In 2012, Milton Area Middle School was in Making Progress: in School Improvement II Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status. In 2011, Milton Area Middle School declined to School Improvement II status due to chronic, low student achievement in reading on grade level. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school administration was required to notify parents of the school's poor achievement outcomes and to offer the parent the opportunity to transfer to a successful school within the district. Additionally the school administration was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to develop a School Improvement Plan to address the school's low student achievement. Under the Pennsylvania Accountability System, the school district must pay for additional tutoring for struggling students.