Average
#2110 of 3,778 schools in FL
Howell L. Watkins Middle School
Middle School · Palm Beach · Palm Beach Gardens, FL
A Palm Beach middle school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
9480 MACARTHUR BLVD, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33403
- Math 28% vs FL 53% (2024)
- Reading 38% vs FL 52% (2024)
- 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Howell L. Watkins Middle School score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2024 FAST proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 33% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 37% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
70.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Howell L. Watkins Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Miami map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 41Car-Dependent
- Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average480/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$69,050
Median home value
$340,100
Median rent
$1,426/mo
College educated
26.3%
Homeownership
47.8%
Poverty rate
15.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 33403; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach Virtual FranchiseEnrollment path unverified | 9.7 | K–12 | 0.2 mi | 83 | Compare → |
| Palm Beach Virtual Instruction ProgramEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | K–12 | 0.2 mi | 91 | Compare → |
| His Academy/institutePrivate · tuition | Not rated | 2–10 | 1.0 mi | 12 | Compare → |
| Don Estridge High Tech Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.3 | 6–8 | Not available | 1,270 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Palm Beach
- Schools in district
- 235
- Rank in district
- #153 of 221
- District spending per student
- $13,897NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Howell L. Watkins Middle School is listed in PALM BEACH; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Howell L. Watkins Middle School
Howell L. Watkins Middle School is a public middle school in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, part of Palm Beach, serving approximately 720 students in grades 6th-8th with a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10 and ranks #2,110 of 3,778 schools in FL.
State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Howell L. Watkins Middle School
What grades does Howell L. Watkins Middle School serve?
Howell L. Watkins Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
Howell L. Watkins Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 720 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Howell L. Watkins Middle School is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Howell L. Watkins Middle School rank in FL?
Howell L. Watkins Middle School ranks #2,110 of 3,778 schools in FL.
What is Howell L. Watkins Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Howell L. Watkins Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Howell L. Watkins Middle School has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Howell L. Watkins Middle School a charter school?
No, Howell L. Watkins Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Howell L. Watkins Middle School a Title I school?
No, Howell L. Watkins Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
70.6% of students at Howell L. Watkins Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 720
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 52
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Palm Beach County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.3%
- Phone
- (561) 776-3600
- Area population (ZIP 33403)
- 13,710
- Area average commute
- 21.5 min
- Area median age
- 35.8
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 33403; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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