Enrollment
705
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Howell L. Watkins Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Howell L. Watkins Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120150001481
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Howell L. Watkins Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Florida schools.
- #6 of 12
- public schools in Palm Beach Gardens · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.8:1
- small classes for Florida
- 76.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Howell L. Watkins Middle School has class sizes smaller than 90% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Howell L. Watkins Middle School ranks #6 of 12 public schools in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
School address
District: Palm Beach · Florida
NCES ID 120150001481 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
60.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.8:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
-34% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
76.1%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Howell L. Watkins Middle School compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at Howell L. Watkins Middle School
Howell L. Watkins Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, enrolling 705 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.8:1, Howell L. Watkins Middle School is leaner than roughly 90% of Florida schools and 34% under the state's 17.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 76.1% of students qualify for free meals, 46% above the Florida average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 705 students, its enrollment sits close to the Florida median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Among 794 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Florida schools statewide, it ranks #36, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (70%) and Hispanic or Latino (19%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 176 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 54.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 273 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 705 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Palm Beach also operates John I. Leonard High School (3,262 students) and Jupiter High School (3,122 students) alongside Howell L. Watkins Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Howell L. Watkins Middle School compares
Howell L. Watkins Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 34% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.1% | ▲ 46% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 705 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
705
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
76.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 34% below state mean
Top 10% in Florida - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
54.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,727
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $11,167
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 176 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
51
in-school suspensions + 222 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 38.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 70.1%
Hispanic or Latino 18.6%
White 7.7%
Two or More 1.6%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 70.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.8, Howell L. Watkins Middle School is less mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Palm Beach, which includes Howell L. Watkins Middle School.
$12,727
Per student
+14%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 63.0%
State 21.7%
Federal 15.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Howell L. Watkins Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John I. Leonard High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jupiter High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Park Vista Community High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Boca Raton Community High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palm Beach Lakes High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Howell L. Watkins Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,262
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 3,122
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,881
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,819
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 2,809
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~705 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Howell L. Watkins Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Howell L. Watkins Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Palm Beach's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Howell L. Watkins Middle School
How many students attend Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
Howell L. Watkins Middle School has 705 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Howell L. Watkins Middle School is 11.8:1, which is 34% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 25% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
76.1% of students at Howell L. Watkins Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Howell L. Watkins Middle School is African American at 70.1% of enrollment, in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Howell L. Watkins Middle School?
Howell L. Watkins Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Howell L. Watkins Middle School rank among public schools in Palm Beach Gardens?
By Resource Investment Index, Howell L. Watkins Middle School ranks #6 of 12 public schools in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Palm Beach Gardens on the city page.
Is Howell L. Watkins Middle School a good school?
Howell L. Watkins Middle School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Florida schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Palm Beach?
Besides Howell L. Watkins Middle School, Palm Beach also operates John I. Leonard High School (3,262 students), Jupiter High School (3,122 students), and Park Vista Community High School (2,881 students). See the Palm Beach district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.