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Southwest Elementary School

Q: Is Southwest Elementary School a good school?

Southwest Elementary School ranks 1255 th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1255^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 44% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Southwest Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lakeland, Florida, serving 380 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Polk District, which is ranked 61 out of 67 districts in Florida and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Southwest Elementary has consistently been ranked in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools, with a 2-3 star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southwest Elementary faces several challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 30.9% to 39.1% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. The school's test scores are generally below the Polk District and Florida state averages across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's 5th-grade science proficiency was 71%, compared to 45% for the district and 55% for the state. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 60.47% to 75.79% over the past few years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When comparing Southwest Elementary to nearby schools, some interesting patterns emerge. The high-performing public charter schools like South McKeel Academy and McKeel Academy Central have significantly higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism rates than Southwest Elementary, despite serving similar student populations. Similarly, Magnolia Montessori Academy, another nearby public charter school, outperforms Southwest Elementary on most metrics, including test scores and chronic absenteeism, despite having a much lower percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (6.18%) compared to Southwest Elementary (75.79%).

376

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,321

Per pupil spending ?

77.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2650 Southwest Ave
Lakeland, FL 33803

(863) 499-2830

District: Polk

Students who attend Southwest Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Sleepy Hill Middle School
High:	George W. Jenkins Senior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

38.8%

White:

32.7%

African American:

21.0%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Southwest Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 48th percentile in 2014 → 44th in 2025

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school53%

District avg49%

Florida avg58%

1,255^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 44%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From top 48% (2016) to bottom 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

31^st 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	43.7	1255 of 2258	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.4	1161 of 2256	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.0	969 of 2240	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.3	1152 of 2219	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.8	1397 of 2247	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.9	1245 of 2182	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.8	1350 of 2118	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.3	1161 of 2112	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	52.3	995 of 2087	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	47.9	1066 of 2064	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	36.3	1324 of 2029	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.4	1074 of 1984	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	57.2	902 of 1985	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	46.2	1112 of 1919	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.6	1052 of 1847	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	64.4	659 of 1789	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	64.0	677 of 1786	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	31.4	1200 of 1688	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Science71%+16 vs state

Math51%-10 vs state

English Language Arts50%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Southwest 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 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 Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southwest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2650 Southwest Ave	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2830	376	31	12.1	77.7%	123 (32.7%)	79 (21.0%)	146 (38.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.6%)	43.7	1255^th of 2258 public elementary schools	44.4%		47.4	1161^st of 2256 public elementary schools	48.5%	94	49.0	48.0	55.0				44.0	40.0	71.0				71.0				$14,321	$2,064	$12,257
Cleveland Court Elementary School	Public	K-5	328 Edgewood Dr E	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2929	374	27	13.8	54.0%	153 (40.9%)	90 (24.1%)	109 (29.1%)	12 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	76	495^th of 2258 public elementary schools	78.1%		77.1	477^th of 2256 public elementary schools	78.9%	18	77.0	72.0	63.0				84.0	70.0	66.0				54.0				$13,187	$1,655	$11,533
Dixieland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	416 Ariana St	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2930	344	20	17.2	81.7%	85 (24.7%)	91 (26.5%)	148 (43.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.2%)	13.8	2063^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	8.6%		28.4	1665^th of 2256 public elementary schools	26.2%	398	42.0	36.0	35.0				45.0	42.0	25.0				21.0				$11,420	$1,627	$9,792
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%)	34.2	1520^th of 2258 public elementary schools	32.7%		26.7	1720^th of 2256 public elementary schools	23.8%	200	56.0	49.0	52.0				53.0	42.0	44.0				40.0				$12,914	$1,902	$11,011
Magnolia Montessori Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	815 S Central Ave	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 797-4991	182	16	11.3	7.1%	121 (66.5%)	11 (6.0%)	34 (18.7%)	4 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	11 (6.0%)	93.5	71^st of 2258 public elementary schools	96.9%		89.7	188^th of 2256 public elementary schools	91.7%	117	89.0	81.0	89.0	87.0	93.0	58.0	96.0	73.0	85.0	93.0	93.0		84.0	75.0		100.0	$10,753	$222	$10,531
Rosabelle W. Blake Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	510 Hartsell Ave	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2870	562	31	18.1	74.9%	141 (25.1%)	229 (40.7%)	161 (28.6%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.8%)	29.3	1668^th of 2258 public elementary schools	26.1%		19.3	1927^th of 2256 public elementary schools	14.6%	259	41.0	25.0	41.0	53.0	44.0	33.0	65.0	31.0	42.0	59.0	26.0	23.0	38.0	25.0	77.0	95.0	$11,299	$2,174	$9,125
Philip O'Brien Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1225 Lime St E	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2950	625	31	20.1	80.3%	193 (30.9%)	165 (26.4%)	233 (37.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	29 (4.6%)	9	2166^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.1%		9.1	2171^st of 2256 public elementary schools	3.8%	5	34.0	17.0	39.0				36.0	23.0	28.0				31.0				$11,604	$1,709	$9,895
Jesse Keen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	815 Plateau Ave	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2880	621	29	21.4	81.8%	78 (12.6%)	101 (16.3%)	432 (69.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.3%)	14.1	2060^th of 2258 public elementary schools	8.8%		14.8	2040^th of 2256 public elementary schools	9.6%	20	30.0	34.0	27.0				45.0	50.0	36.0				31.0				$10,337	$1,403	$8,934
McKeel Academy Central	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	411 Florida Ave N	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 499-1287	610	37	16.4	36.4%	354 (58.0%)	84 (13.8%)	129 (21.1%)	14 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	26 (4.3%)	90.7	150^th of 2258 public elementary schools	93.4%		91.4	129^th of 2256 public elementary schools	94.3%	21	79.0	90.0	75.0	84.0			90.0	95.0	84.0	80.0			74.0				$10,138	$649	$9,489
Mi Escuela Montessori	Public, Charter	PK, KG-7	2130 E Edgewood Dr	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 934-2780	275	22	12.6	48.4%	89 (32.4%)	9 (3.3%)	160 (58.2%)	5 (1.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.0%)	28.1	1700^th of 2258 public elementary schools	24.7%		32.8	1540^th of 2256 public elementary schools	31.7%	160	54.0	47.0	38.0	60.0	71.0		41.0	34.0	38.0	47.0	71.0		54.0			69.0	$10,345	$471	$9,874

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Southwest Elementary School?

Students at Southwest Elementary School are 39% Hispanic, 33% White, 21% African American, 7% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Southwest Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Southwest Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sleepy Hill Middle School
High : George W. Jenkins Senior High

How many students attend Southwest Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 376 students attended Southwest Elementary School.

What district is Southwest Elementary School in?

Polk

Is Southwest Elementary School a good school?

Southwest Elementary School ranks 1255^th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Southwest 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.