The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in Science. The lowest is 43% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Labelle Middle School
LaBelle Middle School serves grades six through eight in LaBelle, the county seat of Hendry County in south-central Florida. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and draws a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of white students and a modest Black enrollment. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects the economic character of the broader community. English learner and special education rates were not available in the data.
On Florida's FAST assessments, proficiency rates across all three grades and all tested subjects sit in a range that falls below what most Florida middle schools report. In math, sixth and eighth graders reach proficiency at rates that are meaningfully below half of students tested, while seventh graders score modestly higher. ELA results follow a similar shape, with sixth and seventh graders just above or just below the midpoint and eighth graders performing slightly better than the younger cohorts. Eighth-grade science results land just below half of students tested. These figures are from the most recent state testing cycle. Trend data across prior years was not available, so it is not possible to say whether performance has been improving, holding steady, or declining. A parent who wants to understand whether results have moved in recent years would do well to ask the school directly.
The comparison framework for Hendry County produces only one district in the county, which means no meaningful peer-district comparison can be drawn. Chronic absenteeism and graduation rate data do not apply here, since this school serves only the middle grades.
No program offerings were listed in the data, so dual enrollment, advanced coursework, or career and technical pathways specific to this campus could not be assessed. The school's website address was not included in the data either, so families would need to search for the school directly to learn about electives, clubs, or support services. Civil rights and discipline data were also absent.
The housing market in the LaBelle area is worth flagging for families considering a move. Home values here are noticeably lower than both the Florida state median and the national median, which means the area can be relatively accessible for buyers. Rent levels, by contrast, represent a meaningful share of a typical household's income, so renters may feel the local market more acutely than buyers would. The local market has seen a slight softening in home values over the past year.
Two district-level developments are publicly reported and worth knowing. Hendry County broke ground in 2026 on a new LaBelle High School, the first new school built in the county in close to three decades. The existing high school dates to the 1970s and has long been overcrowded, relying on portable classrooms. The new campus sits on a large parcel, is planned to accommodate substantial enrollment, and will include career and technical education space, a large auditorium, and upgraded athletic facilities, with an opening targeted for the class of 2027. For a family whose middle schooler will enter high school in the next few years, this is a concrete and lasting change to what that pathway looks like. Separately, the school board approved impact fees on new residential construction in early 2024, responding to enrollment growth that has placed Hendry County among the fastest-growing districts in Florida by student generation rate. Families planning to build a new home in the district will encounter those fees; the revenue is restricted to growth-related school infrastructure.
Specific information about LaBelle the community, including its major employers, walkability, and civic character, was not returned in research, so that picture cannot be filled in here. Families evaluating whether this school fits their children should weigh the academic proficiency data carefully, seek out the school's own account of its support programs and trajectory, and factor in the high school construction timeline if their student is approaching that transition.
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