The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in Math. The lowest is 63% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on North Bay Haven Charter Academy Middle School
North Bay Haven Charter Academy Middle School is a public charter school serving grades six through eight in Panama City, Florida, part of Bay County. It draws from a city shaped by military installations, coastal redevelopment, and a mix of historic neighborhoods stretching from downtown along St. Andrews Bay out to districts like Millville and St. Andrews.
The school's academic profile, measured by Florida's FAST assessments in the most recent school year, is one of the stronger pictures you will find at the middle school level. Math proficiency is a particular standout: eighth graders posted a very high proficiency rate on FAST Math, among the strongest results you would expect to see anywhere in the state, and sixth graders were not far behind. Seventh-grade math was somewhat lower but still well above what most middle schools report. Reading and ELA tell a different story. Sixth-grade ELA proficiency was solid, in the upper-three-quarters range, but seventh and eighth grade ELA results were more modest, sitting just below or around two-thirds of students scoring proficient. That gap between math and reading performance, especially in the upper middle grades, is worth a conversation with the school. The eighth-grade science assessment, the Florida Statewide Science Assessment, showed a result in the low-to-mid sixties, which is closer to the state's middle range for that test. Year-over-year trend data was not available in the data provided, so it is not possible to say whether these results are improving, holding steady, or declining.
About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school serves a mix of economic backgrounds, with a majority of students coming from families above the income threshold. Racial and ethnic composition shows a majority-white student body, with Hispanic students making up the next largest share, followed by students identifying as two or more races, Black, and Asian. Data on students with IEPs or English learners was not reported in the available data, so parents with students in those categories should ask the school directly about support services.
The one publicly reported program on record is Key Club, a student-led service organization. That is a thin program footprint for a middle school, and the available data did not include information on course offerings, electives, arts, or athletics. The school's own website would be the right place to get the fuller picture.
On the housing side, the ZIP code around the school carries home values that sit well below both the Florida statewide benchmark and the national midpoint, making this one of the more accessible markets in the state for buyers. Rents have edged up slightly year over year but remain below average for Florida. Rent-to-income ratios in the area are in a range that is generally considered manageable relative to national norms. Panama City itself is in an active rebuilding and redevelopment phase, with a Community Redevelopment Agency working across four districts, new downtown housing coming online along Harrison Avenue, and ongoing investment tied to the Tyndall Air Force Base reconstruction. The military presence, through both Tyndall and Naval Support Activity Panama City, anchors much of the regional economy, so families connected to the military will find this a familiar kind of town.
Comparative proficiency data against other districts in Bay County could not be computed because the county's school district comparison set did not meet the minimum size needed for a meaningful comparison, so it is not possible to place this school's results against its local peers in that way.
For a family weighing this school: the math trajectory is genuinely strong, the ELA results in the upper grades are softer and worth asking about, program information beyond one club is largely absent from the available data, and the housing market is accessible relative to most of Florida. The school is a charter, which means enrollment is by choice and may involve an application or lottery process, something to confirm directly with the school.
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