Summary:
The city of Haines City, Florida, is served by seven public schools within the Polk County School District, including one high school, two middle schools, and four elementary schools, all operating in a community with significant economic needs where the average free/reduced lunch rate is 71.6%.
The standout performer in the city is Daniel Jenkins Academy Of Technology Middle School, which ranks in the 56th percentile statewide and achieved 100% proficiency in Civics and 94% in Geometry, while its counterpart, Shelley S. Boone Middle School, ranks in the 9th percentile, highlighting a stark "middle school paradox" where school leadership and culture appear to be powerful differentiators. At the elementary level, Bethune Academy is a bright spot, ranking in the 54th percentile despite having the highest poverty rate (77.9%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the city (21.1%), while Sandhill Elementary and Eastside Elementary face attendance emergencies with chronic absenteeism rates of 46.4% and 47.5%, respectively.
The city's only high school, Haines City Senior High School, serves 3,105 students and struggles with a 44.5% chronic absenteeism rate and test scores 15-30 points below state averages, yet it reports a 91.2% graduation rate, suggesting a potential disconnect between academic proficiency and credentialing. Overall, the district ranks in the bottom 20% of Florida, and the average chronic absenteeism across schools with data is 38.0%, far exceeding the state average of 31.4%, making attendance the most critical issue for families to consider when evaluating schools in this area.
Thank you for your feedback!