Harns Marsh Middle School

Q: Is Harns Marsh Middle School a good school?

Harns Marsh Middle School ranks 810 th of 1196 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Harns Marsh Middle School is a public middle school in Lehigh Acres, Florida, serving 1,422 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Lee District, which is ranked 50 out of 68 districts in Florida and is rated 1 star out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Harns Marsh Middle School stands out from the surrounding schools in several key ways. It has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (63.57%) compared to nearby schools, which range from 34.49% to 68.52% Hispanic students. The school has also experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 19.9% in 2019-2020 to 48.4% in 2022-2023, notably higher than the 24.9% to 46.5% range of nearby schools. Academically, Harns Marsh Middle School consistently underperforms the Lee District and Florida state averages in standardized tests, with proficiency rates ranging from 32% to 58% compared to the district's 46% to 61% and the state's 50% to 56%.

Additionally, Harns Marsh Middle School has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 59.92% to 64.53% over the past three school years, significantly higher than the 31.67% to 66.99% range of surrounding schools. While the school's spending per student has increased from $7,609 in 2019-2020 to $9,803 in 2022-2023, it is still lower than the $5,974 to $12,810 range of nearby schools. These factors suggest that Harns Marsh Middle School faces unique challenges that may require targeted interventions and support to address the needs of its diverse student population and improve overall academic performance.

Detail:

Public 6-8

1820 Unice Ave N
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971

(239) 690-2025

District: Lee

SchoolDigger Rank:
810^th of 1,196 Florida Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,803

Students who attend Harns Marsh Middle School usually attend:

High:	Dunbar High School
	East Lee County High School
	Lehigh Senior High School
	Riverdale High School

Feeder schools for Harns Marsh Middle School:

Elementary:	Bayshore Elementary School
	Edgewood Academy
	G. Weaver Hipps Elementary School
	Gateway Elementary School
	More...
	Harns Marsh Elementary School
	James Stephens Elementary School
	Lehigh Elementary School
	Manatee Elementary School
	Mirror Lakes Elementary School
	Orange River Elementary School
	River Hall Elementary School
	Sunshine Elementary School
	The Alva School
	Tice Elementary School
	Tortuga Preserve Elementary School
	Treeline Elementary School
	Veterans Park Academy For The Arts

Student/teacher ratio: 19.7

Number of students: 1,422

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

63.6%

African American:

20.3%

White:

12.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 59.9%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Harns Marsh Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Harns Marsh Middle School ranks worse than 67.7% of middle schools in Florida. It also ranks 12^th among 17 ranked middle schools in the Lee School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 33.82. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Harns Marsh Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (63.6%), African American (20.3%), White (12.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 59.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Harns Marsh Middle School is 19.7. 9 middle schools in the Lee School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Harns Marsh Middle School employs 72 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Harns Marsh Middle School is $9,803. 12 middle schools in the Lee School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Harns Marsh Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Harns Marsh Middle School 810^th of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Harns Marsh Middle School in the ranking list.)

Lee:

SchoolDigger ranks Lee 50^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Harns Marsh Middle School.

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Rank History for Harns Marsh Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	FL State Percentile
2014	30.76	704^th	999	29.5%
2016	22.49	792^nd	997	20.6%
2017	26.69	761^st	1031	26.2%
2018	30.42	737^th	1035	28.8%
2019	30.62	796^th	1099	27.6%
2021	24.56	873^rd	1136	23.2%
2022	28.92	833^rd	1148	27.4%
2023	35.48	765^th	1177	35.0%
2024	33.82	810^th	1196	32.3%

See the entire list of Florida Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4.7)

71%

29%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, February 28, 2019

I've been heavily involved as a parent with the school the last four years. The transformation with the new principal has been noteworthy. She has put a strong leadership team in place and got rid of some of the less impactful teachers and has raised the level of rigor across the school. The gifted/honor's teachers here are TOP NOTCH. The schools test score don't tell the whole story. Based on it's location, this school has an inordinate number of students who have been moved along in grades (due to age), that negatively pull down the scores. If you have a gifted child, they will be in ALL advanced classes, unlike some of the "quote unquote" gifted schools in the East Zone. Close Quote

by a teacher
Thursday, February 28, 2019

I have been a member of the faculty at HMMS for a few years. This school is building a great community. Although there is room for growth, we are growing our student support systems to be used by all teachers, administration, and staff. Close Quote

by a principal
Friday, April 13, 2018

The staff, leadership, and students are great at Harns Marsh Middle. I appreciate the welcome environment and the care and concern for students. I am excited about their new grant to support the Arts and Cambridge. Close Quote

by a parent
Sunday, March 15, 2015

The teachers are vested in the success of the students. The school grade increased 2 grades in one year and most benchmarks reflect greater gains and/or higher schools than District average. Fights and behavior issues are less than found in most if not all other East Zone Lee District schools.
Biggest downfall is communication needs improvement. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Harns Marsh Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2013	204	230	7	396	5	1	23	866
2014	251	231	14	530	4	1	24	1055
2015	233	262	10	581	6	0	34	1126
2016	197	251	14	547	2	0	28	1039
2017	223	292	11	582	3	2	26	1139
2018	176	342	10	661	2	1	33	1225
2019	201	330	12	751	3	1	38	1336
2020	234	336	11	791	4	2	41	1419
2021	196	290	6	796	6	1	33	1328
2022	196	293	11	825	3	2	40	1370
2023	173	289	20	904	2	1	33	1422

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Harns Marsh Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	866	49.0	17.6	88.6
2014	1055	66.0	15.9	86.2
2015	1126	67.0	16.8	89.4
2016	1039	61.0	17.0	70.6
2017	1139	62.0	18.3	62.7
2018	1225	71.0	17.2	67.1
2019	1336	76.0	17.5	59.7
2020	1419	78.0	18.1	61
2021	1328	77.0	17.2	64.5
2022	1370	78.0	17.5	62.8
2023	1422	72.0	19.7	59.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Harns Marsh Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2013	866	49.0	17.6	88.6
2014	1055	66.0	15.9	86.2
2015	1126	67.0	16.8	89.4
2016	1039	61.0	17.0	70.6
2017	1139	62.0	18.3	62.7
2018	1225	71.0	17.2	67.1
2019	1336	76.0	17.5	59.7
2020	1419	78.0	18.1	61
2021	1328	77.0	17.2	64.5
2022	1370	78.0	17.5	62.8
2023	1422	72.0	19.7	59.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Harns Marsh Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$1,179 (15.8%)	$6,278 (84.2%)	$7,457
2019	$1,558 (19.2%)	$6,564 (80.8%)	$8,123
2020	$1,192 (15.7%)	$6,417 (84.3%)	$7,609
2021	$1,520 (18.7%)	$6,623 (81.3%)	$8,143
2022	$2,561 (27.7%)	$6,684 (72.3%)	$9,245
2023	$2,638 (26.9%)	$7,165 (73.1%)	$9,803

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Harns Marsh Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 796^th of 1099 Middle schools	Ranks 765^th of 1177 Middle schools	7.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Harns Marsh Middle School)	38	36	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)	52	49	3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	54	52	2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Harns Marsh Middle School)	35	26	9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Lee)	47	33	14%
6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	55	49	6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Harns Marsh Middle School)	42	33	9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)	51	46	5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	52	48	4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Harns Marsh Middle School)	46	26	20%
7th Grade Mathematics (Lee)	57	43	14%
7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	54	46	8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Harns Marsh Middle School)	40	33	7%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Lee)	57	47	10%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	49	7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Harns Marsh Middle School)	46	41	5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Lee)	60	49	11%
8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	46	42	4%
8th Grade Science (Harns Marsh Middle School)	30	41	11%
8th Grade Science (Lee)	46	43	3%
8th Grade Science (Florida)	48	44	4%
End of Course Civics (Harns Marsh Middle School)	66	48	18%
End of Course Civics (Lee)	67	60	7%
End of Course Civics (Florida)	71	66	5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Harns Marsh Middle School)	91	77	14%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Lee)	60	48	12%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)	62	54	8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1336	1422	6.4%
African American	330	289	12.4%
American Indian	3	2	33.3%
Asian	12	20	66.7%
Hispanic	751	904	20.4%
Pacific Islander	1	1
White	201	173	13.9%
Two or More Races	38	33	13.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	59.7%	59.9%	0.3%

Schools Near Harns Marsh Middle School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)			FAST Math (2024)			Statewide Science Science (2024)	EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Civics (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Harns Marsh Middle School	Public	6-8	1820 Unice Ave N	Lehigh Acres	33971	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 690-2025	1,422	72	19.7	59.9%	173 (12.2%)	289 (20.3%)	904 (63.6%)	20 (1.4%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (2.3%)	33.8	810^th of 1196 public middle schools	32.3%		35.5	765^th of 1177 public middle schools	35.0%	45	34.0	32.0	41.0	41.0	18.0	58.0	41.0	75.0		51.0	$9,803	$2,638	$7,165
Varsity Lakes Middle School	Public	6-8	801 Gunnery Rd N	Lehigh Acres	33971	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 694-3464	1,307	65	20.1	61.7%	151 (11.6%)	341 (26.1%)	758 (58.0%)	14 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	40 (3.1%)	26.5	907^th of 1196 public middle schools	24.2%		27.4	877^th of 1177 public middle schools	25.5%	30	36.0	36.0	36.0	35.0	22.0	52.0	30.0	74.0		48.0	$10,751	$3,006	$7,746
Lehigh Acres Middle School	Public	6-8	651 Sunrise Blvd.	Lehigh Acres	33936	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 369-6108	1,356	67	20.3	64.0%	200 (14.7%)	330 (24.3%)	764 (56.3%)	12 (0.9%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (3.3%)	30.7	857^th of 1196 public middle schools	28.3%		29.7	847^th of 1177 public middle schools	28.0%	10	38.0	40.0	41.0	48.0	20.0	51.0	30.0	66.0		48.0	$10,394	$2,957	$7,438
Lemuel Teal Middle School	Public	6-8	104 Arthur Ave	Lehigh Acres	33936	Lee County	Lee	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(239) 303-5990	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)	34.0	27.0	18.0	41.0	18.0	31.0	14.0	47.0		36.0
Oak Hammock Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	5321 Tice St	Fort Myers	33905	Lee County	Lee	No	Yes	No	Yes	(239) 693-0469	1,563	83	18.7	56.2%	284 (18.2%)	153 (9.8%)	1,071 (68.5%)	13 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (2.6%)	27.7	896^th of 1196 public middle schools	25.1%		29.4	850^th of 1177 public middle schools	27.8%	46	42.0	31.0	31.0	51.0	20.0	51.0	28.0	79.0		40.0	$9,910	$2,840	$7,070
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School	Public	6-8	4750 Winkler Avenue Ext	Fort Myers	33966	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 334-1357	1,007	50	20.2	50.5%	243 (24.1%)	312 (31.0%)	362 (35.9%)	42 (4.2%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (4.4%)	30.1	863^rd of 1196 public middle schools	27.8%		45.2	630^th of 1177 public middle schools	46.5%	233	40.0	42.0	41.0	33.0	10.0	52.0	30.0	83.0	100.0	57.0	$9,326	$1,732	$7,594
Fort Myers Middle Academy	Public	6-8	3050 Central Ave	Fort Myers	33901	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 936-1759	687	36	19.2	67.0%	64 (9.3%)	324 (47.2%)	276 (40.2%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (2.9%)	19.3	1007^th of 1196 public middle schools	15.8%		13.8	1052^nd of 1177 public middle schools	10.6%	45	30.0	32.0	34.0	31.0	24.0	41.0	23.0	78.0		44.0	$12,527	$3,521	$9,006
Three Oaks Middle School	Public	6-8	18500 3 Oaks Pkwy	Fort Myers	33967	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	No	(239) 267-5757	1,099	49	22.4	31.7%	632 (57.5%)	24 (2.2%)	379 (34.5%)	36 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (2.5%)	67.8	355^th of 1196 public middle schools	70.3%		76.4	239^th of 1177 public middle schools	79.7%	116	58.0	57.0	56.0	75.0	24.0	80.0	56.0	86.0		65.0	$9,445	$1,650	$7,794
Cypress Lake Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	8901 Cypress Lake Dr	Fort Myers	33919	Lee County	Lee	No	Yes	No	No	(239) 481-1533	781	42	18.6	39.3%	359 (46.0%)	77 (9.9%)	295 (37.8%)	13 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.4%)	70.9	321^st of 1196 public middle schools	73.2%		64	391^st of 1177 public middle schools	66.8%	70	64.0	60.0	60.0	72.0	23.0	74.0	58.0	94.0		74.0	$12,810	$2,273	$10,536
Caloosa Middle School	Public	6-8	610 Del Prado Blvd S	Cape Coral	33990	Lee County	Lee	No	No	No	Yes	(239) 574-3232	935	49	19.0	56.6%	381 (40.7%)	93 (9.9%)	418 (44.7%)	8 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (3.5%)	38.2	745^th of 1196 public middle schools	37.7%		42.3	672^nd of 1177 public middle schools	42.9%	73	41.0	41.0	44.0	50.0	31.0	56.0	37.0	83.0		59.0	$11,136	$2,434	$8,702

Frequently Asked Questions about Harns Marsh Middle School

What district is Harns Marsh Middle School in?

Lee

What is the racial makeup of Harns Marsh Middle School?

Students at Harns Marsh Middle School are 64% Hispanic, 20% African American, 12% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Harns Marsh Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,422 students attended Harns Marsh Middle School.

Is Harns Marsh Middle School a good school?

Harns Marsh Middle School ranks 810^th of 1196 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Harns Marsh Middle School attend?

Students who attend Harns Marsh Middle School usually go on to attend Dunbar High School

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