Thomas L Sims Middle School

Summary:

Thomas L Sims Middle School is a public middle school in Pace, Florida, serving 1,098 students in grades 6-8 and part of the highly-ranked Santa Rosa school district.

This school consistently outperforms the district and state in academic assessments, with significantly higher proficiency rates in subjects like Algebra 1, Geometry, and 8th grade Math. It also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate compared to nearby Escambia district schools, and spends less per student while maintaining strong outcomes. Thomas L Sims Middle School has earned a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranks in the top 20% of Florida middle schools, suggesting effective teaching practices and support systems are in place to foster student success.

While the school's student population is predominantly White, it has a more diverse racial makeup compared to nearby Escambia district schools. This diversity may contribute to a more inclusive learning environment. When compared to other local middle schools, Thomas L Sims Middle School stands out for its academic performance, attendance, and efficient use of resources, making it a model for other schools in the region to learn from and potentially replicate its successful strategies.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 5500 Education Dr
       Pace, FL  32571


(850) 995-3676

District: Santa Rosa

SchoolDigger Rank:
204th of 1,196 Florida Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,695 Help


Students who attend Thomas L Sims Middle School usually attend:

High:    Pace High School

Feeder schools for Thomas L Sims Middle School:

Elementary:    S. S. Dixon Intermediate School
    S. S. Dixon Primary School

Student/teacher ratio:  21.2 Help
Number of students:  850

Racial breakdown:

White:
75.8%
Hispanic:
9.8%
Two or more races:
8.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  42.8% Help


 See top rated Florida middle schools

 Compare Thomas L Sims Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Thomas L Sims Middle School ranks better than 82.9% of middle schools in Florida. It also ranks 2nd among 7 ranked middle schools in the Santa Rosa School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 79.79. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (75.8%), Hispanic (9.8%), two or more races (8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 42.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Thomas L Sims Middle School is 21.2. 3 middle schools in the Santa Rosa School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Thomas L Sims Middle School employs 40 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Thomas L Sims Middle School is $6,695. 5 middle schools in the Santa Rosa School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Thomas L Sims Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Thomas L Sims Middle School 204th of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Thomas L Sims Middle School in the ranking list.)

Santa Rosa:

SchoolDigger ranks Santa Rosa 15th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Thomas L Sims Middle School?

Rank History for Thomas L Sims Middle School

Help
Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 86.57 58th 593 90.2%
2005 90.53 40th 602 93.4%
2006 86.18 72nd 675 89.3%
2007 89.06 59th 736 92.0%
2008 87.32 73rd 740 90.1%
2009 86.32 79th 780 89.9%
2010 82.03 124th 839 85.2%
2011 82.73 130th 891 85.4%
2012 84.10 116th 897 87.1%
2013 82.40 138th 956 85.6%
2014 86.40 103rd 999 89.7%
2016 88.67 87th 997 91.3%
2017 84.57 143rd 1031 86.1%
2018 86.00 132nd 1035 87.2%
2019 83.64 156th 1099 85.8%
2021 82.81 154th 1136 86.4%
2022 80.83 194th 1148 83.1%
2023 79.07 208th 1177 82.3%
2024 79.79 204th 1196 82.9%
See the entire list of Florida Middle School Rankings!

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

Thomas L Sims Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    






Data source: Florida Department of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Thomas L Sims Middle School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Thomas L Sims Middle School, submit a rating!


Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Thomas L Sims Middle School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1999 497 8 5 6 9 n/a n/a 0 525
2000 818 18 7 11 11 n/a n/a 0 865
2001 863 16 10 13 13 n/a n/a 0 915
2002 836 13 14 11 8 n/a n/a 0 882
2003 836 13 14 11 8 n/a n/a 0 882
2004 838 12 14 11 4 n/a n/a 0 879
2005 875 14 12 16 3 n/a n/a 0 920
2006 876 10 8 19 1 n/a n/a 0 914
2007 839 8 14 12 6 n/a n/a 15 894
2008 810 10 12 11 6 n/a n/a 21 870
2009 787 9 15 9 5 n/a n/a 24 849
2010 775 7 10 10 7 n/a n/a 21 830
2011 743 11 11 27 3 0 41 0 836
2012 771 10 15 33 4 0 42 0 875
2013 749 19 16 35 3 1 50 0 873
2014 771 21 16 35 1 1 41 0 886
2015 763 24 15 41 2 2 40 0 887
2016 814 21 12 40 3 0 42 0 932
2017 832 31 13 38 4 3 46 0 967
2018 864 33 10 50 4 4 48 0 1013
2019 876 36 21 62 2 4 61 0 1062
2020 921 34 21 73 9 4 83 0 1145
2021 802 24 15 79 4 4 76 0 1004
2022 879 32 16 86 7 5 81 0 1106
2023 862 31 23 88 3 6 85 0 1098
2024 644 28 18 83 2 7 68 0 850

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 Thomas L Sims Middle School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1999 525 25.0 21.0 23.6
2000 865 39.0 22.2 23
2001 915 44.0 20.8 24.3
2002 882 42.0 21.0 20.9
2003 882 42.0 21.0 20.9
2004 879 42.0 20.9 18.3
2005 920 46.0 20.0 22.7
2006 914 49.0 18.7 23.4
2007 894 50.0 17.9 22.3
2008 870 51.5 16.9 23.4
2009 849 52.1 17.5 26.7
2010 830 43.5 19.0 27.2
2011 836 43.9 19.0 33.7
2012 875 41.5 21.0 30.3
2013 873 49.0 17.8 33.1
2014 886 47.0 18.8 31.6
2015 887 52.0 17.0 29.5
2016 932 51.0 18.2 31
2017 967 52.0 18.5 31.9
2018 1013 53.0 19.1 30.9
2019 1062 46.4 22.8 31.1
2020 1145 48.3 23.6 31.5
2021 1004 50.1 20.0 26.1
2022 1106 49.0 22.5 35
2023 1098 50.0 21.9 34.2
2024 850 40.0 21.2 42.8

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 Thomas L Sims Middle School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1999 525 25.0 21.0 23.6
2000 865 39.0 22.2 23
2001 915 44.0 20.8 24.3
2002 882 42.0 21.0 20.9
2003 882 42.0 21.0 20.9
2004 879 42.0 20.9 18.3
2005 920 46.0 20.0 22.7
2006 914 49.0 18.7 23.4
2007 894 50.0 17.9 22.3
2008 870 51.5 16.9 23.4
2009 849 52.1 17.5 26.7
2010 830 43.5 19.0 27.2
2011 836 43.9 19.0 33.7
2012 875 41.5 21.0 30.3
2013 873 49.0 17.8 33.1
2014 886 47.0 18.8 31.6
2015 887 52.0 17.0 29.5
2016 932 51.0 18.2 31
2017 967 52.0 18.5 31.9
2018 1013 53.0 19.1 30.9
2019 1062 46.4 22.8 31.1
2020 1145 48.3 23.6 31.5
2021 1004 50.1 20.0 26.1
2022 1106 49.0 22.5 35
2023 1098 50.0 21.9 34.2
2024 850 40.0 21.2 42.8

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 Thomas L Sims Middle School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $104 (1.8%) $5,813 (98.2%) $5,917
2019 $68 (1.1%) $5,913 (98.9%) $5,981
2020 $58 (1.0%) $5,539 (99.0%) $5,597
2021 $353 (5.7%) $5,822 (94.3%) $6,175
2022 $438 (7.0%) $5,802 (93.0%) $6,240
2023 $399 (6.0%) $6,295 (94.0%) $6,695

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Thomas L Sims 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 156th of 1099 Middle schoolsRanks 208th of 1177 Middle schools
 3.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Thomas L Sims Middle School)6767
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Santa Rosa)6361
 2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5452
 2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Thomas L Sims Middle School)7366
 7%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Santa Rosa)6660
 6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5549
 6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Thomas L Sims Middle School)7162
 9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Santa Rosa)5955
 4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5248
 4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Thomas L Sims Middle School)6752
 15%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Santa Rosa)5450
 4%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5446
 8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Thomas L Sims Middle School)7765
 12%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Santa Rosa)6857
 11%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5649
 7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Thomas L Sims Middle School)9288
 4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Santa Rosa)7672
 4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)4642
 4%
8th Grade Science (Thomas L Sims Middle School)7071
 1%
   8th Grade Science (Santa Rosa)6258
 4%
   8th Grade Science (Florida)4844
 4%
End of Course Civics (Thomas L Sims Middle School)8675
 11%
   End of Course Civics (Santa Rosa)7571
 4%
   End of Course Civics (Florida)7166
 5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Thomas L Sims Middle School)9995
 4%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Santa Rosa)7360
 13%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)6254
 8%
End of Course Geometry (Thomas L Sims Middle School)100100
   End of Course Geometry (Santa Rosa)6663
 3%
   End of Course Geometry (Florida)5750
 7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students10621098
 3.4%
African American3631
 13.9%
American Indian23
 50%
Asian2123
 9.5%
Hispanic6288
 41.9%
Pacific Islander46
 50%
White876862
 1.6%
Two or More Races6185
 39.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients31.1%34.2%
 3.1%


Schools Near Thomas L Sims Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas L Sims Middle School

In the 2023-24 school year, 850 students attended Thomas L Sims Middle School.

Students at Thomas L Sims Middle School are 76% White, 10% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

Thomas L Sims Middle School ranks 204th of 1196 Florida middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Thomas L Sims Middle School usually go on to attend Pace High School


Rate Thomas L Sims Middle School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Thomas L Sims Middle School!




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.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 252 milliseconds.