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Fred G. Garner Academy

Q: Is Fred G. Garner Academy a good school?

Fred G. Garner Academy ranks 1590 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1590^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 29% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Fred G. Garner Academy is a PK-5 elementary school in Winter Haven, FL, serving 817 students within the Polk district, where 77.85% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school is in the midst of a remarkable turnaround. After years of ranking in the bottom 10% of Florida elementary schools, Garner Academy has climbed from the 2nd percentile in 2019 to the 29th percentile in the 2025-2026 school year, earning its first star rating in years. The standout achievement is in 4th-grade math, where 66% of students are proficient—10 points above the district average and 1 point above the state average. This is especially impressive compared to nearby schools like Inwood Elementary (6th percentile) and Elbert Elementary (8th percentile), which remain at the very bottom. Even Hartridge Academy, a higher-performing school (66th percentile) with a lower poverty rate, ties Garner Academy in 4th-grade math proficiency.

However, the school's success is uneven. While 4th graders excel, 5th graders struggle significantly—only 50% are proficient in math and 43% in ELA, well below state averages. Chronic absenteeism is also a critical issue, with a 39.7% rate in 2023-2024, though this is an improvement from over 50% in prior years. The school's upward trajectory, driven by strong leadership and targeted interventions, contrasts sharply with Inwood Elementary, just 1.04 miles away, which serves a similar population but remains stagnant. Garner Academy's future depends on sustaining its momentum, replicating its 4th-grade math success across all grades, and aggressively tackling absenteeism.

817

Students ?

17.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,926

Per pupil spending ?

77.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2500 Havendale Blvd NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881

(863) 965-5455

District: Polk

Students who attend Fred G. Garner Academy usually attend:

High:

Winter Haven Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

42.8%

Hispanic:

36.7%

White:

16.3%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Fred G. Garner Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 4th percentile in 2016 → 29th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 25 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (52% vs 62% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 31% Florida)

!Science scores 17 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

1,590^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 29%▲ up 25 pts since 2016

From bottom 4% (2016) to bottom 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

43^rd 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	32.9	1590 of 2240	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.0	1675 of 2258	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.3	1552 of 2256	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.6	2013 of 2240	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.8	2003 of 2219	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.4	2038 of 2247	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	4.9	2133 of 2182	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.2	1991 of 2118	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	3.9	2082 of 2112	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	8.3	2000 of 2087	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	13.6	1896 of 2064	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	12.0	1901 of 2029	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	10.7	1867 of 1984	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	11.5	1840 of 1985	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	14.7	1730 of 1919	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	7.1	1774 of 1847	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	11.0	1670 of 1789	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	16.4	1570 of 1786	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	29.5	1226 of 1688	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math57%-8 vs state

English Language Arts51%-9 vs state

Science43%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Fred G. Garner Academy

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 Geometry (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 Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Fred G. Garner Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Havendale Blvd NW	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5455	817	46	17.7	77.8%	133 (16.3%)	350 (42.8%)	300 (36.7%)	9 (1.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (2.7%)	32.9	1590^th of 2240 public elementary schools	29.0%		29	1675^th of 2258 public elementary schools	25.8%	85	53.0	57.0	43.0				54.0	66.0	50.0				43.0					$11,926	$1,946	$9,979
Inwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2200 Avenue G NW	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5369	423	21	20.1	82.3%	57 (13.5%)	219 (51.8%)	127 (30.0%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.5%)	12.2	2101^st of 2240 public elementary schools	6.2%		17.2	1984^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.1%	117	29.0	29.0	49.0				46.0	33.0	38.0				47.0					$10,350	$1,554	$8,796
Hartridge Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	1400 Us Highway 92 W	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 956-4434	200	11	18.1	54.5%	97 (48.5%)	22 (11.0%)	69 (34.5%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.5%)	64.6	766^th of 2240 public elementary schools	65.8%		82	368^th of 2258 public elementary schools	83.7%	398	61.0	55.0	57.0				94.0	80.0	60.0				64.0					$11,330	$475	$10,855
Auburndale Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	320 Lemon St	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5450	371	17	21.8	74.9%	117 (31.5%)	85 (22.9%)	140 (37.7%)	8 (2.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.1%)	19.5	1946^th of 2240 public elementary schools	13.1%		19.8	1913^th of 2258 public elementary schools	15.3%	33	41.0	52.0	55.0				45.0	35.0	40.0				41.0					$12,190	$1,659	$10,531
Walter Caldwell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	141 Dairy Rd	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5470	887	54	16.4	72.7%	243 (27.4%)	266 (30.0%)	334 (37.7%)	9 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (3.8%)	36	1499^th of 2240 public elementary schools	33.1%		36.9	1454^th of 2258 public elementary schools	35.6%	45	46.0	48.0	58.0				52.0	58.0	60.0				59.0					$11,031	$1,619	$9,412
Cypress Junction Montessori	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	220 5th St SW	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 259-1490	317	17	18.3		162 (51.1%)	32 (10.1%)	107 (33.8%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.5%)	33.5	1572^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	29.8%		41.2	1323^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	41.4%	249	83.0	74.0	59.0	45.0	57.0	35.0	56.0	44.0	24.0	32.0	50.0	15.0	34.0	53.0	39.0	60.0	43.0	$9,035	$517	$8,517
Jewett School Of The Arts	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	2250 8th St NE	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 291-5373	746	45	16.5	63.0%	165 (22.1%)	331 (44.4%)	194 (26.0%)	13 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (5.5%)	55.8	992^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	55.7%		44.9	1224^th of 2258 public elementary schools	45.8%	232	78.0	60.0	53.0	70.0	67.0	63.0	88.0	77.0	47.0	69.0	42.0	47.0	47.0	51.0	84.0	80.0	95.0	$10,832	$1,227	$9,604
Frank E. Brigham Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	601 Avenue C SE	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 291-5300	547	31	17.6	51.9%	221 (40.4%)	143 (26.1%)	143 (26.1%)	18 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.0%)	86	234^th of 2240 public elementary schools	89.6%		88.9	200^th of 2258 public elementary schools	91.1%	34	85.0	78.0	79.0				92.0	88.0	78.0				63.0					$11,639	$1,220	$10,419
Lake Shipp Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	250 Camellia Dr	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5384	576	28	20.5	77.6%	137 (23.8%)	204 (35.4%)	189 (32.8%)	9 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (6.1%)	22.1	1871^st of 2240 public elementary schools	16.5%		18.5	1962^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	13.1%	91	60.0	37.0	41.0				69.0	28.0	33.0				42.0					$10,113	$1,362	$8,751
Elbert Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	205 15th St NE	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5364	549	29	18.9	72.9%	110 (20.0%)	221 (40.3%)	195 (35.5%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.1%)	14	2061^st of 2240 public elementary schools	8.0%		16.5	2000^th of 2258 public elementary schools	11.4%	61	40.0	44.0	37.0				44.0	52.0	33.0				33.0					$10,817	$1,384	$9,432

Frequently Asked Questions about Fred G. Garner Academy

What schools do graduates of Fred G. Garner Academy attend?

Students who attend Fred G. Garner Academy usually go on to attend:

High : Winter Haven Senior High School

Is Fred G. Garner Academy a good school?

Fred G. Garner Academy ranks 1590^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Fred G. Garner Academy in?

Polk

How many students attend Fred G. Garner Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 817 students attended Fred G. Garner Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Fred G. Garner Academy?

Students at Fred G. Garner Academy are 43% African American, 37% Hispanic, 16% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Rate Fred G. Garner 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.