Middle School

Middle School Scholars Magnet Program at Pensacola High School

Level Up Your Student’s Middle School Experience with our Advanced 7th and 8th Grade Magnet Program exclusively at Pensacola High School

2026-27 Middle/High School Open Enrollment
Open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school will be open from October 27, 2025 - December 5, 2025. Please find the application linked below.
2026-27 Open Enrollment Application

We encourage every interested individual to apply.

About the Middle School Scholars Program
 

Vision: To become Escambia County’s premier advanced middle‑school option. Delivering rigorous academics and real‑world career pathways without the private school price tag.

Mission: We meet each student’s unique needs through accelerated coursework, comprehensive electives, and a supportive community that fosters academic excellence, creativity, and lifelong curiosity. 
 

Magnet School Differentiators
What Puts Us A Step Above the Rest

• Seamless Bridge to High School - Fewer transitions between schools give students more time to build relationships with faculty, ensuring a smoother shift to high school. Households with multiple students also benefit, as siblings can stay together.
   
• Accelerated Academics - Pre‑IB, pre‑AP, and accelerated honors courses give Middle School Scholar students the chance to earn high‑school credit early. For example, a middle‑schooler who completes Algebra 1 can move into higher‑level classes, potentially reaching Pre-Calculus or Calculus by senior year.
   
• Tuition-Free Education - a high-quality public education program that can save families thousands every year.

• Dedicated West Wing - PHS’s west wing has 12 modern classrooms, a private entrance, restrooms, and a stairwell reserved exclusively for our middle‑school cohorts. Safety remains our top priority.
   
• Earlier Release Time - Traditional middle schools in Escambia County start and release later in the day. Students in the Middle School Scholars program at PHS will be on a high school schedule, meaning students release earlier in the day and will have more time for extra-curriculars, studying, and family activities. 
   
• Trusted Transportation - Like Brown Bardge Middle School, students in the Middle School Scholars program at PHS will use the same bus routes as high‑schoolers. Each bus carries one driver and one adult supervisor. As an added safety measure, middle‑school students will be dismissed before high‑school students so they can board the buses and access the car‑pool lanes first.
   
• Career Prep - PHS offers industry‑partnered CTE academies in health science, culinary arts, welding, construction, and business. Middle‑schoolers have limited access now, but these pathways open fully once they enter high school.
   
• Arts & Music - PHS is the go-to school for students eager to nurture and expand their creative talents. We offer a full range of art programs - including photography, visual arts, theater, band, drumline, and orchestra.  Additionally, our photography department features one of the few remaining high school darkrooms in the state of Florida, giving students a unique hands-on experience.

• JROTC - PHS proudly hosts the district’s sole Air Force-specific JROTC program, offering an unparalleled opportunity for young leaders to immerse themselves in the traditions and values of the United States Air Force. 8th graders can enroll in AFJROTC classes for high‑school credit
   
• Mentorship Model - Our dedicated faculty ensures that each student receives a high-quality education. PHS proudly employs many former IB graduates as teachers, and we benefit from staff who have been with us for years.
   

Safety & Security for Middle School Scholars

• Ensuring Age-Appropriate Experiences - Middle School Scholar students will have their own dedicated wing, their own lunch period, PE Classes, and dismissal procedures.
   
• Staggered Dismissal – Middle school students will be dismissed slightly ahead of high school students to ensure a safe and smooth transition.
   
• Transportation - PHS will have a separate car‑pool lane for Middle School Scholar students to reduce congestion. Additionally, bus students will get priority boarding. 
   
• On‑site Security -  PHS has a dedicated on-campus team that ensures the safety of all students and staff.