The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in English language arts. The lowest is 66% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Rowlett Middle Academy
Rowlett Middle Academy is a charter middle school in Bradenton, Florida, serving grades six through eight. It sits in a residential section of the city not far from the Manatee River corridor, and families choosing it are opting into the charter model within the Manatee County school system rather than a traditional district-assigned middle school.
On state assessments, the school's results are generally strong, with some variation across grades and subjects. In English language arts, proficiency rates across all three grade levels cluster in a solid range that places a clear majority of students at or above the state standard. Sixth and seventh grade math tell a similar story, with seventh grade standing out as particularly high. Eighth grade math is the one area where results soften noticeably, with roughly half of students reaching proficiency, a gap that a parent would be reasonable to ask the school about directly. Eighth grade science sits in a comfortable majority-proficient range. No multi-year trend data was available in what was reported, so it is not possible to characterize whether performance has been improving or holding steady over time.
The school enrolls a mid-sized population for its grade band. White students make up the largest share of enrollment, with Hispanic students the next largest group, followed by Black students, Asian students, and smaller numbers of students from other backgrounds. Somewhere around two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school serves a economically mixed population without being predominantly low-income. Data on students with IEPs and English learners was not reported, so families with those needs should ask the school directly about its support structures.
Rowlett's charter status means it operates with some autonomy from the standard district model. Publicly reported information about specific academic programming, pedagogy, or electives was not available in the data we reviewed, so families should ask the school for a clear picture of its curriculum approach and what the school day looks like in practice.
The broader Manatee County district context matters here in a few ways. Voters renewed a dedicated property tax levy in late 2024, which publicly reported sources indicate supports teacher salary supplements, extended instructional time, STEM and career programs, arts, athletics, early literacy, and school safety. Charter schools in the district were listed among the beneficiaries of that levy. The district has also installed AI-based weapon-detection systems at middle schools on a rotating basis, a security investment worth asking about in terms of how it applies to Rowlett specifically.
The district is also actively rezoning attendance zones for elementary and middle schools in response to enrollment growth, though as a charter school Rowlett typically draws students through an application or lottery process rather than a geographic boundary. Families considering the school should confirm its enrollment process.
Housing in the zip code where the school is located has softened modestly over the past year, with home values and rents each pulling back somewhat from recent highs. Values in this area sit below the Florida statewide median and are also below the national median, which makes the neighborhood comparatively accessible within the current Florida market. Estimated monthly ownership costs are still substantial relative to incomes, and rent consumes a meaningful share of household income for renters in this area. The broader Bradenton community is growing, with new apartment supply coming to the metro at a pace publicly described as among the highest in a decade.
Bradenton itself is the county seat of Manatee County, anchored by a walkable downtown along the Manatee River with restaurants, cultural venues, the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, the Manatee Performing Arts Center, and the Bradenton Riverwalk. The Village of the Arts is an established arts and residential district close to the downtown core. Major employers include the school district itself, Manatee Memorial Hospital, IMG sports academy, Tropicana, and corporate offices for Bealls and First Watch. Beyond downtown, the city is more auto-dependent along its commercial corridors.
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