Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Spessard L Holland Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1886^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Spessard L Holland Elementary is a public school in Bartow, FL, serving 843 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Polk County School District.

This school is facing significant challenges, most notably a steep decline in academic performance over the past decade. Once a solidly above-average school, it has dropped to a 1-star rating, ranking in the 16th percentile statewide. The most critical issue is an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 42.7% for the 2023-2024 school year. This is dramatically higher than the state average of 31.4% and far worse than nearby high-performing schools like Bartow Elementary Academy (17.6%) and Valleyview Elementary School (25.6%). The data strongly suggests that this absenteeism is the primary driver of the school's academic struggles, especially in math, where proficiency rates are consistently below district and state averages. For example, only 39% of 5th graders were proficient in math, compared to 82% at Valleyview.

Interestingly, the school's funding is not the problem, as its per-student spending is in the middle of the pack compared to nearby schools. There was a brief bright spot in 4th-grade English Language Arts, but overall performance remains inconsistent. The stark contrast with other Bartow schools, like the 4-star Bartow Elementary Academy just 4.2 miles away, indicates that the challenges at Holland are likely related to school-specific factors like culture and community engagement. For parents, the most important takeaway is that getting students to school every day is the school's most urgent priority for reversing its decline.

843

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,804

Per pupil spending ?

64.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2342 Ef Griffin Rd
Bartow, FL 33830

(863) 648-3031

District: Polk

Students who attend Spessard L Holland Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Bartow Middle School
High:	Bartow Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

35.3%

Hispanic:

30.0%

African American:

28.5%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Spessard L Holland Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 55th percentile in 2016 → 16th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (46% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (43% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school46%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

1,886^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 39 pts since 2016

From top 45% (2016) to bottom 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

57^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	21.6	1886 of 2240	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.6	1600 of 2258	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.6	1328 of 2256	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.4	1432 of 2240	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.2	1155 of 2219	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.0	1193 of 2247	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.2	1287 of 2182	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.7	844 of 2118	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.8	619 of 2112	70.7%	★★★★☆
2016	54.8	938 of 2087	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	46.0	1111 of 2064	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	48.7	1037 of 2029	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	44.2	1128 of 1984	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	33.9	1385 of 1985	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	32.6	1385 of 1919	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts49%-11 vs state

Science48%-12 vs state

Math42%-22 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Spessard L Holland Elementary and help other families decide.

Rate Spessard L Holland Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Spessard L Holland Elementary

Load more schools when map is moved

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)	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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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
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
Highlands Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4510 Lakeland Highlands Rd	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3002	691	46	15.0	50.1%	352 (50.9%)	101 (14.6%)	194 (28.1%)	20 (2.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (3.3%)	65.7	734^th of 2240 public elementary schools	67.2%		70.2	636^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.8%	98	81.0	58.0	68.0		76.0	50.0	73.0			70.0	$12,216	$1,547	$10,670
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
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
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
Oscar J. Pope Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2730 Maine Ave	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2992	365	19	19.2	80.8%	102 (27.9%)	74 (20.3%)	173 (47.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.8%)	11.2	2121^st of 2240 public elementary schools	5.3%		17.7	1977^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.4%	144	31.0	34.0	37.0		38.0	37.0	58.0			26.0	$12,313	$1,606	$10,707
South McKeel Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	2222 Edgewood Dr S	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 510-0044	1,200	69	17.3	56.3%	719 (59.9%)	103 (8.6%)	252 (21.0%)	66 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	59 (4.9%)	89.4	145^th of 2240 public elementary schools	93.5%		89.3	188^th of 2258 public elementary schools	91.7%	43	88.0	82.0	74.0	84.0	89.0	92.0	82.0	85.0	100.0	82.0	$9,708	$467	$9,240

Frequently Asked Questions about Spessard L Holland Elementary

Is Spessard L Holland Elementary a good school?

Spessard L Holland Elementary ranks in the bottom 15.8% of Florida elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Spessard L Holland Elementary?

Students at Spessard L Holland Elementary are 35% White, 30% Hispanic, 28% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Spessard L Holland Elementary attend?

Students who attend Spessard L Holland Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bartow Middle School
High : Bartow Senior High School

How many students attend Spessard L Holland Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 843 students attended Spessard L Holland Elementary.

What district is Spessard L Holland Elementary in?

Polk

Rate Spessard L Holland Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

FLFlorida Elementary School Rankings

FLFlorida District Rankings

Schools in Bartow, FL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Spessard L Holland Elementary!

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.