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Purcell Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2001^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 11% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Purcell Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Mulberry, Florida, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 474 students. The school is part of the Polk School District, which is ranked 61 out of 67 districts in Florida and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Purcell Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools, with a ranking between 1,500 and 2,000 out of over 2,200 schools in recent years.

Purcell Elementary faces significant challenges, including very high chronic absenteeism rates, consistently below-average test scores across all grade levels and subjects, and a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 64.15% to 81.22% in recent years. Despite higher spending per student and a higher student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools, Purcell's performance lags significantly behind schools like Highlands Grove Elementary, Valleyview Elementary, and Scott Lake Elementary, which have higher test scores, lower chronic absenteeism, and lower free/reduced lunch rates.

The data suggests that the high free/reduced lunch rate at Purcell Elementary, indicating a predominantly low-income population, may be a contributing factor to the school's lower academic performance. Additionally, the high chronic absenteeism rate and higher student-teacher ratio may also be impacting the school's outcomes. While increased funding and resources have not yet translated to improved performance, targeted interventions and support may be necessary to address Purcell Elementary's challenges and improve student outcomes.

438

Students ?

18.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,119

Per pupil spending ?

81.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

305 1st Ave NE
Mulberry, FL 33860

(863) 701-1061

District: Polk

Students who attend Purcell Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Mulberry Middle School
High:	Mulberry Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

48.9%

White:

36.3%

African American:

11.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Purcell Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 19th percentile in 2014 → 11th in 2025

Worth a look

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

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (40% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg49%

Florida avg58%

2,001^st of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 11%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From bottom 32% (2016) to bottom 11% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

72^nd 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	16.4	2001 of 2258	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.8	2015 of 2256	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.4	1853 of 2240	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.7	1741 of 2219	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.8	1581 of 2247	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.7	1981 of 2182	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	30.5	1506 of 2118	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.8	1481 of 2112	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.7	1414 of 2087	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	23.6	1662 of 2064	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	27.9	1540 of 2029	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	30.6	1425 of 1984	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	35.6	1354 of 1985	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	27.7	1480 of 1919	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.8	1623 of 1847	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	17.4	1564 of 1789	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	28.2	1351 of 1786	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	47.7	904 of 1688	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts39%-18 vs state

Math37%-24 vs state

Science36%-19 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, April 2, 2015

Love this school. Principal and Teachers are awesome. We participate in the STEAM Academy. I was worried when we started here a few years ago from reviews. But we have a wonderful Principal who has turned this school into an amazing place!! Close Quote

Schools Near Purcell 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)	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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Purcell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	305 1st Ave NE	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 701-1061	438	24	18.2	81.7%	159 (36.3%)	51 (11.6%)	214 (48.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.0%)	16.4	2001^st of 2258 public elementary schools	11.4%		15.8	2015^th of 2256 public elementary schools	10.7%	14	31.0	41.0	46.0	34.0	38.0	40.0	36.0	$12,119	$1,730	$10,388
Willow Oak School	Public	PK, KG-5	4815 Bailey Road	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 417-6670	996	63	15.8	79.0%	331 (33.2%)	58 (5.8%)	584 (58.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.1%)	27.1	1723^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	23.7%		31	1595^th of 2256 public elementary schools	29.3%	128	47.0	39.0	42.0	59.0	49.0	48.0	32.0	$10,696	$1,727	$8,968
James W. Sikes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2727 Shepherd Rd	Lakeland	33811	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3525	502	35	14.3	61.6%	230 (45.8%)	69 (13.7%)	176 (35.1%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.6%)	50.7	1098^th of 2258 public elementary schools	51.4%		59	884^th of 2256 public elementary schools	60.8%	214	64.0	53.0	58.0	57.0	67.0	46.0	53.0	$12,290	$1,571	$10,720
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%)	57.7	930^th of 2258 public elementary schools	58.8%		68.5	676^th of 2256 public elementary schools	70.0%	254	67.0	56.0	57.0	67.0	64.0	60.0	48.0	$11,561	$1,488	$10,074
Rcma Mulberry Community Academy	Public, Charter	K-2	4438 Academy Dr	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(863) 425-9246	107	7	15.2	70.1%	1 (0.9%)	3 (2.8%)	103 (96.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)								$14,643	$271	$14,373
Medulla Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	850 Schoolhouse Rd	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3515	488	29	16.8	73.0%	138 (28.3%)	119 (24.4%)	204 (41.8%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.5%)	21.6	1857^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.8%		31.3	1584^th of 2256 public elementary schools	29.8%	273	56.0	33.0	39.0	45.0	33.0	40.0	45.0	$12,878	$2,001	$10,876
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5500 Yates Rd	Lakeland	33811	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 701-1450	899	58	15.5	65.0%	312 (34.7%)	103 (11.5%)	430 (47.8%)	18 (2.0%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (3.4%)	53.1	1040^th of 2258 public elementary schools	53.9%		49.2	1109^th of 2256 public elementary schools	50.8%	69	59.0	59.0	53.0	62.0	65.0	55.0	51.0	$11,450	$1,689	$9,760
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%)	79.4	416^th of 2258 public elementary schools	81.6%		84.4	313^th of 2256 public elementary schools	86.1%	103	67.0	70.0	66.0	71.0	78.0	82.0	70.0	$11,059	$1,070	$9,989
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%)	70.2	636^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.8%		72.9	576^th of 2256 public elementary schools	74.5%	60	69.0	61.0	62.0	65.0	70.0	73.0	64.0	$12,216	$1,547	$10,670
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Purcell Elementary School

How many students attend Purcell Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 438 students attended Purcell Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Purcell Elementary School?

Students at Purcell Elementary School are 49% Hispanic, 36% White, 12% African American, 3% Two or more races.

Is Purcell Elementary School a good school?

Purcell Elementary School ranks in the bottom 11.4% of Florida elementary schools.

What district is Purcell Elementary School in?

Polk

What schools do graduates of Purcell Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Mulberry Middle School
High : Mulberry Senior High 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.