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Bethune Academy

Q: Is Bethune Academy a good school?

Bethune Academy ranks 1025 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

1025^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 54% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Bethune Academy is a public elementary school in Haines City, FL, serving 430 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the Polk County School District, and it stands out as a strong performer despite serving a high-poverty community where nearly 78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Bethune Academy is a clear "bright spot" in the district, consistently outperforming its neighbors and the district average. For example, its 4th graders achieved a remarkable 74% proficiency rate in Math, which is 18 points higher than the district average and 9 points higher than the state average. This is especially impressive when compared to nearby schools like Eastside Elementary School, located just 0.69 miles away with similar demographics, which ranks in the 9th percentile. The school also excels in Science, with 5th graders scoring 63% proficiency—14 points above the district and 3 points above the state. Additionally, Bethune Academy has a low chronic absenteeism rate of just 21.1%, far better than the district average of 39.1% and neighboring schools like Sandhill Elementary School (46.4%) and Loughman Oaks Elementary School (56%).

The school has shown consistent improvement, rising from the 36th percentile in 2022-2023 to the 54th percentile in 2025-2026, earning a 3-star rating. This upward trend is a key differentiator from stagnant or declining schools like Horizons Elementary School and Alta Vista Elementary School. While per-student spending at Bethune Academy ($11,143) is higher than some neighbors but lower than others, its success suggests that school-level factors like leadership and culture are driving results. For parents, this school offers a proven track record of academic growth and strong family engagement, making it a standout choice in the area.

430

Students ?

21.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,143

Per pupil spending ?

77.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

900 Avenue F
Haines City, FL 33844

(863) 421-3334

District: Polk

Racial breakdown:

African American:

50.7%

Hispanic:

34.4%

White:

10.7%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 57th percentile in 2016 → 54th in 2026

Strengths

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Polk

✓Above the Florida median (54th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school62%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

1,025^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 46%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

From top 43% (2016) to top 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

21^st of 86Elementary Schools in the Polk

61^st of 70Polk among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	54.8	1025 of 2240	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.4	1103 of 2258	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.9	1348 of 2256	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.9	1444 of 2240	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.3	1129 of 2219	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.2	1020 of 2247	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.1	1149 of 2182	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.2	814 of 2118	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	51.2	1032 of 2112	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.0	892 of 2087	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.3	709 of 2064	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.0	721 of 2029	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	75.1	457 of 1984	77.0%	★★★★☆
2011	69.2	617 of 1985	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	71.2	540 of 1919	71.9%	★★★★☆
2009	64.8	673 of 1847	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.9	686 of 1789	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	76.1	390 of 1786	78.2%	★★★★☆
2006	74.2	432 of 1688	74.4%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math64%~ state avg

Science63%+3 vs state

English Language Arts61%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Bethune Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bethune Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	900 Avenue F	Haines City	33844	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 421-3334	430	20	21.5	77.9%	46 (10.7%)	218 (50.7%)	148 (34.4%)	7 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.6%)	54.8	1025^th of 2240 public elementary schools	54.2%		50.4	1103^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	51.2%	78	55.0	62.0	64.0				55.0	74.0	62.0				63.0					$11,143	$2,085	$9,058
Eastside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1820 Johnson Ave E	Haines City	33844	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 421-3254	725	34	21.3	77.0%	47 (6.5%)	179 (24.7%)	492 (67.9%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	14.6	2048^th of 2240 public elementary schools	8.6%		12.8	2084^th of 2258 public elementary schools	7.7%	36	36.0	45.0	36.0				47.0	50.0	41.0				38.0					$11,092	$1,550	$9,541
Alta Vista Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	801 Scenic Hwy S	Haines City	33844	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 421-3235	780	45	17.3	70.9%	80 (10.3%)	191 (24.5%)	495 (63.5%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (1.2%)	16.6	2005^th of 2240 public elementary schools	10.5%		12.3	2098^th of 2258 public elementary schools	7.1%	93	45.0	49.0	40.0	49.0			44.0	40.0	33.0	51.0			39.0					$10,923	$1,568	$9,354
Davenport Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8 W Palmetto St	Davenport	33837	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 534-0500	938	37	25.3	67.4%	119 (12.7%)	183 (19.5%)	606 (64.6%)	8 (0.9%)	7 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (1.6%)	20.9	1897^th of 2240 public elementary schools	15.3%		23.2	1820^th of 2258 public elementary schools	19.4%	77	47.0	45.0	50.0				38.0	51.0	46.0				43.0					$9,933	$1,341	$8,592
Navigator Academy Of Leadership Davenport	Public, Charter	K-8	495 Holly Hill Rd	Davenport	33837	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 353-3005	977	56	17.4	51.7%	83 (8.5%)	88 (9.0%)	778 (79.6%)	12 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	11 (1.1%)	25	1789^th of 2240 public elementary schools	20.1%		29.8	1654^th of 2258 public elementary schools	26.7%	135	58.0	41.0	42.0	65.0	59.0	58.0	58.0	36.0	34.0	52.0	49.0	8.0	32.0	18.0	65.0	78.0	69.0	$7,909	$924	$6,985
Horizons Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1700 Forest Lake Dr	Davenport	33837	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 419-3430	1,543	80	19.2	64.0%	148 (9.6%)	370 (24.0%)	968 (62.7%)	21 (1.4%)	11 (0.7%)	6 (0.4%)	19 (1.2%)	14.9	2043^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	8.8%		16.3	2004^th of 2258 public elementary schools	11.2%	39	34.0	40.0	42.0				44.0	44.0	45.0				46.0					$9,614	$1,467	$8,147
Lake Alfred Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	550 Cummings St E	Lake Alfred	33850	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 295-5985	1,059	56	18.9	65.0%	198 (18.7%)	301 (28.4%)	504 (47.6%)	13 (1.2%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (3.8%)	23.1	1845^th of 2240 public elementary schools	17.6%		30.4	1632^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	27.7%	213	43.0	50.0	44.0				57.0	50.0	41.0				47.0					$9,528	$1,341	$8,185
Dundee Elementary Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	215 Frederick Ave	Dundee	33838	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 421-3316	657	41	16.0	63.8%	197 (30.0%)	111 (16.9%)	324 (49.3%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	16 (2.4%)	63.6	795^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.5%		61.2	853^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	62.2%	58	80.0	51.0	64.0				81.0	60.0	69.0				65.0					$10,904	$1,372	$9,533
Sandhill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1801 Tyner Rd	Haines City	33844	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 419-3166	1,111	59	18.8	68.5%	166 (14.9%)	249 (22.4%)	653 (58.8%)	10 (0.9%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	29 (2.6%)	13.5	2072^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	7.5%		12.9	2082^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	7.8%	10	38.0	46.0	51.0				31.0	38.0	37.0				36.0					$10,021	$1,611	$8,411
Loughman Oaks Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4600 Us Hwy 17- 92 N	Davenport	33837	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 421-3309	1,179	57	20.6	54.4%	194 (16.5%)	244 (20.7%)	693 (58.8%)	20 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	25 (2.1%)	15.1	2036^th of 2240 public elementary schools	9.1%		14.7	2043^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	9.5%	7	40.0	42.0	48.0				41.0	48.0	37.0				40.0					$9,327	$1,248	$8,079

Frequently Asked Questions about Bethune Academy

Is Bethune Academy a good school?

Bethune Academy ranks 1025^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Bethune Academy in?

Polk

What is the racial makeup of Bethune Academy?

Students at Bethune Academy are 51% African American, 34% Hispanic, 11% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Bethune Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 430 students attended Bethune Academy.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.