Hobbs Middle School (Hobbs) is a middle school located in Milton, FL, just east of Pensacola, FL. Hobbs is one of the eight brick and mortar middle schools in Santa Rosa County, FL. Named after the late Raymond B. Hobbs, a former educator, principal, and superintendent in Santa Rosa County, Hobbs was established as the first ‘middle school’ in the county in 1968. Hobbs has proudly and purposefully served the Milton community since, where the school has established a long-standing tradition of excellence, a tradition that has seen the school and community through many changes and much evolution.
As it stands today, Hobbs currently serves just over 700 students. Demographically and socioeconomically speaking, our school is primarily white and of modest means. Our black subgroup is the next largest subgroup, and nearly 60% of our students are classified as free or reduced lunch. We have a large population of students with disabilities. Nearly 19% of our students are supported with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and 4% need additional supports through a Section 504 plan. We have a small population of English Language Learners (3 students), and we have 22 students in our gifted education program.
Regarding the faculty and staff of Hobbs Middle School, the school employs administrators, teachers, and educational support personnel. Various ancillary services also serve the school. A Community Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CDAC), a Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLAC), custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, an ELL teacher, and a Speech and Language teacher also serve us, but are staffed or contracted through organizations outside of the school directly.
Regarding the experience that Hobbs offers to its students, there is a comprehensive program in place. We offer at each grade level for every student four core courses, one each in language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. To supplement the four core courses, we offer various elective classes, from digital literacy courses to physical education to the arts (band and art) to reading and critical thinking. To meet the various needs of students, we have many initiatives and programs. We offer support to Exceptional Education Students (ESE) through ESE services like learning strategies classes and collaborative teaching classes. We progress monitor and serve struggling learners through the Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS). We have advanced and gifted coursework for academically talented students. We participate in academic initiatives such as ‘Celebrate Literacy’ and STEAM. We offer counseling services through our guidance department, a MFLAC, and a CDAC. We have several after school clubs (Student Government, Anchored4Life, Students Working Against Tobacco, Run Club). This list could continue; instead, to put a fine point on it, Hobbs knows the needs of our students, academically, socially, and physically, and we seek every opportunity to meet these needs.
In the last three years, growth and development have been the significant changes that have impacted schools in Santa Rosa County, as both factors have dramatically changed the landscape of our communities. Speaking to Hobbs specifically, the Milton community had historically been one of the main ones in Santa Rosa County. While Milton is still established, population has shifted to the neighboring communities of Pace and Navarre. This shift began gradually, years ago. Much of Santa Rosa County outside of Milton was once rural and undeveloped. Recently, though, there has been a boom in our county, with dramatic and drastic development of Pace and Navarre. Because of this growth, while Hobbs was once the school with whom others competed, we must now vie for our place in the school district.
But, compete we do, and successfully so. No matter the challenges we face, Hobbs provides for our students and families. Our building may be older, our students may be at greater disadvantages academically and economically, our community may have evolved and changed dramatically in recent years. No matter, Hobbs provides rigorous, engaging academic instruction, while also meeting the needs of the whole child. Hobbs has innovative teachers and programs, highly effective staff and supports, and is just a great place to learn and work. We are proud, not just because we have been here the longest, but also because we continue to do what is best for our students, their families, our community, and all our stakeholders. As is common to be heard at Hobbs, this school is a ‘nowhere but here’ type of atmosphere, because it truly is, nowhere but here.
