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Watkins Middle School

Q: Is Watkins Middle School a good school?

Watkins Middle School ranks 294 th of 1046 Ohio middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

294^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,046 Ohio Middle Schools

Better than 72% of Ohio middle schools

Summary

Watkins Middle School is a grades 6–8 school in Etna, Ohio — a Licking County community in the greater Columbus area — serving 1,147 students as part of the Southwest Licking Local district. It ranks 294th of 1,046 Ohio middle schools, the 72nd percentile with 4 stars, which puts it ahead of its own district (60th percentile, 3 stars). Watkins has climbed steadily out of a 2020–2021 trough, when it ranked 395th, gaining roughly 10 percentile points over five years and settling into consistent 4-star territory.

Eighth grade is where the school shines: 8th graders score 72.8 in math and 80.8 in science, about 20 points above the state in both subjects and the best results among nearby middle schools — edging Pickerington Lakeview Junior High School. In end-of-course exams, Algebra I has posted 100% proficiency three years running and Geometry reached 100%, though those reflect a small group of accelerated students rather than the whole building. Sixth grade math (63.1) is the one measure where Watkins trails its own district (64.8), suggesting students arrive below where some neighboring feeder schools finish before catching up by 8th grade.

Attendance has improved dramatically, with chronic absenteeism falling from 25.0% to 12.7% over four years — now better than the district's 16.2% and far better than Waggoner Road Junior High (24.2%) or Baldwin Road Junior High School (47.0%). Students in special education have moved from the 49th to the 72nd percentile, while English language learners slipped from the 80th to the 67th. Watkins does this while spending $7,723 per student — nearly $2,900 less than Liberty Union Middle School — with a 19.7 student–teacher ratio and a free/reduced-lunch rate that rose from 31.7% to 40.5%. Rising outcomes against rising need, at this staffing level, is the school's central open question.

1,147

Students ?

19.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,485

Per pupil spending ?

40.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8868 Watkins Rd SW
Etna, OH 43062-9053

(740) 927-5767

District: Southwest Licking Local

Students who attend Watkins Middle School usually attend:

High:

Watkins Memorial High School

Feeder schools for Watkins Middle School:

Elementary:	Kirkersville Elementary School
	Pataskala South Fork Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.8%

Asian:

13.0%

Two or more races:

7.0%

See top rated Ohio middle schools

Compare Watkins Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 67th percentile in 2016 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Ohio average (74% vs 56% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Ohio median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school74%

District avg66%

Ohio avg56%

294^th of 1,046

Ohio public middle schools ?

Top 28%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

308^th of 773Southwest Licking Local among Ohio districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	72.2	294 of 1046	71.9%	★★★★☆
2025	71.3	305 of 1036	70.6%	★★★★☆
2024	73.8	274 of 1046	73.8%	★★★★☆
2023	70.3	316 of 1048	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.5	360 of 1017	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.1	395 of 1037	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.5	324 of 1050	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.4	283 of 1010	72.0%	★★★★☆
2017	76.3	234 of 1038	77.5%	★★★★☆
2016	68.8	349 of 1050	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	59.3	496 of 1035	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	68.2	386 of 1008	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	71.9	325 of 1001	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.2	263 of 989	73.4%	★★★★☆
2011	74.5	236 of 925	74.5%	★★★★☆
2010	66.9	390 of 895	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	60.4	443 of 858	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	61.3	410 of 835	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	68.8	291 of 837	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	64.2	308 of 732	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	65.3	258 of 692	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	80.4	68 of 400	83.0%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	80.4	62 of 455	86.4%	★★★★☆
2025	73.5	79 of 442	82.1%	★★★★☆
2024	88.9	29 of 429	93.2%	★★★★★
2023	87.1	37 of 436	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	48.7	171 of 413	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.6	118 of 385	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	90.1	25 of 405	93.8%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	33.7	58 of 78	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.9	50 of 69	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.5	51 of 76	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.4	50 of 67	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.2	59 of 67	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.8	61 of 69	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.2	52 of 66	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	53.2	183 of 565	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.1	267 of 576	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	28.2	514 of 658	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.4	492 of 643	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	57.1	57 of 172	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.9	38 of 142	73.2%	★★★★☆
2024	64.8	24 of 123	80.5%	★★★★☆
2023	49.3	54 of 113	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.3	34 of 110	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	70.2	295 of 947	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.9	334 of 938	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.5	276 of 942	70.7%	★★★★☆
2023	66.5	338 of 943	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.1	345 of 925	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.7	370 of 910	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.4	304 of 917	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.2	249 of 897	72.2%	★★★★☆

Foster Care

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	65.1	1 of 5	80.0%	★★★★★
2024	35.2	6 of 7	14.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.5	4 of 8	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.4	4 of 11	63.6%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	69.9	36 of 186	80.6%	★★★★☆
2025	68.6	42 of 194	78.4%	★★★★☆
2024	69.8	39 of 196	80.1%	★★★★☆
2022	45.7	171 of 241	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	55.5	153 of 274	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.9	44 of 164	73.2%	★★★★☆
2018	29.7	460 of 521	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	76.2	54 of 270	80.0%	★★★★☆
2025	61.1	100 of 262	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.5	58 of 239	75.7%	★★★★☆
2022	54.7	101 of 247	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.0	115 of 228	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.9	93 of 222	58.1%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	75.6	4 of 17	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	80.2	4 of 18	77.8%	★★★★☆
2019	75.2	6 of 23	73.9%	★★★★☆
2018	84.9	3 of 21	85.7%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	68.7	295 of 996	70.4%	★★★★☆
2025	66.1	322 of 983	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.8	230 of 989	76.7%	★★★★☆
2023	64.8	329 of 974	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.3	263 of 947	72.2%	★★★★☆
2021	53.0	442 of 923	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.4	445 of 945	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.5	247 of 924	73.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	71.3	273 of 955	71.4%	★★★★☆
2025	71.6	265 of 954	72.2%	★★★★☆
2024	72.4	244 of 958	74.5%	★★★★☆
2023	69.6	285 of 963	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	62.4	349 of 946	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.1	395 of 924	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.9	304 of 933	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.6	285 of 916	68.9%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	61.4	95 of 260	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.3	104 of 263	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.0	96 of 254	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.8	52 of 245	78.8%	★★★★☆
2022	49.7	123 of 239	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	57.5	90 of 219	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.1	131 of 206	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	68.2	61 of 205	70.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	58.6	162 of 579	72.0%	★★★★☆
2025	47.4	236 of 572	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.1	289 of 563	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.0	369 of 590	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	296 of 790	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.0	304 of 777	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.4	283 of 795	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.9	339 of 805	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.1	353 of 809	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.5	392 of 781	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	62.6	305 of 796	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.1	301 of 781	61.5%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

African American (2026)86th percentile+14 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)81st percentile+9 vs school

Foster Care (2025)80th percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2026)80th percentile+8 vs school

Homeless (2022)76th percentile+12 vs school

Special Education (2026)72nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)71st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)70th percentile~ school

Female (2026)69th percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2022)68th percentile+3 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)67th percentile-5 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)63rd percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)63rd percentile-9 vs school

Asian (2026)26th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs Ohio (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+57 vs state

Algebra I100%+38 vs state

Science81%+20 vs state

English Language Arts65%+6 vs state

Mathematics64%+12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Watkins Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Ohio State Tests Science (2026)		Ohio State Tests Mathematics (2026)				Ohio State Tests English Language Arts (2026)				Ohio State Tests Geometry (2026)	Ohio State Tests Integrated Math I (2026)	Ohio State Tests Algebra I (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Ohio State Tests Science 5th Grade	Ohio State Tests Science 8th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 5th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 6th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 7th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 8th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 5th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 6th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 7th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 8th Grade	Ohio State Tests Geometry End of Course	Ohio State Tests Integrated Math I End of Course	Ohio State Tests Algebra I End of Course	Total
Watkins Middle School	Public	6-8	8868 Watkins Rd SW	Etna	43062	Licking County	Southwest Licking Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 927-5767	1,147	58	19.7	40.5%	812 (70.8%)	61 (5.3%)	43 (3.7%)	149 (13.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	80 (7.0%)	72.2	294^th of 1046 public middle schools	71.9%		71.3	305^th of 1036 public middle schools	70.6%	11		80.8		63.1	55.9	72.8		61.3	71.6	62.6	100.0		100.0	$9,485
Toll Gate Middle School	Public	5-6	12089 Tollgate Rd	Pickerington	43147	Fairfield County	Pickerington Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(614) 833-2110	592	33	18.1		310 (52.4%)	145 (24.5%)	28 (4.7%)	53 (9.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	53 (9.0%)								(n/a)	87.0		84.0	85.5	100.0		91.1	74.4	100.0					$10,306
Pickerington Lakeview Junior High	Public	7-8	12445 Ault Rd	Pickerington	43147	Fairfield County	Pickerington Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(614) 830-2200	922	50	18.4		432 (46.9%)	274 (29.7%)	71 (7.7%)	75 (8.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (7.5%)	78.9	193^rd of 1046 public middle schools	81.5%		75.3	260^th of 1036 public middle schools	74.9%	67		76.3			61.7	68.0			74.5	79.8	100.0		99.4	$10,654
Summit Station Intermediate	Public	5-6	6565 Summit Rd SW	Pataskala	43062	Licking County	Licking Heights Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 927-3365	836	48	17.6	64.1%	232 (27.8%)	277 (33.1%)	44 (5.3%)	264 (31.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	16 (1.9%)								(n/a)	70.3		58.8	61.8		91.7	72.1	52.1	97.5					$9,622
Licking Heights Middle School	Public	7-8	4000 Mink St SW	Pataskala	43062	Licking County	Licking Heights Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 927-9046	820	42	19.3	57.3%	252 (30.7%)	276 (33.7%)	46 (5.6%)	217 (26.5%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	24 (2.9%)	49	579^th of 1046 public middle schools	44.6%		44.9	608^th of 1036 public middle schools	41.3%	29		50.8			27.4	61.9			60.1	57.0	100.0		100.0	$9,766
Harmon Middle School	Public	5-6	12410 Harmon Rd	Pickerington	43147	Fairfield County	Pickerington Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(614) 751-3570	632	31	20.1		229 (36.2%)	213 (33.7%)	53 (8.4%)	89 (14.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (7.3%)								(n/a)	75.4		68.7	63.0	100.0		75.4	66.5	100.0					$10,624
Waggoner Road Junior High	Public	6-8	360 Waggoner Rd	Reynoldsburg	43068	Franklin County	Reynoldsburg City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(614) 501-5700	924	55	16.8	67.3%	183 (19.8%)	350 (37.9%)	100 (10.8%)	213 (23.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	77 (8.3%)	42.6	651^st of 1046 public middle schools	37.8%		36.3	680^th of 1036 public middle schools	34.4%	29		59.6		45.4	22.5	30.9		56.7	50.8	59.0		87.2		$11,917
Pickerington Ridgeview Junior High School	Public	7-8	130 Hill Rd S	Pickerington	43147	Fairfield County	Pickerington Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(614) 833-2100	948	51	18.6		325 (34.3%)	392 (41.4%)	59 (6.2%)	94 (9.9%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	73 (7.7%)	67.7	354^th of 1046 public middle schools	66.2%		63.8	410^th of 1036 public middle schools	60.4%	56		68.7			45.6	64.8			69.6	69.4	100.0		100.0	$10,839
Diley Middle School	Public	5-6	750 Preston Trails Dr	Pickerington	43147	Fairfield County	Pickerington Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(614) 833-3630	587	30	19.8		210 (35.8%)	228 (38.8%)	41 (7.0%)	60 (10.2%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	43 (7.3%)								(n/a)	77.0		64.3	70.3	100.0		86.3	66.9	100.0					$10,665
Liberty Union Middle School	Public	5-8	994 S Main St	Baltimore	43105	Fairfield County	Liberty Union-Thurston Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 862-4126	381	17	22.4	36.2%	356 (93.4%)	2 (0.5%)	11 (2.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.9%)	68.1	347^th of 1046 public middle schools	66.8%		68	356^th of 1036 public middle schools	65.6%	9	66.7	70.4	78.1	57.1	62.7	48.3	72.2	51.0	80.2	79.3			95.8	$14,416

Frequently Asked Questions about Watkins Middle School

What high school do graduates of Watkins Middle School attend?

Students who attend Watkins Middle School usually go on to attend Watkins Memorial High School

What is the racial makeup of Watkins Middle School?

Students at Watkins Middle School are 71% White, 13% Asian, 7% Two or more races, 5% African American, 4% Hispanic.

How many students attend Watkins Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,147 students attended Watkins Middle School.

Is Watkins Middle School a good school?

Watkins Middle School ranks 294^th of 1046 Ohio middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Watkins Middle School in?

Southwest Licking Local

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Latest Ohio data All new data »

2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 15, 2026

2025–26 Ohio State Tests scoresSep 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Ohio Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.