Dan McCarty Middle School

Summary:

Dan McCarty Middle School is a public middle school in Fort Pierce, Florida, serving 747 students in grades 6-8 and part of the St. Lucie School District, which is ranked 47th out of 68 districts in the state.

While Dan McCarty Middle School has a significantly higher percentage of African American students (54.89%) compared to nearby schools like Storm Grove Middle School (13.53%) and Hidden Oaks Middle School (39.61%), it consistently underperforms academically, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math ranging from 28-34% and 22-40%, respectively, compared to state averages of 50-54% and 47-56%. The school also has alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 56.3% to 60.3%, significantly higher than the 14.2% to 45.2% seen at nearby schools.

Despite spending the most per student, ranging from $9,734 to $12,954 annually, Dan McCarty Middle School's academic outcomes remain well below the state and district averages. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the school's resource allocation and the need for targeted interventions to address the root causes of the school's challenges, such as chronic absenteeism and racial disparities in educational outcomes. Comparing the school's performance to higher-performing schools in the Indian River School District could provide valuable insights for improving Dan McCarty Middle School.

Detail:

Public 6-8

1201 Mississippi Ave
Fort Pierce, FL 34950

(772) 468-5700

District: St. Lucie

SchoolDigger Rank:
1003^rd of 1,196 Florida Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,954

Students who attend Dan McCarty Middle School usually attend:

High:

Fort Pierce Central High School

Feeder schools for Dan McCarty Middle School:

Elementary:	Chester A. Moore Elementary School
	Lakewood Park Elementary School
	Lawnwood Elementary School
	St. Lucie Elementary School
	More...
	Weatherbee Elementary School
	White City Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.7

Number of students: 711

Racial breakdown:

African American:

53.9%

Hispanic:

31.6%

White:

11.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 76.9%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Dan McCarty Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Dan McCarty Middle School ranks worse than 83.9% of middle schools in Florida. It also ranks last among 4 ranked middle schools in the St. Lucie School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 19.52. (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 Dan McCarty Middle School has the smallest middle school student body size in the St. Lucie School District. Racial makeup is: African American (53.9%), Hispanic (31.6%), White (11.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 76.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the St. Lucie School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Dan McCarty Middle School is 17.7, which is the lowest among 4 middle schools in the St. Lucie School District! (See more...)

Compare Dan McCarty Middle School employs 40 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Dan McCarty Middle School is $12,954, which is the highest among 4 middle schools in the St. Lucie School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Dan McCarty Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Dan McCarty Middle School 1003^rd of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Dan McCarty Middle School in the ranking list.)

St. Lucie:

SchoolDigger ranks St. Lucie 47^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Dan McCarty Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	FL State Percentile
2004	43.69	359^th	593	39.5%
2005	42.83	374^th	602	37.9%
2006	44.59	394^th	675	41.6%
2007	24.28	579^th	736	21.3%
2008	24.01	587^th	740	20.7%
2009	16.82	653^rd	780	16.3%
2010	21.93	680^th	839	19.0%
2011	16.59	749^th	891	15.9%
2012	18.24	747^th	897	16.7%
2013	13.47	829^th	956	13.3%
2014	10.99	897^th	999	10.2%
2016	10.70	911^th	997	8.6%
2017	13.56	923^rd	1031	10.5%
2018	13.89	922^nd	1035	10.9%
2019	10.72	1003^rd	1099	8.7%
2021	12.12	1038^th	1136	8.6%
2022	11.48	1055^th	1148	8.1%
2023	16.11	1027^th	1177	12.7%
2024	19.52	1003^rd	1196	16.1%

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: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a student
Monday, October 21, 2019

I love it it's my first year and it's so far my best year Close Quote

Enrollment information for Dan McCarty Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	538	539	0	38	0	n/a	n/a	0	1115
1989	462	428	2	33	0	n/a	n/a	0	925
1990	544	498	3	50	2	n/a	n/a	0	1097
1991	986	653	7	76	2	n/a	n/a	0	1724
1992	783	318	14	104	4	n/a	n/a	0	1223
1993	677	273	9	91	2	n/a	n/a	0	1052
1994	802	238	11	118	3	n/a	n/a	0	1172
1995	272	157	2	26	0	n/a	n/a	0	457
1996	272	157	2	26	0	n/a	n/a	0	457
1997	448	242	9	62	0	n/a	n/a	0	761
1998	578	323	9	71	2	n/a	n/a	0	983
1999	655	263	7	90	2	n/a	n/a	0	1017
2000	625	228	8	81	6	n/a	n/a	0	948
2001	667	226	20	87	3	n/a	n/a	0	1003
2002	680	354	18	102	6	n/a	n/a	0	1160
2003	680	354	18	102	6	n/a	n/a	0	1160
2004	641	385	15	113	5	n/a	n/a	0	1159
2005	646	450	12	133	7	n/a	n/a	0	1248
2006	575	408	7	138	5	n/a	n/a	0	1133
2007	347	526	7	189	3	n/a	n/a	29	1101
2008	190	448	3	177	1	n/a	n/a	19	838
2009	142	506	4	194	0	n/a	n/a	21	867
2010	117	478	5	165	0	n/a	n/a	20	785
2011	110	493	2	188	0	2	9	0	804
2012	109	479	5	163	0	2	13	0	771
2013	107	523	3	160	5	1	17	0	816
2014	62	378	4	119	3	0	16	0	582
2015	57	376	3	127	4	0	15	0	582
2016	68	383	2	128	1	0	17	0	599
2017	60	391	4	129	2	0	12	0	598
2018	65	423	2	147	4	0	22	0	663
2019	90	527	3	208	3	0	21	0	852
2020	96	474	2	248	1	0	30	0	851
2021	66	483	2	244	2	0	25	0	822
2022	82	424	3	279	3	0	43	0	834
2023	68	410	3	236	2	0	28	0	747
2024	79	383	0	225	3	0	21	0	711

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 Dan McCarty Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1115	63.0	17.6	48.9
1989	925	65.0	14.2	54.2
1990	1097	65.0	16.8	40.6
1991	1724	107.0	16.1	58.4
1992	1223	64.0	19.1	16.4
1993	1052	61.0	17.2	50.9
1994	1172	62.0	18.9	17.4
1995	457	18.0	25.4	53.2
1996	457	18.0	25.4	53.2
1997	761	40.0	19.0	52.4
1998	983	42.0	23.4	52.4
1999	1017	43.0	23.7	58.9
2000	948	50.0	19.0	56.4
2001	1003	49.0	20.5	55.5
2002	1160	62.0	18.7	57.4
2003	1160	62.0	18.7	57.4
2004	1159	63.0	18.4	61.7
2005	1248	67.0	18.6	56.3
2006	1133	62.0	18.3	57.8
2007	1101	59.0	18.7	73.3
2008	838	54.5	15.4	82.8
2009	867	77.4	13.3	86.6
2010	785	57.0	13.7	89.3
2011	804	59.0	13.6	84.2
2012	771	59.0	13.0	86.3
2013	816	60.0	13.6	78.9
2014	582	35.0	16.6	91.8
2015	582	37.0	15.7	74.4
2016	599	38.0	15.7	83.8
2017	598	38.0	15.7	77.3
2018	663	45.0	14.7	82.4
2019	852	50.0	17.0	69.2
2020	851	54.0	15.7	66.5
2021	822	45.0	18.2	84.4
2022	834	47.0	17.7	80.3
2023	747	38.0	19.6	88.4
2024	711	40.0	17.7	76.9

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 Dan McCarty Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1115	63.0	17.6	48.9
1989	925	65.0	14.2	54.2
1990	1097	65.0	16.8	40.6
1991	1724	107.0	16.1	58.4
1992	1223	64.0	19.1	16.4
1993	1052	61.0	17.2	50.9
1994	1172	62.0	18.9	17.4
1995	457	18.0	25.4	53.2
1996	457	18.0	25.4	53.2
1997	761	40.0	19.0	52.4
1998	983	42.0	23.4	52.4
1999	1017	43.0	23.7	58.9
2000	948	50.0	19.0	56.4
2001	1003	49.0	20.5	55.5
2002	1160	62.0	18.7	57.4
2003	1160	62.0	18.7	57.4
2004	1159	63.0	18.4	61.7
2005	1248	67.0	18.6	56.3
2006	1133	62.0	18.3	57.8
2007	1101	59.0	18.7	73.3
2008	838	54.5	15.4	82.8
2009	867	77.4	13.3	86.6
2010	785	57.0	13.7	89.3
2011	804	59.0	13.6	84.2
2012	771	59.0	13.0	86.3
2013	816	60.0	13.6	78.9
2014	582	35.0	16.6	91.8
2015	582	37.0	15.7	74.4
2016	599	38.0	15.7	83.8
2017	598	38.0	15.7	77.3
2018	663	45.0	14.7	82.4
2019	852	50.0	17.0	69.2
2020	851	54.0	15.7	66.5
2021	822	45.0	18.2	84.4
2022	834	47.0	17.7	80.3
2023	747	38.0	19.6	88.4
2024	711	40.0	17.7	76.9

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 Dan McCarty Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$917 (9.2%)	$9,036 (90.8%)	$9,953
2019	$969 (11.3%)	$7,642 (88.7%)	$8,612
2020	$804 (8.3%)	$8,929 (91.7%)	$9,734
2021	$1,350 (12.9%)	$9,132 (87.1%)	$10,482
2022	$1,539 (14.1%)	$9,363 (85.9%)	$10,902
2023	$2,662 (20.5%)	$10,292 (79.5%)	$12,954

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Dan McCarty 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 1003^rd of 1099 Middle schools	Ranks 1027^th of 1177 Middle schools	4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Dan McCarty Middle School)	19	24	5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (St. Lucie)	51	49	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	54	52	2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Dan McCarty Middle School)	19	24	5%
6th Grade Mathematics (St. Lucie)	47	42	5%
6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	55	49	6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Dan McCarty Middle School)	21	19	2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (St. Lucie)	49	43	6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	52	48	4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Dan McCarty Middle School)	29	17	12%
7th Grade Mathematics (St. Lucie)	50	41	9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	54	46	8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Dan McCarty Middle School)	32	23	9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (St. Lucie)	54	45	9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	49	7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Dan McCarty Middle School)	14	14
8th Grade Mathematics (St. Lucie)	34	26	8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	46	42	4%
8th Grade Science (Dan McCarty Middle School)	26	19	7%
8th Grade Science (St. Lucie)	48	41	7%
8th Grade Science (Florida)	48	44	4%
End of Course Civics (Dan McCarty Middle School)	42	41	1%
End of Course Civics (St. Lucie)	68	61	7%
End of Course Civics (Florida)	71	66	5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Dan McCarty Middle School)	79	74	5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (St. Lucie)	51	49	2%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)	62	54	8%
End of Course Geometry (Dan McCarty Middle School)	94	82	12%
End of Course Geometry (St. Lucie)	55	39	16%
End of Course Geometry (Florida)	57	50	7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	852	747	12.3%
African American	527	410	22.2%
American Indian	3	2	33.3%
Asian	3	3
Hispanic	208	236	13.5%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	90	68	24.4%
Two or More Races	21	28	33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	69.2%	88.4%	19.1%

Schools Near Dan McCarty 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
Dan McCarty Middle School	Public	6-8	1201 Mississippi Ave	Fort Pierce	34950	St. Lucie County	St. Lucie	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 468-5700	711	40	17.7	76.9%	79 (11.1%)	383 (53.9%)	225 (31.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.0%)	19.5	1003^rd of 1196 public middle schools	16.1%		16.1	1027^th of 1177 public middle schools	12.7%	24	34.0	29.0	28.0	40.0	22.0	35.0	30.0	72.0		41.0	$12,954	$2,662	$10,292
Forest Grove Middle School	Public	6-8	3201 S 25th St	Fort Pierce	34981	St. Lucie County	St. Lucie	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 468-5885	853	43	19.8	72.0%	155 (18.2%)	347 (40.7%)	308 (36.1%)	9 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (3.9%)	25.6	921^st of 1196 public middle schools	23.0%		22.5	949^th of 1177 public middle schools	19.4%	28	43.0	28.0	38.0	27.0	16.0	45.0	37.0	86.0	100.0	41.0	$11,142	$2,009	$9,133
Southern Oaks Middle School	Public	6-8	5500 NE Saint James Dr	Port St Lucie	34983	St. Lucie County	St. Lucie	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 785-5640	907	40	22.6	66.0%	232 (25.6%)	321 (35.4%)	298 (32.9%)	10 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	44 (4.9%)	30.2	860^th of 1196 public middle schools	28.1%		23.9	926^th of 1177 public middle schools	21.3%	66	40.0	35.0	40.0	26.0	20.0	58.0	34.0	81.0	96.0	52.0	$9,750	$1,608	$8,142
Southport Middle School	Public	6-8	2420 SE Morningside Blvd	Port St Lucie	34952	St. Lucie County	St. Lucie	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 337-5900	866	46	18.8	61.7%	303 (35.0%)	207 (23.9%)	276 (31.9%)	22 (2.5%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	55 (6.4%)	41.5	701^st of 1196 public middle schools	41.4%		33.3	798^th of 1177 public middle schools	32.2%	97	47.0	48.0	49.0	51.0	33.0	47.0	40.0	83.0	96.0	59.0	$11,243	$1,760	$9,483
Oslo Middle School	Public	6-8	480 20th Ave SW	Vero Beach	32962	Indian River County	Indian River	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 564-3980	834	44	18.9	69.7%	322 (38.6%)	216 (25.9%)	223 (26.7%)	12 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	58 (7.0%)	46.3	642^nd of 1196 public middle schools	46.3%		44.5	643^rd of 1177 public middle schools	45.4%	1	54.0	42.0	42.0	57.0	42.0	54.0	48.0	74.0	89.0	66.0	$10,154	$2,403	$7,749
Stuart Middle School	Public	6-8	575 SE Georgia Ave	Stuart	34994	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	No	(772) 219-1685	823	44	18.7	50.3%	509 (61.8%)	90 (10.9%)	181 (22.0%)	16 (1.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (3.0%)	53.9	531^st of 1196 public middle schools	55.6%		55.4	491^st of 1177 public middle schools	58.3%	40	55.0	48.0	54.0	57.0	57.0	30.0	50.0	83.0	100.0	88.0	$10,567	$891	$9,677
Gifford Middle School	Public	6-8	4530 28th Ct	Vero Beach	32967	Indian River County	Indian River	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 564-3550	587	28	20.9	66.6%	205 (34.9%)	221 (37.6%)	128 (21.8%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (4.4%)	37.2	762^nd of 1196 public middle schools	36.3%		30.5	838^th of 1177 public middle schools	28.8%	76	56.0	38.0	49.0	49.0	32.0	22.0	40.0	78.0	100.0	64.0	$11,208	$2,898	$8,309
Hidden Oaks Middle School	Public	6-8	2801 SW Martin Hwy	Palm City	34990	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	No	(772) 219-1655	995	52	19.1	24.7%	800 (80.4%)	10 (1.0%)	130 (13.1%)	25 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	28 (2.8%)	77.6	231^st of 1196 public middle schools	80.7%		82	174^th of 1177 public middle schools	85.2%	57	68.0	63.0	69.0	67.0	78.0	48.0	64.0	96.0	98.0	89.0	$10,782	$753	$10,029
Storm Grove Middle School	Public	6-8	6400 57th St	Vero Beach	32967	Indian River County	Indian River	No	No	No	No	(772) 564-6400	967	51	18.9	50.8%	571 (59.0%)	138 (14.3%)	188 (19.4%)	16 (1.7%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	48 (5.0%)	51.9	562^nd of 1196 public middle schools	53.0%		52.4	531^st of 1177 public middle schools	54.9%	31	55.0	44.0	51.0	60.0	50.0	45.0	51.0	86.0	100.0	63.0	$9,232	$2,391	$6,841

Frequently Asked Questions about Dan McCarty Middle School

What district is Dan McCarty Middle School in?

St. Lucie

How many students attend Dan McCarty Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 711 students attended Dan McCarty Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Dan McCarty Middle School attend?

Students who attend Dan McCarty Middle School usually go on to attend Fort Pierce Central High School

Is Dan McCarty Middle School a good school?

Dan McCarty Middle School ranks in the bottom 16.1% of Florida middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Dan McCarty Middle School?

Students at Dan McCarty Middle School are 54% African American, 32% Hispanic, 11% White, 3% Two or more races.

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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.