Horace Mann Middle School became Brandon's first standalone junior high school in 1957, enrolling students from the Brandon School, then in operation on the McLane campus. Shaded by grand oak trees, Mann became a middle school in the 1996-97 school year and continues to serve students in grades 6 through 8.
The school's namesake is Horace Mann, after a man who grew up poor on a farm in Massachusetts and was educated in a one-room schoolhouse. Preparing for a career in law, Mann attended Brown University and eventually worked in law and business but later dedicated himself to social reforms. As a state senator in 1837, Mann turned his attention to public schools and to a crusade for universal education, which would last the remainder of his life.
Horace Mann Middle School operates with the mission to "empower the student with the essential tools to become a positive and productive citizen of the school and world community." The school's mascot is the Raiders and the school colors are orange and blue. The school's motto is "Success is the only option."
The school accepts students from Seffner, Valrico and Yates elementary schools. All four schools have received "A" grades from the state.