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James W. Sikes Elementary School

Q: Is James W. Sikes Elementary School a good school?

James W. Sikes Elementary School ranks 1566 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1566^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 30% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

James W. Sikes Elementary School in Lakeland, FL, is a mid-sized school serving 502 students in grades PK through 5, and it is part of the Polk district, which ranks in the bottom 13% of Florida districts. The school has a notable strength in English Language Arts (ELA), consistently outperforming both district and state averages in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade over the past three years—for example, 4th grade ELA proficiency reached 66%, which is 13 points above the district average. However, this academic bright spot is overshadowed by a persistent weakness in 5th-grade math, where only 42% of students were proficient in the most recent testing year, a full 20 points below the state average and a trend that has continued for four consecutive years.

Compared to nearby schools, Sikes presents a mixed picture. It significantly outperforms its closest neighbor, Willow Oak School (just 0.98 miles away), in nearly every subject, making it a stronger option for families in the immediate area. Yet, it lags far behind Valleyview Elementary School (5.57 miles away), a high-performing school where 5th-grade math proficiency (82%) is nearly double Sikes’ rate, despite similar per-student spending ($12,290 at Sikes vs. $11,059 at Valleyview). This spending-versus-performance paradox suggests that Sikes may be allocating resources to address the needs of a rapidly changing student population, as the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch surged from 36.77% to 61.55% in just two years.

The school’s recent ranking history adds another layer of concern. After a strong recovery from the pandemic, climbing to the 61st percentile in 2023-2024, Sikes dropped sharply to the 30th percentile (2 stars) in the 2025-2026 school year—its lowest point since the pandemic. This decline, coupled with a chronic absenteeism rate (25.7%) that is notably lower than the district average (39.1%), indicates a school under stress but with some positive foundations. For parents, the key takeaway is that Sikes offers strong ELA instruction but struggles with upper-grade math, and its recent performance slide warrants close attention to how the school plans to address these challenges.

502

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,290

Per pupil spending ?

61.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2727 Shepherd Rd
Lakeland, FL 33811

(863) 648-3525

District: Polk

Students who attend James W. Sikes Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Mulberry Middle School
High:	Mulberry Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.8%

Hispanic:

35.1%

African American:

13.7%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare James W. Sikes Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 48th percentile in 2016 → 30th in 2026

Worth a look

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

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2016

!Science scores 16 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

1,566^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 48% (2016) to bottom 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

39^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	33.8	1566 of 2240	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	50.7	1098 of 2258	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.0	884 of 2256	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.2	1115 of 2240	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.0	1113 of 2219	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.3	1594 of 2247	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.3	1144 of 2182	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.2	928 of 2118	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	52.3	1009 of 2112	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	48.0	1085 of 2087	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	41.0	1230 of 2064	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	42.3	1175 of 2029	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	44.2	1129 of 1984	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	53.1	979 of 1985	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	49.7	1039 of 1919	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	47.8	1037 of 1847	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	56.0	830 of 1789	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	53.9	870 of 1786	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	53.3	814 of 1688	51.8%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts59%~ state avg

Math48%-16 vs state

Science44%-16 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Thursday, July 24, 2014

I'm sure the test scores are probably correct, however I have 2 grandchildren attending Sikes. They are doing wonderful and love their school. One makes straight A's and the other is making A's & B's. I think it's amazing what they have learned in such a short time. Keep up the great work teachers and staff! Close Quote

Schools Near James W. Sikes Elementary 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)	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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
James W. Sikes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2727 Shepherd Rd	Lakeland	33811	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3525	502	35	14.3	61.6%	230 (45.8%)	69 (13.7%)	176 (35.1%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.6%)	33.8	1566^th of 2240 public elementary schools	30.1%		50.7	1098^th of 2258 public elementary schools	51.4%	468	57.0	66.0	58.0	51.0	55.0	42.0	44.0	$12,290	$1,571	$10,720
Willow Oak School	Public	PK, KG-5	4815 Bailey Road	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 417-6670	996	63	15.8	79.0%	331 (33.2%)	58 (5.8%)	584 (58.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.1%)	35.5	1514^th of 2240 public elementary schools	32.4%		27.1	1723^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	23.7%	209	57.0	54.0	39.0	66.0	61.0	56.0	44.0	$10,696	$1,727	$8,968
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5500 Yates Rd	Lakeland	33811	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 701-1450	899	58	15.5	65.0%	312 (34.7%)	103 (11.5%)	430 (47.8%)	18 (2.0%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (3.4%)	42.8	1326^th of 2240 public elementary schools	40.8%		53.1	1040^th of 2258 public elementary schools	53.9%	286	55.0	61.0	61.0	54.0	64.0	60.0	44.0	$11,450	$1,689	$9,760
Rcma Mulberry Community Academy	Public, Charter	K-2	4438 Academy Dr	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(863) 425-9246	107	7	15.2	70.1%	1 (0.9%)	3 (2.8%)	103 (96.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	23.0			62.0				$14,643	$271	$14,373
Medulla Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	850 Schoolhouse Rd	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3515	488	29	16.8	73.0%	138 (28.3%)	119 (24.4%)	204 (41.8%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.5%)	27.8	1719^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.3%		21.6	1857^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.8%	138	43.0	48.0	54.0	49.0	57.0	51.0	48.0	$12,878	$2,001	$10,876
Purcell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	305 1st Ave NE	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 701-1061	438	24	18.2	81.7%	159 (36.3%)	51 (11.6%)	214 (48.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.0%)	10.4	2135^th of 2240 public elementary schools	4.7%		16.4	2001^st of 2258 public elementary schools	11.4%	134	37.0	34.0	48.0	36.0	45.0	33.0	32.0	$12,119	$1,730	$10,388
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
Springhead Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3208 Nesmith Rd	Plant City	33566	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 757-9321	750	50	15.0	69.2%	223 (29.7%)	44 (5.9%)	458 (61.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.2%)	54.1	1040^th of 2240 public elementary schools	53.6%		54.6	1003^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	55.6%	37	53.0	46.0	58.0	67.0	69.0	74.0	74.0	$11,655	$1,436	$10,219
Carlton Palmore Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3725 Clevelnd Hts Blvd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3510	402	26	15.4	66.7%	173 (43.0%)	89 (22.1%)	112 (27.9%)	5 (1.2%)	4 (1.0%)	3 (0.7%)	16 (4.0%)	34.7	1536^th of 2240 public elementary schools	31.4%		34.2	1520^th of 2258 public elementary schools	32.7%	16	55.0	68.0	44.0	59.0	55.0	44.0	31.0	$12,914	$1,902	$11,011
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

Frequently Asked Questions about James W. Sikes Elementary School

How many students attend James W. Sikes Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 502 students attended James W. Sikes Elementary School.

What district is James W. Sikes Elementary School in?

Polk

What is the racial makeup of James W. Sikes Elementary School?

Students at James W. Sikes Elementary School are 46% White, 35% Hispanic, 14% African American, 5% Two or more races.

Is James W. Sikes Elementary School a good school?

James W. Sikes Elementary School ranks 1566^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of James W. Sikes Elementary School attend?

Students who attend James W. Sikes Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Mulberry Middle School
High : Mulberry Senior High 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.