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Phillis Wheatley Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2023^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 10% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Phillis Wheatley Elementary in Apopka, FL, is a public school serving 407 students in grades PK-5 within the Orange district, where nearly 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is currently ranked in the 10th percentile statewide, placing it in the bottom tier of Florida elementary schools, and it has experienced a significant decline from its recent peak in the 2021-2022 school year when it ranked in the 37th percentile. This makes it the lowest-performing school in its immediate vicinity, with nearby schools like Prairie Lake Elementary (63rd percentile) and Clay Springs Elementary (47th percentile) achieving far better results.

The most defining challenge at Phillis Wheatley is critically high chronic absenteeism, which has consistently exceeded district and state averages. In 2021-2022, nearly half (49.8%) of students were chronically absent, and while this rate has improved to 34.3% in 2023-2024, it remains well above the state average of 31.4% and is starkly higher than schools like Renaissance Charter at Crown Point (15.8%). This absenteeism crisis is directly linked to the school's academic struggles, as the peak in absences preceded a sharp decline in state ranking. For example, in 3rd-grade math, proficiency dropped from 47% in 2022-2023 to just 29% in 2025-2026, compared to the district average of 67% and Prairie Lake Elementary's 72%.

Despite these challenges, there is a glimmer of hope in 5th-grade science, where the school achieved 47% proficiency in 2025-2026, showing relative stability. However, the school's per-student spending of $12,247 is among the highest in the area—more than Prairie Lake Elementary ($11,183) and Apopka Elementary ($10,944)—yet it does not translate into broad academic gains. A compelling comparison is with Lovell Elementary, just 1.91 miles away, which serves a similarly high-poverty population but achieves 61% proficiency in 3rd-grade math versus Phillis Wheatley's 29%. This suggests that school-level factors like leadership and instruction, not just poverty, are driving the struggles, and addressing the attendance crisis is the most urgent priority for improvement.

407

Students ?

17.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,247

Per pupil spending ?

74.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1475 Marvin C Zanders Ave
Apopka, FL 32703

(407) 884-2250

District: Orange

Students who attend Phillis Wheatley Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Piedmont Lakes Middle
High:	Wekiva High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

61.9%

Hispanic:

30.0%

White:

4.2%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 11th percentile in 2016 → 10th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (41% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (10th percentile)

!Math scores 23 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg65%

Florida avg62%

2,023^rd of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 10%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

146^th of 161Elementary Schools in the Orange

30^th of 70Orange 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	15.8	2023 of 2240	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	18.6	1959 of 2258	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.7	1888 of 2256	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.8	1727 of 2240	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.9	1397 of 2219	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	23.6	1733 of 2247	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	8.4	2083 of 2182	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.4	1886 of 2118	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	20.6	1761 of 2112	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	15.5	1853 of 2087	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	23.9	1656 of 2064	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	16.8	1804 of 2029	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	5.3	1946 of 1984	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	3.9	1962 of 1985	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	12.2	1775 of 1919	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	5.2	1793 of 1847	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	3.6	1764 of 1789	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	4.9	1736 of 1786	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	6.6	1619 of 1688	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science47%-13 vs state

Math42%-23 vs state

English Language Arts39%-21 vs state

★

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Schools Near Phillis Wheatley Elementary

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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 Biology 1 (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 Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Phillis Wheatley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1475 Marvin C Zanders Ave	Apopka	32703	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 884-2250	407	23	17.6	74.9%	17 (4.2%)	252 (61.9%)	122 (30.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (3.2%)	15.8	2023^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	9.7%		18.6	1959^th of 2258 public elementary schools	13.2%	64	35.0	46.0	34.0				29.0	50.0	43.0				47.0						$12,247	$2,084	$10,163
Lovell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	815 Roger Williams Rd	Apopka	32703	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 884-2235	655	43	15.2	65.8%	66 (10.1%)	113 (17.3%)	459 (70.1%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.7%)	27.6	1725^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.0%		21.8	1852^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	18.0%	127	50.0	38.0	36.0				61.0	56.0	56.0				47.0						$12,566	$2,251	$10,316
Apopka Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	311 Vick Rd	Apopka	32712	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 884-2200	847	51	16.6	49.5%	163 (19.2%)	309 (36.5%)	322 (38.0%)	25 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	25 (3.0%)	35.2	1519^th of 2240 public elementary schools	32.2%		43.6	1257^th of 2258 public elementary schools	44.3%	262	54.0	48.0	58.0				49.0	48.0	55.0				61.0						$10,944	$959	$9,984
Lakeville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2015 Lakeville Rd	Apopka	32703	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 814-6110	631	39	16.1	60.4%	73 (11.6%)	326 (51.7%)	186 (29.5%)	16 (2.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.3%)	30	1662^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	25.8%		37.9	1420^th of 2258 public elementary schools	37.1%	242	44.0	54.0	45.0				40.0	62.0	47.0				61.0						$12,079	$1,711	$10,368
Dream Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 N Park Ave	Apopka	32712	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 884-2227	674	40	16.8	55.6%	107 (15.9%)	187 (27.7%)	336 (49.9%)	11 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	31 (4.6%)	43.7	1306^th of 2240 public elementary schools	41.7%		41.7	1301^st of 2258 public elementary schools	42.4%	5	57.0	52.0	52.0				66.0	71.0	48.0				55.0						$13,303	$1,498	$11,805
Clay Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	555 N Wekiwa Springs Rd	Apopka	32712	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 884-2275	626	38	16.4	51.0%	176 (28.1%)	91 (14.5%)	331 (52.9%)	5 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (3.2%)	48.1	1192^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	46.8%		42.4	1291^st of 2258 public elementary schools	42.8%	99	74.0	53.0	53.0				59.0	55.0	61.0				63.0						$11,890	$1,527	$10,364
Bear Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3399 Gleaves Ct	Apopka	32703	Seminole County	Seminole	No	No	No	No	(407) 746-5550	849	58	14.7	58.9%	309 (36.4%)	133 (15.7%)	346 (40.8%)	21 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (4.6%)	50.9	1120^th of 2240 public elementary schools	50.0%		40.3	1350^th of 2258 public elementary schools	40.2%	230	62.0	61.0	63.0				62.0	59.0	32.0	98.0			64.0						$9,963	$531	$9,433
Lake Gem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4801 Bloodhound St	Orlando	32818	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 532-7900	565	40	14.1	58.6%	14 (2.5%)	451 (79.8%)	78 (13.8%)	13 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (1.1%)	26.5	1752^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	21.8%		29.5	1662^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	26.4%	90	49.0	38.0	48.0				48.0	48.0	57.0				58.0						$14,445	$1,777	$12,669
Prairie Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8723 Hackney Prairie Rd	Orlando	32818	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 884-2220	776	48	16.1	49.0%	121 (15.6%)	407 (52.4%)	167 (21.5%)	40 (5.2%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	36 (4.6%)	62.3	829^th of 2240 public elementary schools	63.0%		53.1	1038^th of 2258 public elementary schools	54.0%	209	66.0	63.0	61.0				72.0	68.0	62.0				69.0						$11,183	$1,247	$9,937
Renaissance Charter At Crown Point	Public, Charter	K-8	83 West Rd	Ocoee	34761	Orange County	Orange	Yes	No	No	No	(321) 401-6714	1,290	71	18.1	56.8%	255 (19.8%)	562 (43.6%)	371 (28.8%)	58 (4.5%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	36 (2.8%)	36.9	1478^th of 2240 public elementary schools	34.0%		39.7	1369^th of 2258 public elementary schools	39.4%	109	55.0	58.0	55.0	62.0	46.0	68.0	62.0	53.0	40.0	44.0	45.0	53.0	54.0	43.0	64.0	100.0	100.0	70.0	$8,498	$446	$8,052

Frequently Asked Questions about Phillis Wheatley Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Phillis Wheatley Elementary?

Students at Phillis Wheatley Elementary are 62% African American, 30% Hispanic, 4% White, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Phillis Wheatley Elementary in?

Orange

How many students attend Phillis Wheatley Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 407 students attended Phillis Wheatley Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Phillis Wheatley Elementary attend?

Students who attend Phillis Wheatley Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Piedmont Lakes Middle
High : Wekiva High

Is Phillis Wheatley Elementary a good school?

Phillis Wheatley Elementary ranks in the bottom 9.7% of Florida elementary schools.

Rate Phillis Wheatley Elementary!

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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.