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Lake Shipp Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1962^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Lake Shipp Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 620 students in grades PK-5 in Winter Haven, Florida, which is part of the Polk County School District. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Lake Shipp Elementary faces significant challenges, including very high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 30.9% to 43.6% over the past few years, well above the state average. The school's test scores are also consistently below the Polk County and Florida state averages across all grade levels and subjects, with only 38% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA and 29% of 5th graders proficient in math in 2024-2025. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 59.87% to 78.87%, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Interestingly, the nearby schools, such as Fred G. Garner Academy, Elbert Elementary, and Wahneta Elementary, have similar performance issues to Lake Shipp Elementary, suggesting that the challenges facing the school are not unique and may be indicative of broader systemic issues within the Polk County school district. The one exception is Frank E. Brigham Academy, a public magnet school that consistently outperforms the other schools in the area.

576

Students ?

20.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,113

Per pupil spending ?

77.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

250 Camellia Dr
Winter Haven, FL 33880

(863) 291-5384

District: Polk

Students who attend Lake Shipp Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Westwood Middle School
High:	Lake Region High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

35.4%

Hispanic:

32.8%

White:

23.8%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Lake Shipp Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 15th percentile in 2014 → 13th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (39% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg49%

Florida avg58%

1,962^nd of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 24 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to bottom 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

68^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	18.5	1962 of 2258	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	1791 of 2256	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.7	1537 of 2240	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	17.7	1920 of 2219	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.4	1766 of 2247	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.2	1538 of 2182	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.6	1650 of 2118	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	29.0	1530 of 2112	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	37.7	1318 of 2087	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	19.9	1756 of 2064	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	28.0	1535 of 2029	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	16.0	1750 of 1984	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.1	1582 of 1985	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	29.0	1454 of 1919	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	33.0	1340 of 1847	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	48.0	979 of 1789	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	48.7	978 of 1786	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	38.4	1084 of 1688	35.8%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Science44%-11 vs state

Math42%-19 vs state

English Language Arts34%-22 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, May 10, 2019

Some of the staff treat the children very poorly and the principal shows no concern for parent concerns or well being of some of the students attending. Close Quote

Schools Near Lake Shipp 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	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
Lake Shipp Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	250 Camellia Dr	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5384	576	28	20.5	77.6%	137 (23.8%)	204 (35.4%)	189 (32.8%)	9 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (6.1%)	18.5	1962^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	13.1%		24.1	1791^st of 2256 public elementary schools	20.6%	171	38.0	30.0	34.0				60.0	34.0	29.0			44.0				$10,113	$1,362	$8,751
Pinewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 Gilbert St	Eagle Lake	33839	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 298-7977	740	43	17.2	73.0%	215 (29.1%)	191 (25.8%)	308 (41.6%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (2.6%)	29.1	1671^st of 2258 public elementary schools	26.0%		38.4	1381^st of 2256 public elementary schools	38.8%	290	46.0	44.0	45.0				43.0	47.0	47.0			51.0				$10,165	$1,472	$8,692
John Snively Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	848 Snively Ave	Eloise	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5325	396	24	16.5	82.3%	59 (14.9%)	106 (26.8%)	214 (54.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.8%)	32.3	1579^th of 2258 public elementary schools	30.1%		31.7	1571^st of 2256 public elementary schools	30.4%	8	62.0	42.0	45.0				63.0	48.0	27.0			32.0				$12,458	$1,967	$10,490
Eagle Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	400 Crystal Beach Rd	Eagle Lake	33839	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5357	644	34	18.9	75.2%	201 (31.2%)	137 (21.3%)	267 (41.5%)	6 (0.9%)	5 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	27 (4.2%)	10.4	2139^th of 2258 public elementary schools	5.3%		9.6	2160^th of 2256 public elementary schools	4.3%	21	35.0	39.0	40.0				37.0	27.0	24.0			23.0				$11,515	$2,072	$9,444
Cypress Junction Montessori	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	220 5th St SW	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 259-1490	317	17	18.3		162 (51.1%)	32 (10.1%)	107 (33.8%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.5%)	41.2	1323^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	41.4%		35.4	1478^th of 2256 public elementary schools	34.5%	155	70.0	56.0	55.0	55.0	55.0	47.0	57.0	44.0	42.0	55.0	55.0	39.0	37.0	67.0	67.0	$9,035	$517	$8,517
Inwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2200 Avenue G NW	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5369	423	21	20.1	82.3%	57 (13.5%)	219 (51.8%)	127 (30.0%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.5%)	17.2	1984^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.1%		14.9	2035^th of 2256 public elementary schools	9.8%	51	34.0	38.0	30.0				37.0	43.0	42.0			47.0				$10,350	$1,554	$8,796
Frank E. Brigham Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	601 Avenue C SE	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 291-5300	547	31	17.6	51.9%	221 (40.4%)	143 (26.1%)	143 (26.1%)	18 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.0%)	88.9	200^th of 2258 public elementary schools	91.1%		90.7	153^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	93.2%	47	81.0	69.0	81.0				81.0	84.0	78.0			78.0				$11,639	$1,220	$10,419
Fred G. Garner Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Havendale Blvd NW	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5455	817	46	17.7	77.8%	133 (16.3%)	350 (42.8%)	300 (36.7%)	9 (1.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (2.7%)	29	1675^th of 2258 public elementary schools	25.8%		32.3	1552^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	31.2%	123	52.0	44.0	37.0				51.0	63.0	35.0			35.0				$11,926	$1,946	$9,979
Elbert Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	205 15th St NE	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5364	549	29	18.9	72.9%	110 (20.0%)	221 (40.3%)	195 (35.5%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.1%)	16.5	2000^th of 2258 public elementary schools	11.4%		27.7	1697^th of 2256 public elementary schools	24.8%	303	36.0	32.0	44.0				32.0	53.0	30.0			38.0				$10,817	$1,384	$9,432
Wahneta Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	205 4th St E	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5392	491	28	17.5	81.5%	46 (9.4%)	18 (3.7%)	422 (85.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	26.5	1741^st of 2258 public elementary schools	22.9%		27	1709^th of 2256 public elementary schools	24.2%	32	34.0	32.0	45.0				36.0	51.0	54.0			58.0				$11,455	$1,756	$9,698

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Shipp Elementary School

Is Lake Shipp Elementary School a good school?

Lake Shipp Elementary School ranks in the bottom 13.1% of Florida elementary schools.

What district is Lake Shipp Elementary School in?

Polk

What is the racial makeup of Lake Shipp Elementary School?

Students at Lake Shipp Elementary School are 35% African American, 33% Hispanic, 24% White, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Lake Shipp Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Lake Shipp Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Westwood Middle School
High : Lake Region High School

How many students attend Lake Shipp Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 576 students attended Lake Shipp Elementary School.

Rate Lake Shipp 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.