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Lake Shipp Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1871^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Lake Shipp Elementary School in Winter Haven, FL, serves 576 students in grades PK-5 within the Polk district, where 77.6% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school’s most significant challenge is a critically high chronic absenteeism rate of 43.6% in 2023-2024, which is 12.2 points above the state average and more than triple the rate at nearby Frank E. Brigham Academy (13.5%). This persistent absenteeism—above 40% for three consecutive years—appears to be the primary driver of the school’s low academic performance, as students who miss nearly half of school days struggle to master grade-level material.

Despite these challenges, Lake Shipp shows a notable strength in 3rd grade math, with 69% of students proficient in 2025-2026—13 points above the district average and higher than several nearby schools like Fred G. Garner Academy (54%) and Wahneta Elementary (52%). However, the school experiences a dramatic "learning cliff" between 3rd and 4th grade: 4th grade math proficiency drops to just 28% (compared to 65% statewide), and 4th grade ELA falls to 37% (vs. 60% statewide). This pattern is more severe than at comparable schools, suggesting potential issues with curriculum alignment or instructional quality in upper elementary grades.

The school’s per-student spending ($10,113) is in the middle of the pack compared to neighbors, but its student-teacher ratio (20.5:1) is the highest among nearby schools, indicating that additional teaching staff or targeted intervention programs could yield significant returns. The contrast with Frank E. Brigham Academy (90th percentile ranking, 13.5% absenteeism) shows that high performance is achievable within the same district, suggesting Lake Shipp could benefit from adopting effective attendance and engagement strategies used by its higher-performing peers.

576

Students ?

20.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,113

Per pupil spending ?

77.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

250 Camellia Dr
Winter Haven, FL 33880

(863) 291-5384

District: Polk

Students who attend Lake Shipp Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Westwood Middle School
High:	Lake Region High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

35.4%

Hispanic:

32.8%

White:

23.8%

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Compare Lake Shipp Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 37th percentile in 2016 → 16th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (44% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

1,871^st of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to bottom 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

56^th 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	22.1	1871 of 2240	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.5	1962 of 2258	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	1791 of 2256	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.7	1537 of 2240	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	17.7	1920 of 2219	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.4	1766 of 2247	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.2	1538 of 2182	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.6	1650 of 2118	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	29.0	1530 of 2112	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	37.7	1318 of 2087	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	19.9	1756 of 2064	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	28.0	1535 of 2029	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	16.0	1750 of 1984	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.1	1582 of 1985	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	29.0	1454 of 1919	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	33.0	1340 of 1847	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	48.0	979 of 1789	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	48.7	978 of 1786	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	38.4	1084 of 1688	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts46%-15 vs state

Math43%-22 vs state

Science42%-18 vs state

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, May 10, 2019

Some of the staff treat the children very poorly and the principal shows no concern for parent concerns or well being of some of the students attending. Close Quote

Schools Near Lake Shipp Elementary School

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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 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
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
Pinewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 Gilbert St	Eagle Lake	33839	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 298-7977	740	43	17.2	73.0%	215 (29.1%)	191 (25.8%)	308 (41.6%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (2.6%)	32.2	1614^th of 2240 public elementary schools	27.9%		29.1	1671^st of 2258 public elementary schools	26.0%	57	53.0	56.0	53.0				48.0	41.0	56.0				55.0					$10,165	$1,472	$8,692
John Snively Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	848 Snively Ave	Eloise	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5325	396	24	16.5	82.3%	59 (14.9%)	106 (26.8%)	214 (54.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.8%)	44.8	1276^th of 2240 public elementary schools	43.0%		32.3	1579^th of 2258 public elementary schools	30.1%	303	65.0	64.0	49.0				64.0	66.0	45.0				50.0					$12,458	$1,967	$10,490
Eagle Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	400 Crystal Beach Rd	Eagle Lake	33839	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5357	644	34	18.9	75.2%	201 (31.2%)	137 (21.3%)	267 (41.5%)	6 (0.9%)	5 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (4.2%)	7.5	2178^th of 2240 public elementary schools	2.8%		10.4	2139^th of 2258 public elementary schools	5.3%	39	43.0	36.0	30.0				41.0	31.0	20.0				33.0					$11,515	$2,072	$9,444
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
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
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
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
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
Wahneta Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	205 4th St E	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5392	491	28	17.5	81.5%	46 (9.4%)	18 (3.7%)	422 (85.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	25.1	1786^th of 2240 public elementary schools	20.3%		26.5	1741^st of 2258 public elementary schools	22.9%	45	37.0	41.0	45.0				52.0	48.0	55.0				58.0					$11,455	$1,756	$9,698

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Shipp Elementary School

Is Lake Shipp Elementary School a good school?

Lake Shipp Elementary School ranks in the bottom 16.5% of Florida elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Lake Shipp Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Lake Shipp Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Westwood Middle School
High : Lake Region High School

How many students attend Lake Shipp Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 576 students attended Lake Shipp Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Lake Shipp Elementary School?

Students at Lake Shipp Elementary School are 35% African American, 33% Hispanic, 24% White, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Lake Shipp Elementary School in?

Polk

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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.