Middle Schools in Lee County

Lee County is home to two middle schools serving grades 6-8: Lee County Middle School West and Lee County Middle School East. Both schools are part of a district ranked in the 90th percentile statewide, and they serve a significant share of economically disadvantaged students, with East at 64.6% and West at 57.2% eligible for free or reduced lunch.

Lee County Middle School West is the clear academic leader, ranking 89th in the state (85th percentile, 4 stars) and outperforming East in every subject and grade level. West posted a perfect 100% proficiency on the Algebra I End of Course exam, compared to East’s still-strong 96%, and both schools more than double the state average of 48.1%. West also leads in 8th-grade physical science (90.8% vs. 80.8%), 6th-grade math (54.8% vs. 36.6%), and 7th-grade math (53.8% vs. 36.9%). West’s state ranking jumped 62 spots in one year, while Lee County Middle School East slipped to 188th (67th percentile, 3 stars). East did improve in most subjects year-over-year, but its 7th-grade math proficiency dropped sharply by 11.8 points.

Chronic absenteeism is a notable differentiator: West’s rate is 9.9%, well below East’s 14.2% and the state’s 17.7%. Interestingly, East spends $789 more per student and has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio, yet still trails West academically—suggesting that instructional practices and school climate may matter more than resources alone. Both schools excel in advanced coursework, particularly Algebra I and physical science, indicating strong acceleration programs. English Language Arts (ELA) scores for 2025-2026 are not yet available and will be released in December; no conclusions should be drawn from their absence. For parents, West is the standout choice academically, but East remains a solid option that exceeds state averages in most areas.