The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in Math. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Just for Girls Middle School
Just for Girls Middle School is a district-run alternative school in Bradenton, Florida, serving girls in grades six through eight. Its enrollment is very small, which is characteristic of alternative programs designed for specific student populations rather than general neighborhood attendance. Because of this, the comparison framework for Manatee County districts does not yield meaningful positioning for this school, and that gap reflects the nature of the setting rather than a data problem.
The school's student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with Hispanic students forming the largest group, followed by Black students and white students. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a high-need population. Data on special education and English learner rates were not available.
State assessment results from Florida's FAST exam and the statewide science assessment are available for seventh and eighth grade; sixth-grade results were suppressed, likely because the grade's enrollment is small enough that the state withholds figures to protect student privacy. Where results are reported, proficiency rates are low. In seventh grade ELA and eighth grade ELA, only a small fraction of students scored proficient, and eighth-grade science results were similarly modest. Eighth-grade math showed a somewhat higher share of students reaching proficiency, though still well below what a typical middle school would post. Because this is an alternative school drawing students who may be navigating significant barriers, these numbers need context that the data alone cannot supply. A parent wanting to understand how academic support is structured, what the referral or enrollment criteria are, and what progress students make while enrolled should ask those questions directly of the school and the Manatee district.
No information on specific programs, course offerings, or staffing ratios was available in the data.
The school sits within the Manatee County School District, which has been active on several fronts relevant to families. Voters publicly renewed a supplemental property tax levy in late 2024, with the funds supporting teacher pay, extended instructional time, STEM and career-technical programs, early literacy, and school safety. Separately, the district has redrawn elementary and middle school attendance zones to respond to enrollment growth, so families new to Bradenton should verify zone assignments. The district has also publicly reported installing AI-based weapon detection systems at all high schools and at some middle schools following firearm incidents in a prior school year.
Bradenton itself is Manatee County's seat, a Gulf Coast city with a compact, walkable downtown along the Manatee River. The Village of the Arts district occupies a stretch of early-twentieth-century bungalows that have transitioned into a live-work arts enclave. The Bradenton Riverwalk runs along the river with an amphitheater, splash pad, skate park, and public art installations, and a Saturday public market runs from fall through spring. Beyond downtown, the city is largely auto-oriented along commercial corridors like Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue. Major employers include the school district itself, Manatee Memorial Hospital, the State College of Florida, the IMG sports academy, and the Tropicana production facility, which has been rooted in Bradenton for generations. Bealls and First Watch are both headquartered here.
Housing near the school has seen values soften modestly from a recent peak, with both home values and rents edging down year over year in the most recent data. The area's price-to-income ratio remains elevated relative to national norms, and estimated monthly mortgage costs are substantial, reflecting the broader Gulf Coast market. Rents and mortgage payments are close in monthly cost. The wider metro has seen a surge of new apartment construction, with developers delivering a high volume of new units in 2025.
For a family considering Just for Girls Middle School, the central questions are not about test scores in isolation. This is an alternative placement, not a zoned neighborhood school, and understanding the admission pathway, the support model, and how the school measures student growth would be the most useful starting point.
See more original research from School Decision →