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Wendell Watson Elementary School

Q: Is Wendell Watson Elementary School a good school?

Wendell Watson Elementary School ranks 1677 th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1677^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 26% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Wendell Watson Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lakeland, Florida, serving 835 students in grades PK-5. As part of the Polk School District, which is ranked 61 out of 67 districts in the state, Wendell Watson has consistently been in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools, with a 1-3 star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school faces several challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 30.9% to 39.1% over the past few years, significantly higher than the Polk district and state averages. Wendell Watson's test scores are also below the district and state averages across all grade levels and subjects, with only 41% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA compared to 50% for Polk and 57% for Florida. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 40.11% to 53.17%, indicating a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Combee Academy of Design and Engineering and Lakeland Montessori School House, Wendell Watson Elementary is underperforming, with those schools demonstrating significantly higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism rates. This suggests that school choice and specialized programs may be contributing to better student outcomes in the area.

764

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,869

Per pupil spending ?

58.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6800 Walt Williams Rd
Lakeland, FL 33809

(863) 853-6060

District: Polk

Students who attend Wendell Watson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lake Gibson Middle School
High:	Lake Gibson Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.1%

Hispanic:

33.1%

African American:

14.4%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Wendell Watson Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 65th percentile in 2014 → 26th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (46% vs 58% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 39 percentile points since 2014

!Math scores 14 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg49%

Florida avg58%

1,677^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 40 pts since 2016

From top 34% (2016) to bottom 26% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

48^th of 86Elementary Schools in the Polk

61^st of 67Polk 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
2025	28.9	1677 of 2258	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.5	1331 of 2256	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.2	1134 of 2240	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.0	1292 of 2219	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.5	1111 of 2247	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.8	1060 of 2182	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.6	987 of 2118	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.2	784 of 2112	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.0	716 of 2087	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	63.5	730 of 2064	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	70.8	553 of 2029	72.7%	★★★★☆
2012	66.2	663 of 1984	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	65.3	724 of 1985	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.9	894 of 1919	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.5	547 of 1847	70.4%	★★★★☆
2008	59.4	754 of 1789	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	70.5	527 of 1786	70.5%	★★★★☆
2006	71.9	482 of 1688	71.4%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Math47%-14 vs state

English Language Arts46%-10 vs state

Science44%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Wendell Watson Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)						FAST Math (2025)						Statewide Science Science (2025)		EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Wendell Watson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6800 Walt Williams Rd	Lakeland	33809	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6060	764	45	16.9	58.6%	360 (47.1%)	110 (14.4%)	253 (33.1%)	5 (0.7%)	9 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.5%)	28.9	1677^th of 2258 public elementary schools	25.7%		40.5	1331^st of 2256 public elementary schools	41.0%	346	41.0	50.0	48.0				49.0	51.0	40.0				44.0					$10,869	$1,365	$9,504
Edgar L. Padgett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	110 Leelon Rd	Lakeland	33809	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6044	531	32	16.5	71.4%	196 (36.9%)	136 (25.6%)	168 (31.6%)	9 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.0%)	28.9	1678^th of 2258 public elementary schools	25.7%		32.9	1538^th of 2256 public elementary schools	31.8%	140	43.0	42.0	40.0				53.0	61.0	38.0				46.0					$11,696	$1,889	$9,806
Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6600 Green Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 815-6633	697	34	20.5	72.9%	280 (40.2%)	124 (17.8%)	269 (38.6%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	16 (2.3%)	24.6	1791^st of 2258 public elementary schools	20.7%		34.5	1502^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	33.4%	289	35.0	44.0	49.0				39.0	46.0	40.0				50.0					$10,776	$1,622	$9,154
North Lakeland Elementary School Of Choice	Public	PK, KG-5	410 Robson St W	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2850	658	38	17.3	77.5%	137 (20.8%)	187 (28.4%)	302 (45.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (4.3%)	6.2	2204^th of 2258 public elementary schools	2.4%		13.2	2081^st of 2256 public elementary schools	7.8%	123	27.0	28.0	25.0				28.0	42.0	22.0				25.0					$11,087	$1,972	$9,115
R. Clem Churchwell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8201 Park Byrd Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6011	662	41	16.1	73.7%	249 (37.6%)	110 (16.6%)	264 (39.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (5.3%)	21.7	1854^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.9%		27.1	1707^th of 2256 public elementary schools	24.3%	147	62.0	41.0	29.0				54.0	45.0	16.0				25.0					$10,870	$1,537	$9,334
Combee Academy Of Design And Engineering	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2805 Morgan Combee Rd	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2960	479	36	13.3	76.2%	218 (45.5%)	72 (15.0%)	166 (34.7%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.8%)	53.7	1022^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	54.7%		50.2	1088^th of 2256 public elementary schools	51.8%	66	64.0	62.0	60.0				64.0	59.0	45.0				51.0					$13,559	$1,927	$11,631
Sleepy Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2285 Sleepy Hill Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 815-6768	711	45	15.8	80.0%	180 (25.3%)	172 (24.2%)	317 (44.6%)	6 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.8%)	24.7	1790^th of 2258 public elementary schools	20.7%		35.2	1485^th of 2256 public elementary schools	34.2%	305	42.0	44.0	40.0				49.0	41.0	47.0				44.0					$11,576	$1,844	$9,732
Rochelle School Of The Arts	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	1501 Martin L King Jr Ave	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2810	762	51	14.9	59.6%	270 (35.4%)	255 (33.5%)	193 (25.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (5.2%)	45.8	1209^th of 2258 public elementary schools	46.5%		50.4	1083^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	52.0%	126	55.0	54.0	55.0	63.0	76.0	73.0	42.0	53.0	56.0	59.0	73.0	65.0	55.0	64.0	94.0	100.0	100.0	$12,785	$1,466	$11,319
Lakeland Montessori School House	Public, Charter	K-8	1124 Lake Parker Ave N	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 413-0003	129	10	13.5	5.4%	78 (60.5%)	3 (2.3%)	41 (31.8%)	4 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	2 (1.6%)	84.8	296^th of 2258 public elementary schools	86.9%		82.9	342^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	84.8%	46	81.0	83.0	100.0		91.0	82.0	88.0	83.0	83.0		100.0		42.0	64.0	90.0		82.0	$13,957	$329	$13,629
Griffin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3315 Kathleen Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6020	431	19	22.6	80.7%	80 (18.6%)	156 (36.2%)	168 (39.0%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.6%)	21.4	1864^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.4%		29	1649^th of 2256 public elementary schools	26.9%	215	37.0	35.0	33.0				55.0	40.0	45.0				47.0					$10,784	$1,581	$9,202

Frequently Asked Questions about Wendell Watson Elementary School

Is Wendell Watson Elementary School a good school?

Wendell Watson Elementary School ranks 1677^th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Wendell Watson Elementary School?

Students at Wendell Watson Elementary School are 47% White, 33% Hispanic, 14% African American, 4% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Wendell Watson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 764 students attended Wendell Watson Elementary School.

What district is Wendell Watson Elementary School in?

Polk

What schools do graduates of Wendell Watson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Wendell Watson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lake Gibson Middle School
High : Lake Gibson Senior High School

Rate Wendell Watson Elementary 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.