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Lake Gibson Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

1062^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 13% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Lake Gibson Middle School in Lakeland, FL, is a mid-sized school serving 1,149 students in grades 6-8, and it is part of the Polk district, which faces significant systemic challenges. The school has historically ranked in the bottom 20-30% of Florida middle schools, earning a 1-star rating for several years, and 69.1% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a figure that has been rising steadily.

The most striking feature of Lake Gibson is the massive gap between its performance in advanced math courses and its struggles in core grade-level subjects. In the 2025-2026 school year, the school achieved a 92% proficiency rate in Geometry and a 71% proficiency rate in Algebra 1, dramatically higher than district and state averages. However, only 34% of 8th graders were proficient in ELA and just 29% of 7th graders were proficient in Math, both well below district and state averages. This creates a "tale of two schools" where advanced students thrive, but the majority of students are left behind. Nearby schools like Lakeland Highlands Middle School and Lawton Chiles Middle Academy also have strong advanced math programs, but their overall test scores are much more balanced, with Lakeland Highlands achieving 61% proficiency in 8th Grade ELA compared to Lake Gibson's 34%.

Chronic absenteeism is a major challenge, with 42.5% of students chronically absent in the 2023-2024 school year, higher than the district and state averages. This is likely a primary driver of low test scores in core subjects. Additionally, 8th Grade Science is a persistent weakness, with only 31% of students proficient, well below the district average of 41% and state average of 52%. The school's state ranking has declined from the 36th percentile in 2015-2016 to the 13th percentile in 2025-2026, coinciding with rising poverty rates. To improve, Lake Gibson must address its attendance crisis and find ways to replicate the success of its advanced math program for the broader student body, particularly in science and grade-level ELA and math.

1,149

Students ?

21.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,148

Per pupil spending ?

69.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6901 Socrum Loop Rd N
Lakeland, FL 33809

(863) 853-6151

District: Polk

Students who attend Lake Gibson Middle School usually attend:

High:

Lake Gibson Senior High School

Feeder schools for Lake Gibson Middle School:

Elementary:	Edgar L. Padgett Elementary
	Wendell Watson Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.2%

Hispanic:

33.7%

African American:

19.1%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 36th percentile in 2016 → 13th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (42% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (42% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg48%

Florida avg61%

1,062^nd of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 23 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

19^th of 25Middle 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	17.1	1062 of 1216	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.2	1033 of 1205	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.5	1004 of 1196	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.1	934 of 1177	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.0	904 of 1148	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.4	774 of 1136	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.6	807 of 1099	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.1	741 of 1035	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	29.7	732 of 1031	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	35.5	643 of 997	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	30.4	709 of 999	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	36.9	618 of 956	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	32.3	623 of 897	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	33.8	629 of 891	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	38.2	565 of 839	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	41.0	508 of 780	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	44.1	449 of 740	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	46.2	423 of 736	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	51.9	341 of 675	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.0	343 of 602	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	56.9	275 of 593	53.6%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry92%+36 vs state

Civics89%+12 vs state

Algebra 171%+8 vs state

English Language Arts41%-21 vs state

Math35%-23 vs state

Science31%-21 vs state

★

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Schools Near Lake Gibson Middle School

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 Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (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 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Lake Gibson Middle School	Public	6-8	6901 Socrum Loop Rd N	Lakeland	33809	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6151	1,149	53	21.6	69.1%	485 (42.2%)	220 (19.1%)	387 (33.7%)	23 (2.0%)	6 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (2.4%)	17.1	1062^nd of 1216 public middle schools	12.7%		18.2	1033^rd of 1205 public middle schools	14.3%	29	45.0	43.0	34.0			37.0	29.0	38.0	31.0	71.0	92.0			89.0	$9,148	$1,268	$7,880
Sleepy Hill Middle School	Public	6-8	2215 Sleepy Hill Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 815-6577	886	43	20.6	76.6%	169 (19.1%)	219 (24.7%)	459 (51.8%)	17 (1.9%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.0%)	11.3	1111^th of 1216 public middle schools	8.6%		8.2	1123^rd of 1205 public middle schools	6.8%	12	38.0	38.0	31.0			29.0	27.0	33.0	23.0	79.0	85.0			83.0	$10,191	$1,465	$8,726
Kathleen Middle School	Public	6-8	3627 Kathleen Pnes	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6040	742	39	19.0	80.1%	250 (33.7%)	136 (18.3%)	330 (44.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	23 (3.1%)	13.2	1100^th of 1216 public middle schools	9.5%		10.5	1107^th of 1205 public middle schools	8.1%	7	42.0	43.0	33.0			26.0	24.0	31.0	29.0	69.0	94.0			89.0	$10,631	$1,594	$9,036
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	400 Florida Ave N	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 499-2742	704	34	20.7	43.8%	314 (44.6%)	156 (22.2%)	161 (22.9%)	48 (6.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.6%)	74.2	281^st of 1216 public middle schools	76.9%		70.3	328^th of 1205 public middle schools	72.8%	47	74.0	77.0	80.0			68.0	51.0	69.0	72.0	96.0	98.0			100.0	$9,259	$878	$8,381
Crystal Lake Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2410 Crystal Lake Dr N	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2970	753	32	23.5	83.1%	213 (28.3%)	180 (23.9%)	310 (41.2%)	11 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	34 (4.5%)	18.4	1051^st of 1216 public middle schools	13.6%		8	1129^th of 1205 public middle schools	6.3%	78	39.0	39.0	39.0			30.0	46.0	39.0	31.0	85.0	82.0			88.0	$11,361	$1,695	$9,665
Berkley Accelerated	Public, Charter	6-10	5316 Berkley Rd	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 984-2400	622	31	20.0	30.7%	421 (67.7%)	30 (4.8%)	145 (23.3%)	9 (1.4%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.3%)	71.1	315^th of 1216 public middle schools	74.1%		73.2	290^th of 1205 public middle schools	75.9%	25	82.0	81.0	67.0	78.0	79.0	85.0	85.0	33.0	27.0	88.0	81.0	92.0	93.0	90.0	$7,956	$318	$7,638
Southwest Middle School	Public	6-8	2815 Eden Pkwy	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2840	746	32	23.3	73.3%	218 (29.2%)	175 (23.5%)	317 (42.5%)	9 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (3.4%)	23.2	1000^th of 1216 public middle schools	17.8%		20.4	997^th of 1205 public middle schools	17.3%	3	46.0	49.0	45.0			40.0	36.0	35.0	38.0	79.0	85.0			90.0	$9,973	$1,386	$8,587
Lakeland Highlands Middle School	Public	6-8	740 Lake Miriam Dr	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 648-3500	1,118	61	18.3	52.4%	543 (48.6%)	170 (15.2%)	331 (29.6%)	39 (3.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	32 (2.9%)	48	649^th of 1216 public middle schools	46.6%		48.6	611^th of 1205 public middle schools	49.3%	38	66.0	56.0	61.0			59.0	30.0	52.0	53.0	88.0	93.0			90.0	$9,544	$1,172	$8,372
Jere L. Stambaugh Middle	Public	6-8	226 Main St N	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5494	1,013	46	22.0	75.8%	369 (36.4%)	196 (19.3%)	405 (40.0%)	7 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	31 (3.1%)	22.5	1008^th of 1216 public middle schools	17.1%		19.3	1016^th of 1205 public middle schools	15.7%	8	33.0	42.0	43.0			38.0	47.0	26.0	45.0	79.0	100.0			83.0	$9,690	$1,501	$8,188
Marshall Middle Magnet School	Public, Magnet	6-8	18 S Maryland Ave	Plant City	33563	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 757-9360	1,066	52	20.4	60.4%	263 (24.7%)	162 (15.2%)	581 (54.5%)	9 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (4.7%)	24.2	986^th of 1216 public middle schools	18.9%		28.9	902^nd of 1205 public middle schools	25.1%	84	47.0	49.0	43.0			35.0	32.0	53.0	33.0	79.0	95.0			62.0	$9,945	$1,592	$8,352

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Gibson Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Lake Gibson Middle School?

Students at Lake Gibson Middle School are 42% White, 34% Hispanic, 19% African American, 2% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Lake Gibson Middle School attend?

Students who attend Lake Gibson Middle School usually go on to attend Lake Gibson Senior High School

How many students attend Lake Gibson Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,149 students attended Lake Gibson Middle School.

What district is Lake Gibson Middle School in?

Polk

Is Lake Gibson Middle School a good school?

Lake Gibson Middle School ranks in the bottom 12.7% of Florida middle schools.

Rate Lake Gibson Middle School!

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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.