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Spook Hill Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2165^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Spook Hill Elementary School in Lake Wales, FL, serves 574 students in grades PK-5 and is part of the Polk school district, with over 83% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

The most critical issue at Spook Hill is an alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rate of 51.5% in the 2023-2024 school year, which is far above the state average of 31.4% and dramatically higher than nearby schools like Hillcrest Elementary (26.6%) and Dundee Elementary Academy (19.8%). This absenteeism is a primary driver of the school's academic struggles, as it has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-25% of Florida elementary schools over the past decade, currently sitting at the 3rd percentile statewide. In contrast, Hillcrest Elementary, located just 1.48 miles away with a similar demographic profile, ranks in the 52nd percentile, showing that strong attendance can lead to better outcomes even in high-poverty areas.

Despite these challenges, there is a bright spot: Spook Hill has shown notable strength in 5th Grade Science, with proficiency rates of 56% and 53% in recent years, exceeding the district average. The school also spends $11,877 per student, which is higher than many higher-performing peers like Hillcrest ($8,238) and Dale R Fair Babson Park Elementary ($8,677), indicating that funding is not the main issue. For parents, the key takeaway is that improving attendance is the most critical step for turning the school around, and the success in science offers a foundation to build upon.

574

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,877

Per pupil spending ?

83.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

321 Dr Ja Wiltshire Ave E
Lake Wales, FL 33853

(863) 678-4262

District: Polk

Students who attend Spook Hill Elementary School usually attend:

Alternative:

McLaughlin Academy Of Excellence

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

35.9%

White:

35.4%

African American:

25.3%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 33rd percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (35% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (52% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

2,165^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 29 pts since 2016

From bottom 33% (2016) to bottom 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

83^rd 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	8.3	2165 of 2240	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.2	2054 of 2258	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	28.0	1683 of 2256	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.1	1978 of 2240	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	9.8	2102 of 2219	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	20.3	1828 of 2247	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.4	2026 of 2182	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.4	1798 of 2118	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	20.4	1770 of 2112	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	34.0	1402 of 2087	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	35.9	1360 of 2064	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	33.0	1402 of 2029	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	35.4	1311 of 1984	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	43.2	1200 of 1985	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	37.3	1287 of 1919	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	36.7	1262 of 1847	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	34.5	1253 of 1789	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	35.8	1209 of 1786	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	45.2	967 of 1688	42.7%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts38%-22 vs state

Math36%-28 vs state

Science26%-34 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Office staff is really not that Friendly. This is my daughters first year there, this is her first year period. When asking questions to a front office staff member of 5 plus years she walked away from me and went to her desk. My daughters teacher so far seems great. My daughter seems to enjoy going and has already started reading! It really takes Parents and Teachers to ensure a childs education. We practice sight words, and vocab words every day of the week except Sat. That and with the help of the Teacher a child can be golden! Regardless of what kind of ranking a school gets. Close Quote

Schools Near Spook Hill 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
Spook Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	321 Dr Ja Wiltshire Ave E	Lake Wales	33853	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 678-4262	574	34	16.8	83.4%	203 (35.4%)	145 (25.3%)	206 (35.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (2.8%)	8.3	2165^th of 2240 public elementary schools	3.3%		14.2	2054^th of 2258 public elementary schools	9.0%	111	38.0	35.0	41.0	40.0	28.0	40.0	26.0	$11,877	$1,770	$10,106
Janie Howard Wilson School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	306 Florida Ave	Lake Wales	33853	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 678-4211	462	29	15.9	78.1%	84 (18.2%)	177 (38.3%)	186 (40.3%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.9%)	15.3	2031^st of 2240 public elementary schools	9.3%		22.8	1825^th of 2258 public elementary schools	19.2%	206	45.0	44.0	29.0	54.0	53.0	29.0	15.0	$9,408	$898	$8,510
Polk Avenue Elementary School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	110 Polk Ave E	Lake Wales	33853	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	Yes	(863) 678-4244	523	30	17.4	99.0%	139 (26.6%)	112 (21.4%)	254 (48.6%)	5 (1.0%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (1.9%)	21.4	1890^th of 2240 public elementary schools	15.6%		28.8	1682^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	25.5%	208	42.0	46.0	49.0	37.0	57.0	47.0	42.0	$8,857	$946	$7,911
Hillcrest Elementary School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	1051 State Road 60 E	Lake Wales	33853	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	Yes	(863) 678-4216	667	41	16.2	69.1%	297 (44.5%)	133 (19.9%)	191 (28.6%)	6 (0.9%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.5%)	52.8	1078^th of 2240 public elementary schools	51.9%		58.3	921^st of 2258 public elementary schools	59.2%	157	61.0	53.0	56.0	73.0	86.0	64.0	43.0	$8,238	$494	$7,744
South Pointe Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9525 State Hwy 653	Winter Haven	33884	Polk County	Polk	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(863) 317-8317	689	32	21.5	68.8%	182 (26.4%)	172 (25.0%)	300 (43.5%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	29 (4.2%)	39.3	1418^th of 2240 public elementary schools	36.7%		35.9	1474^th of 2258 public elementary schools	34.7%	56	45.0	64.0	55.0	62.0	69.0	47.0	44.0	$9,426	$1,159	$8,267
Dale R Fair Babson Park Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	815 Scenic Hwy N	Babson Park	33827	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	Yes	(863) 678-4664	453	29	15.6	46.1%	319 (70.4%)	31 (6.8%)	93 (20.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	7 (1.5%)	55.8	991^st of 2240 public elementary schools	55.8%		59.9	885^th of 2258 public elementary schools	60.8%	106	67.0	68.0	48.0	75.0	62.0	61.0	61.0	$8,677	$468	$8,209
Chain Of Lakes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7001 State Highway 653	Winter Haven	33884	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 326-5388	1,007	56	17.9	55.6%	309 (30.7%)	221 (21.9%)	379 (37.6%)	56 (5.6%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	35 (3.5%)	47.9	1197^th of 2240 public elementary schools	46.6%		50.7	1099^th of 2258 public elementary schools	51.3%	98	61.0	62.0	60.0	60.0	68.0	55.0	50.0	$10,953	$1,557	$9,395
Garden Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4599 Cypress Gardens Rd	Winter Haven	33884	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5396	652	31	21.0	74.4%	219 (33.6%)	189 (29.0%)	208 (31.9%)	7 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.3%)	37.2	1471^st of 2240 public elementary schools	34.3%		32.7	1566^th of 2258 public elementary schools	30.6%	95	51.0	55.0	56.0	60.0	63.0	52.0	47.0	$10,412	$1,399	$9,013
Alturas Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	420 4th St	Alturas	33820	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 519-3917	274	19	14.4	75.9%	179 (65.3%)	17 (6.2%)	67 (24.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (2.9%)	50	1142^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	49.0%		56.6	957^th of 2258 public elementary schools	57.6%	185	62.0	57.0	54.0	47.0	71.0	67.0	64.0	$13,971	$1,795	$12,176
Dundee Elementary Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	215 Frederick Ave	Dundee	33838	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 421-3316	657	41	16.0	63.8%	197 (30.0%)	111 (16.9%)	324 (49.3%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	16 (2.4%)	63.6	795^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.5%		61.2	853^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	62.2%	58	80.0	51.0	64.0	81.0	60.0	69.0	65.0	$10,904	$1,372	$9,533

Frequently Asked Questions about Spook Hill Elementary School

How many students attend Spook Hill Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 574 students attended Spook Hill Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Spook Hill Elementary School?

Students at Spook Hill Elementary School are 36% Hispanic, 35% White, 25% African American, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Spook Hill Elementary School in?

Polk

What schools do graduates of Spook Hill Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Spook Hill Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Alternative : McLaughlin Academy Of Excellence

Is Spook Hill Elementary School a good school?

Spook Hill Elementary School ranks in the bottom 3.3% of Florida elementary schools.

Rate Spook Hill Elementary School!

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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.