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Purcell Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2135^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 5% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Purcell Elementary School in Mulberry, FL, is a small school serving 438 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the Polk district, where over 81% of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school faces significant challenges, holding a 1-star rating and ranking in the 5th percentile statewide for the 2025-2026 school year, making it the lowest-ranked among nearby elementary schools. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 39.6% is the highest in its peer group, far exceeding the state average of 31.4% and rates at top-performing schools like Valleyview Elementary School (25.6%) and Highlands Grove Elementary School (28.9%), which is a critical factor driving poor academic outcomes.

Academically, Purcell consistently underperforms in core subjects compared to nearby schools. For example, in 3rd Grade English Language Arts (ELA) for the 2025-2026 school year, only 37% of students were proficient, while Highlands Grove achieved 81%. However, there is a glimmer of hope in 5th Grade ELA, where 48% of students were proficient, approaching the district average of 52% and suggesting a potential bright spot in instruction. The school’s per-student spending of $12,119 is in the middle of the pack among peers, including more than Valleyview ($11,059) and Highlands Grove ($12,216), indicating that funding is not the primary issue but rather how resources are used amid high poverty and absenteeism.

The link between absenteeism and academic performance is stark: schools with lower chronic absenteeism rates, such as Willow Oak School (25.6%) and James W. Sikes Elementary School (25.7%), have significantly higher rankings and test scores. Purcell’s ranking has declined steadily from the 32nd percentile in 2015-2016 to the 5th percentile today, reflecting systemic issues that need urgent attention. For parents, the most critical takeaway is that improving student attendance must be the foundation for any meaningful academic improvement at this school.

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 — 32nd percentile in 2016 → 5th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (38% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (5th percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

2,135^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 5%▼ down 28 pts since 2016

From bottom 32% (2016) to bottom 5% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

82^nd of 86Elementary Schools in the Polk

61^st of 70Polk 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	10.4	2135 of 2240	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
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 (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts39%-21 vs state

Math38%-27 vs state

Science32%-28 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

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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)	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 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%)	10.4	2135^th of 2240 public elementary schools	4.7%		16.4	2001^st of 2258 public elementary schools	11.4%	134	37.0	34.0	48.0	36.0	45.0	33.0	32.0	$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%)	35.5	1514^th of 2240 public elementary schools	32.4%		27.1	1723^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	23.7%	209	57.0	54.0	39.0	66.0	61.0	56.0	44.0	$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%)	33.8	1566^th of 2240 public elementary schools	30.1%		50.7	1098^th of 2258 public elementary schools	51.4%	468	57.0	66.0	58.0	51.0	55.0	42.0	44.0	$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%)	56.7	966^th of 2240 public elementary schools	56.9%		57.7	930^th of 2258 public elementary schools	58.8%	36	58.0	72.0	65.0	57.0	71.0	66.0	55.0	$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)	23.0			62.0				$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%)	27.8	1719^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.3%		21.6	1857^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.8%	138	43.0	48.0	54.0	49.0	57.0	51.0	48.0	$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%)	42.8	1326^th of 2240 public elementary schools	40.8%		53.1	1040^th of 2258 public elementary schools	53.9%	286	55.0	61.0	61.0	54.0	64.0	60.0	44.0	$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%)	74.7	511^th of 2240 public elementary schools	77.2%		79.4	416^th of 2258 public elementary schools	81.6%	95	73.0	71.0	69.0	73.0	70.0	82.0	69.0	$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%)	65.7	734^th of 2240 public elementary schools	67.2%		70.2	636^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.8%	98	81.0	58.0	68.0	76.0	50.0	73.0	70.0	$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%)	34.7	1536^th of 2240 public elementary schools	31.4%		34.2	1520^th of 2258 public elementary schools	32.7%	16	55.0	68.0	44.0	59.0	55.0	44.0	31.0	$12,914	$1,902	$11,011

Frequently Asked Questions about Purcell Elementary School

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

How many students attend Purcell Elementary School?

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

What district is Purcell Elementary School in?

Polk

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 4.7% of Florida elementary schools.

Rate Purcell 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.