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Bartow Elementary Academy

Q: Is Bartow Elementary Academy a good school?

Bartow Elementary Academy ranks 537 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades K-5

537^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Bartow Elementary Academy is a public elementary school in Bartow, FL, serving 524 students in grades K-5 and stands out as a high-performing school within the Polk district, which ranks in the bottom 13% of Florida districts. The school has a strong track record, having been a 5-star school from 2015-2019 and ranking in the top 8% of Florida elementary schools, and while it has declined from those peak years, it has stabilized as a solid 4-star school currently ranking in the 76th percentile statewide.

Academically, Bartow Elementary Academy consistently outperforms both the district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade level. For example, in 3rd Grade ELA, the school scores 81% proficient compared to the district's 53% and the state's 60%, and in 5th Grade Math, it scores 78% versus the district's 51% and the state's 62%. This performance is far superior to nearby schools like Floral Avenue Elementary School (12th percentile) and Spessard L Holland Elementary (16th percentile), and even outperforms the well-regarded Valleyview Elementary School in several key metrics. The school also has a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 17.6%, which is less than half the district average of 39.1% and significantly lower than nearby schools like Bella Citta (57.4%) and Alturas Elementary School (47.1%), suggesting a strong culture of attendance and family engagement.

Interestingly, Bartow Elementary Academy achieves these high results without being the highest spender, with a per-student cost of $11,212, which is less than struggling schools like James E. Stephens Academy ($17,386) and Highland City Elementary School ($13,608). This suggests the school's success is driven by effective teaching, strong leadership, and positive school culture. One potential area for attention is 4th Grade Math, where the school scored 67% proficient—still above district and state averages but notably lower than its own 3rd Grade (73%) and 5th Grade (78%) math scores, which could indicate a specific instructional challenge or cohort effect.

524

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,212

Per pupil spending ?

49%

Free/discounted lunch ?

590 Wilson Ave S
Bartow, FL 33830

(863) 534-7410

District: Polk

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.8%

Hispanic:

23.9%

African American:

16.4%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 65th percentile in 2023 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (72% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of Florida elementary schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 76th (2026) from a 65th-percentile low (2023)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school72%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

537^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From top 3% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^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	73.7	537 of 2240	76.0%	★★★★☆
2025	71.5	593 of 2258	73.7%	★★★★☆
2024	73.2	568 of 2256	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	62.8	779 of 2240	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	72.7	576 of 2219	74.0%	★★★★☆
2021	74.0	556 of 2247	75.3%	★★★★☆
2019	89.2	175 of 2182	92.0%	★★★★★
2018	93.2	73 of 2118	96.6%	★★★★★
2017	92.6	84 of 2112	96.0%	★★★★★
2016	94.8	53 of 2087	97.5%	★★★★★
2014	86.8	222 of 2064	89.2%	★★★★☆
2013	94.3	49 of 2029	97.6%	★★★★★
2012	92.0	99 of 1984	95.0%	★★★★★
2011	93.4	38 of 1985	98.1%	★★★★★
2010	94.2	31 of 1919	98.4%	★★★★★
2009	92.2	55 of 1847	97.0%	★★★★★
2008	94.5	24 of 1789	98.7%	★★★★★
2007	93.3	42 of 1786	97.6%	★★★★★
2006	94.4	53 of 1688	96.9%	★★★★★

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts73%+13 vs state

Math72%+8 vs state

Science66%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bartow Elementary 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 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
Bartow Elementary Academy	Public, Magnet	K-5	590 Wilson Ave S	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 534-7410	524	34	15.4	49.0%	266 (50.8%)	86 (16.4%)	125 (23.9%)	16 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (5.7%)	73.7	537^th of 2240 public elementary schools	76.0%		71.5	593^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	73.7%	56	81.0	72.0	67.0				73.0	67.0	78.0				66.0					$11,212	$1,323	$9,888
Floral Avenue Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1530 Floral Ave S	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 534-7420	585	38	15.3	70.9%	282 (48.2%)	92 (15.7%)	184 (31.5%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (3.4%)	18.8	1963^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	12.4%		31.3	1606^th of 2258 public elementary schools	28.9%	357	27.0	41.0	49.0				43.0	53.0	46.0				52.0					$11,644	$1,787	$9,856
Bella Citta	Public	PK, KG-8	1915 S Floral Ave	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 519-7600	1,459	60	24.3	54.9%	219 (15.0%)	286 (19.6%)	910 (62.4%)	18 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (1.7%)	24.1	1812^th of 2240 public elementary schools	19.1%		26	1755^th of 2258 public elementary schools	22.3%	57	53.0	48.0	49.0	46.0	43.0	41.0	59.0	49.0	40.0	46.0	44.0	41.0	37.0	31.0	64.0	90.0	75.0	$8,051	$1,075	$6,976
James E. Stephens Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1350 Maple Ave N	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 534-7455	336	23	14.6	79.2%	74 (22.0%)	138 (41.1%)	106 (31.5%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (3.9%)	52.7	1081^st of 2240 public elementary schools	51.7%		51.6	1079^th of 2258 public elementary schools	52.2%	2	69.0	52.0	52.0				69.0	61.0	70.0				59.0					$17,386	$3,625	$13,761
Spessard L Holland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2342 Ef Griffin Rd	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3031	843	49	17.2	64.5%	298 (35.3%)	240 (28.5%)	253 (30.0%)	16 (1.9%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	31 (3.7%)	21.6	1886^th of 2240 public elementary schools	15.8%		31.6	1600^th of 2258 public elementary schools	29.1%	286	44.0	53.0	51.0				45.0	42.0	39.0				48.0					$10,804	$1,659	$9,144
Highland City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5355 9th Street SE	Highland City	33846	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3540	414	28	14.7	63.5%	197 (47.6%)	41 (9.9%)	139 (33.6%)	6 (1.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.0%)	47.9	1195^th of 2240 public elementary schools	46.7%		47.7	1166^th of 2258 public elementary schools	48.4%	29	54.0	44.0	62.0				69.0	48.0	72.0				66.0					$13,608	$1,784	$11,823
Valleyview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2900 State Rd 540a E	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 648-3535	783	52	15.0	41.4%	412 (52.6%)	117 (14.9%)	184 (23.5%)	43 (5.5%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (2.8%)	74.7	511^th of 2240 public elementary schools	77.2%		79.4	416^th of 2258 public elementary schools	81.6%	95	73.0	71.0	69.0				73.0	70.0	82.0				69.0					$11,059	$1,070	$9,989
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
Scott Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1140 County Road 540a E	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3520	735	47	15.6	55.0%	374 (50.9%)	112 (15.2%)	200 (27.2%)	20 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (3.7%)	56.7	966^th of 2240 public elementary schools	56.9%		57.7	930^th of 2258 public elementary schools	58.8%	36	58.0	72.0	65.0				57.0	71.0	66.0				55.0					$11,561	$1,488	$10,074
Alturas Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	420 4th St	Alturas	33820	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 519-3917	274	19	14.4	75.9%	179 (65.3%)	17 (6.2%)	67 (24.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (2.9%)	50	1142^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	49.0%		56.6	957^th of 2258 public elementary schools	57.6%	185	62.0	57.0	54.0				47.0	71.0	67.0				64.0					$13,971	$1,795	$12,176

Frequently Asked Questions about Bartow Elementary Academy

What is the racial makeup of Bartow Elementary Academy?

Students at Bartow Elementary Academy are 51% White, 24% Hispanic, 16% African American, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Is Bartow Elementary Academy a good school?

Bartow Elementary Academy ranks 537^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Bartow Elementary Academy in?

Polk

How many students attend Bartow Elementary Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 524 students attended Bartow Elementary 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.