Sapp House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0Panama City’s public schools outscore 61% of Florida districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Panama City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Florida, not nationally.
From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Panama City’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 445 Florida towns with household incomes within a quarter of Panama City’s, its schools beat 55%, lower than their 61% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in math, below in reading
Reading proficiency is 51% and math 53% in spring 2022, against 52% and 52% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $11,843 per student, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Four elementary schools, then one middle and one high school
Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Jinks Middle School, then Bay High School. Enrollment is up 9% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Chautauqua Charter School, Palm Bay Preparatory Academy 6-12, Rising Leaders Academy, University Academy Sabl Inc, Central High School, Palm Bay Elementary School, Amikids Maritime Academy, The Collegiate School at Fsu PC, Holy Nativity Episcopal School (private), St. John Catholic Academy (private), Panama City Trilingual School (private), Panama City Advanced School (private), Kaleidoscope School of Discovery (private), Covenant Christian School (private), Square Pegs Learning Center (private), Adventist Christian Academy (private), Bacot Academy (private) and Gulf Coast School for Autism (private) are in town. Bay Virtual Franchise, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Panama City’s grade
B: better than 61% of Florida school districts, #319 of 638 Florida towns. Graduation is above the Florida average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Panama City, with each school’s own grade.
5th grade in Panama City · depends on your address
Northside Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 569 students · 16:1 students per teacher
Lucille Moore Elementary School
Grades PK–5 · 543 students · 15:1 students per teacher
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary
Grades PK–5 · 343 students · 13:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Panama City
Jinks Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 541 students · 18:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Panama City
Jinks Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 541 students · 18:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Panama City
Jinks Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 541 students · 18:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Panama City
Bay High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,289 students · 20:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Panama City
Bay High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,289 students · 20:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Panama City
Bay High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,289 students · 20:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Panama City
Bay High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,289 students · 20:1 students per teacher
Panama City’s public schools are run by Bay County School District, which also serves Callaway, Lynn Haven, Mexico Beach and Panama City Beach and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Close to the state in reading
Panama City vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Florida towns that share Panama City’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Panama City | B | Bay County |
| Lynn Haven | B | Bay County |
| Springfield | B | Bay County |
All 2 neighbors share Bay County with Panama City, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Panama City
28 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 4 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Exceptional Student Education, Bay Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Bay Virtual Instruction Program and Bay Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)).
Questions about Panama City’s schools
Are Panama City’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of Florida: the public schools Panama City children attend outscore 61% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #319 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 55%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Panama City in?
Bay County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 27,494 students in 47 schools (2024–25).
Where do Panama City kids go to high school?
Bay High School, with 1,289 students; its own test results earn a C.
What is Panama City’s graduation rate?
89% of the class of 2023 in Bay County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.
How much does Panama City spend per student?
$11,843 in Bay County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Panama City?
Yes: Holy Nativity Episcopal School (religious, grades PK–8, 283 students), St. John Catholic Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 203 students), Panama City Trilingual School (nonsectarian, grades PK–9, 166 students), Panama City Advanced School (religious, grades PK–12, 164 students), Kaleidoscope School of Discovery (special education, grades K–12, 159 students), Covenant Christian School (religious, grades K–11, 75 students), Square Pegs Learning Center (special education, grades PK–12, 45 students), Adventist Christian Academy (religious, grades K–8, 37 students), Bacot Academy (religious, grades K–12, 35 students) and Gulf Coast School for Autism (special education, grades , 25 students). Panama City also has 8 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Panama City families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Panama City → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Florida. Stars are from neighbors.