Very Good
#1385 of 3,777 schools in FL
Top 37% in state
Watson B. Duncan Middle School
Middle School · PALM BEACH
5150 117TH CT N, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Enrollment
1,134
Student-Teacher
16.7:1
Score
7.0
Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
1,134
Student-Teacher
16.7:1
Score
7.0
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Palm Beach Gardens
#7 of 12
public schools
Florida middle schools
#107 of 573
In district
#91 of 221
PALM BEACH
School environment
7.9 / 10
Very strong
About Watson B. Duncan Middle School
Watson B. Duncan Middle School serves 1,134 students in grades 6-8 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This regular public school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 16.7:1 with 68 full-time equivalent teachers, providing a reasonably sized learning environment for middle school students.
Academically, Watson B. Duncan performs solidly with a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #1265 out of 3816 schools statewide, placing it in the 67th percentile among Florida schools. The school shows particular strength in English Language Arts and Reading, where 65% of students achieve proficiency or above across grade levels.
Math performance shows room for growth, with 55% of students demonstrating proficiency or above. The school serves an affluent community in the 33418 ZIP code, where the median household income reaches $119,156 and 58% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The area maintains a low poverty rate of just 5.9%, with median home values of $538,900 reflecting the neighborhood's prosperity.
Watson B. Duncan Middle School operates in Palm Beach Gardens' small city setting, providing students with both suburban amenities and access to the broader educational and cultural opportunities of Palm Beach County.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Watson B. Duncan Middle School — Students at Watson B. Duncan Middle School score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
38.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores FL FAST (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from FL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.2/10.
How Watson B. Duncan Middle School Compares
See how Watson B. Duncan Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 68% (2019) to 54% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 65% (2019) to 59% (2021).
Location
5150 117TH CT N, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Watson B. Duncan Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. TIMBER TRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.8/10, 0.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is PALM BEACH VIRTUAL FRANCHISE (rated 8.8/10, 2.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, MARSH POINTE ELEMENTARY (rated 8.5/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Palm Beach Gardens, see our Palm Beach Gardens schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| TIMBER TRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Palm Beach Gardens | 0.1 mi | 8.8 |
| SCORE AT THE TOP PALM BEACH LLC Palm Beach Gardens | 1.2 mi | 6.2 |
| FRANKLIN ACADEMY- PALM BEACH GARDENS Palm Beach Gardens | 1.4 mi | 4.8 |
| ARTHUR I MEYER JEWISH ACADEMY Palm Beach Gardens | 1.4 mi | 6.2 |
| MARSH POINTE ELEMENTARY Palm Beach Gardens | 1.5 mi | 8.5 |
| THE WEISS SCHOOL Palm Beach Gardens | 1.5 mi | 7.5 |
| PALM BEACH GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL Palm Beach Gardens | 1.8 mi | 4.6 |
| WILLIAM T. DWYER HIGH SCHOOL West Palm Beach | 2.1 mi | 6.0 |
| ST MARK'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Palm Beach Gardens | 2.1 mi | 6.9 |
| PALM BEACH GARDENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Palm Beach Gardens | 2.3 mi | 8.2 |
| DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER K-8 Palm Beach Gardens | 2.4 mi | 8.2 |
| GARDENS SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY ARTS INC Palm Beach Gardens | 2.8 mi | 6.2 |
| GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT PALM BEACH GARDENS Palm Beach Gardens | 2.8 mi | — |
| PALM BEACH VIRTUAL FRANCHISE Palm Beach Gardens | 2.9 mi | 8.8 |
| PALM BEACH VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM Palm Beach Gardens | 2.9 mi | 5.6 |
| BEACON COVE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Jupiter | 3.0 mi | 7.8 |
| ALLAMANDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Palm Beach Gardens | 2.8 mi | 7.4 |
| HOWELL L. WATKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL Palm Beach Gardens | 3.0 mi | 6.3 |
| ST CLARE SCHOOL North Palm Beach | 3.0 mi | 5.8 |
| GROVE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL West Palm Beach | 3.4 mi | 5.7 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 33418 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$123,405
Median Home Value
$608,500
Median Rent
$2,304/mo
Population
42,979
College Educated
59%
Homeownership
77%
Avg Commute
25.2 min
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Median Age
51.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Watson B. Duncan Middle School has a median household income of $123,405. It is a well-educated community where 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $608,500, with a median rent of $2,304/month. The local poverty rate of 5.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ALICE B. LANDRUM MIDDLE SCHOOL Ponte Vedra Beach, FL | 7.0 |
| CARLOS E. HAILE MIDDLE SCHOOL Bradenton, FL | 7.0 |
| CITRUS SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL Citrus Springs, FL | 7.0 |
| CREEKSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL Port Orange, FL | 7.0 |
| DORAL ACADEMY CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL Doral, FL | 7.0 |
| HERBERT A. AMMONS MIDDLE SCHOOL Miami, FL | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Watson B. Duncan Middle School
What grades does Watson B. Duncan Middle School serve?
Watson B. Duncan Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
Watson B. Duncan Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 1,134 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watson B. Duncan Middle School is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Watson B. Duncan Middle School rank in FL?
Watson B. Duncan Middle School is ranked #1385 out of 3,777 schools in FL.
What is Watson B. Duncan Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Watson B. Duncan Middle School has a composite rating of 7.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Watson B. Duncan Middle School has 57.4% math proficiency and 63.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Watson B. Duncan Middle School a charter school?
No, Watson B. Duncan Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Watson B. Duncan Middle School a Title I school?
No, Watson B. Duncan Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
38.4% of students at Watson B. Duncan 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 1,134
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 68
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 38.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Palm Beach County
- Phone
- (561) 776-3500
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
PALM BEACH- District Enrollment
- 189,777
- Schools in District
- 235
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,897
- District Rank
- #91 of 221
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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