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Westwood Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

1005^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,205 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 17% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Westwood Middle School is a public middle school in Winter Haven, Florida, serving 829 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Polk District, which is ranked 61 out of 67 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Westwood Middle School has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Florida middle schools over the past several years.

Westwood Middle School faces significant challenges, including very high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 30.9% to 44.2%, well above the state average. The school's test scores are also consistently below state and district averages across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) ranged from 37% to 38%, compared to the state averages of 55% to 60%. In math, the school's proficiency rates ranged from 20% to 61%, while the state averages were 50% to 60%. Additionally, Westwood Middle School has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 70.39% to 77.8% over the past few years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Interestingly, several nearby magnet and charter schools, such as Lakeland Montessori Middle School, Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology Middle School, and Union Academy, significantly outperform Westwood Middle School on various metrics, including test scores, chronic absenteeism, and school rankings. This suggests that the challenges faced by Westwood Middle School may be part of a broader trend within the Polk District, as many of the nearby traditional public schools also struggle with similar issues.

712

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,030

Per pupil spending ?

77.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3520 Avenue J NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881

(863) 965-5484

District: Polk

Students who attend Westwood Middle School usually attend:

High:

Lake Region High School

Feeder schools for Westwood Middle School:

Elementary:	Inwood Elementary School
	Lake Shipp Elementary School
	Wahneta Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

45.2%

African American:

32.7%

White:

17.3%

See top rated Florida middle schools

Compare Westwood Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 13th percentile in 2014 → 17th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (38% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (17th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg43%

Florida avg58%

1,005^th of 1,205

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 17%▲ up 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 12% (2016) to bottom 17% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

15^th of 24Middle 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	19.9	1005 of 1205	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	11.6	1094 of 1196	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.2	1065 of 1177	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	11.5	1054 of 1148	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.3	1035 of 1136	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.7	986 of 1099	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.4	838 of 1035	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	14.2	914 of 1031	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	15.6	877 of 997	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	14.2	873 of 999	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.9	785 of 956	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	17.9	749 of 897	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.4	691 of 891	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	28.9	628 of 839	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	30.4	571 of 780	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	31.8	533 of 740	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	33.5	520 of 736	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	23.5	528 of 675	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	23.8	496 of 602	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	23.7	482 of 593	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Geometry100%+45 vs state

Civics85%+14 vs state

Algebra 175%+15 vs state

English Language Arts37%-20 vs state

Math33%-23 vs state

Science29%-20 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, December 12, 2018

this school could really use alot of help .its ran by students staff doesnt care about the kids as long they get their paycheck they could care less.polk county school board really need to make big changes to this school....... Close Quote

Schools Near Westwood Middle 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 Biology 1 (2025)	EOC US History (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 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Westwood Middle School	Public	6-8	3520 Avenue J NW	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5484	712	44	16.1	77.2%	123 (17.3%)	233 (32.7%)	322 (45.2%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.4%)	19.9	1005^th of 1205 public middle schools	16.6%		11.6	1094^th of 1196 public middle schools	8.5%	89	37.0	36.0	38.0			61.0	23.0	20.0	29.0	75.0	100.0			85.0	$12,030	$1,699	$10,331
Jere L. Stambaugh Middle	Public	6-8	226 Main St N	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5494	1,013	46	22.0	75.8%	369 (36.4%)	196 (19.3%)	405 (40.0%)	7 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	31 (3.1%)	19.3	1016^th of 1205 public middle schools	15.7%		13.8	1068^th of 1196 public middle schools	10.7%	52	45.0	37.0	30.0			48.0	35.0	20.0	28.0	67.0	86.0			81.0	$9,690	$1,501	$8,188
Denison Middle School	Public	6-8	400 Avenue A SE	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5353	684	28	24.4	75.4%	128 (18.7%)	265 (38.7%)	270 (39.5%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.9%)	16.1	1054^th of 1205 public middle schools	12.5%		14.2	1063^rd of 1196 public middle schools	11.1%	9	36.0	35.0	33.0			30.0	29.0	35.0	26.0	68.0	100.0			80.0	$10,243	$1,529	$8,714
Jewett Middle Academy Magnet	Public, Magnet	6-8	601 Martin Luther King Jr Blv	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 291-5320	566	26	21.7	58.3%	198 (35.0%)	194 (34.3%)	133 (23.5%)	22 (3.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.0%)	64.8	391^st of 1205 public middle schools	67.6%		57	489^th of 1196 public middle schools	59.1%	98	77.0	60.0	62.0			73.0	53.0	56.0	51.0	79.0	97.0			95.0	$10,438	$1,224	$9,214
Lake Alfred Polytech Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	925 Buena Vista Dr N	Lake Alfred	33850	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 295-5988	734	36	20.3	72.8%	214 (29.2%)	153 (20.8%)	341 (46.5%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	20 (2.7%)	33.1	847^th of 1205 public middle schools	29.7%		32	843^rd of 1196 public middle schools	29.5%	4	56.0	42.0	42.0			60.0	21.0	42.0	39.0	79.0				88.0	$10,216	$1,349	$8,867
Discovery Academy Of Lake Alfred	Public, Charter	6-8	1000 Buena Vista Dr N	Lake Alfred	33850	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	Yes	(863) 295-5955	1,039	48	21.6	66.8%	302 (29.1%)	183 (17.6%)	505 (48.6%)	10 (1.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (3.6%)	48.3	615^th of 1205 public middle schools	49.0%		42.8	689^th of 1196 public middle schools	42.4%	74	64.0	48.0	58.0			46.0	43.0	59.0	54.0	84.0	100.0			82.0	$8,375	$544	$7,830
Berkley Accelerated	Public, Charter	6-10	5316 Berkley Rd	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 984-2400	622	31	20.0	30.7%	421 (67.7%)	30 (4.8%)	145 (23.3%)	9 (1.4%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.3%)	73.2	290^th of 1205 public middle schools	75.9%		76.9	240^th of 1196 public middle schools	79.9%	50	81.0	70.0	66.0	80.0	78.0	90.0	73.0	24.0	36.0	91.0	53.0	88.0	85.0	85.0	$7,956	$318	$7,638
Crystal Lake Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2410 Crystal Lake Dr N	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2970	753	32	23.5	83.1%	213 (28.3%)	180 (23.9%)	310 (41.2%)	11 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	34 (4.5%)	8	1129^th of 1205 public middle schools	6.3%		14.5	1057^th of 1196 public middle schools	11.6%	72	27.0	32.0	26.0			23.0	16.0	14.0	18.0	56.0	53.0			72.0	$11,361	$1,695	$9,665
Daniel Jenkins Academy Of Technology Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	701 Ledwith Ave	Haines City	33844	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 421-3267	506	25	20.2	72.5%	39 (7.7%)	162 (32.0%)	292 (57.7%)	4 (0.8%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	52.4	557^th of 1205 public middle schools	53.8%		51.7	564^th of 1196 public middle schools	52.8%	7	58.0	54.0	60.0			59.0	35.0	51.0	61.0	85.0	76.0			98.0	$10,514	$1,479	$9,034
Union Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	1795 Wabash St E	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 534-7435	382	20	19.1	49.0%	200 (52.4%)	81 (21.2%)	71 (18.6%)	16 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.7%)	72.6	295^th of 1205 public middle schools	75.5%		73.5	289^th of 1196 public middle schools	75.8%	6	66.0	73.0	83.0			69.0	39.0	51.0	81.0	76.0	92.0			100.0	$11,630	$1,208	$10,422

Frequently Asked Questions about Westwood Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Westwood Middle School?

Students at Westwood Middle School are 45% Hispanic, 33% African American, 17% White, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend Westwood Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 712 students attended Westwood Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Westwood Middle School attend?

Students who attend Westwood Middle School usually go on to attend Lake Region High School

Is Westwood Middle School a good school?

Westwood Middle School ranks in the bottom 16.6% of Florida middle schools.

What district is Westwood Middle School in?

Polk

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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.