- Enrollment
- 3,262
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Watson B. Duncan Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Watson B. Duncan Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120150002870
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watson B. Duncan Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median.
- #5 of 12
- public schools in Palm Beach Gardens · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 38.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Watson B. Duncan Middle School has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watson B. Duncan Middle School ranks #5 of 12 public schools in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
School address
District: Palm Beach · Florida
NCES ID 120150002870 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
Watson B. Duncan Middle School held near 1,134 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-23 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 69.8 → 68.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-23 students YoY 120150002870 · Palm Beach Gardens, FL Middle · MID · TRAD
1,042 enr · 15.1:1 · 38.6% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: John I. Leonard High School (3,262 students)
Watson B. Duncan Middle School held near 1,134 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-23 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 69.8 → 68.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Watson B. Duncan Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- John I. Leonar
John I. Leonard High School
3,262 students
- Jupiter High S
Jupiter High School
3,122 students
- Park Vista Com
Park Vista Community High School
2,881 students
- Boca Raton Com
Boca Raton Community High School
2,819 students
- Palm Beach Lak
Palm Beach Lakes High School
2,809 students
- This school 1,042
Watson B. Duncan Middle School
1,042 students
What this shows Watson B. Duncan Middle School reports 1,042 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watson B. Duncan Middle School compares
Watson B. Duncan Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▼ 15% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.6% | ▼ 26% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,042 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,042
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 34% in Florida - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,024
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 347 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 131 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 40.2%
African American 25.2%
Hispanic or Latino 24.2%
Asian 5.7%
Two or More 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 40.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.1, Watson B. Duncan Middle School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Palm Beach reports $14,024 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Watson B. Duncan Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| John I. Leonard High School | Larger | Higher 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palm Beach Lakes High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watson B. Duncan Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,042 students)
Frequently asked questions about Watson B. Duncan Middle School
How many students attend Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
Watson B. Duncan Middle School has 1,042 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,157 (2022-23) → 1,134 (2023-24), nearly flat (-23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watson B. Duncan Middle School is 15.1:1, which is 15% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 4% 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 Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
38.6% of students at Watson B. Duncan Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Watson B. Duncan Middle School is White at 40.2% of enrollment, in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watson B. Duncan Middle School?
Watson B. Duncan Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Watson B. Duncan Middle School rank among public schools in Palm Beach Gardens?
By Resource Investment Index, Watson B. Duncan Middle School ranks #5 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.
What other schools are in Palm Beach?
Besides Watson B. Duncan 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.