 53% proficiency is closer to the state average (61%) than any other grade-level math test, indicating that students who persist may begin to recover by 8th grade. For parents, the key takeaway is that while Dan McCarty Middle School offers strong advanced math opportunities, the high absenteeism and low grade-level math scores are significant challenges that require targeted attention.
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