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Edgar L. Padgett Elementary

Q: Is Edgar L. Padgett Elementary a good school?

Edgar L. Padgett Elementary ranks 1337 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1337^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Edgar L. Padgett Elementary in Lakeland, FL, is a public school serving 531 students in grades PK-5 within the Polk district, and it stands out as a school on a strong upward trajectory, particularly in math and science.

Padgett Elementary’s biggest strength is its exceptional math performance, especially in 5th grade, where 67% of students are proficient—a rate that beats the state average and every nearby school, including the higher-ranked Rochelle School Of The Arts. This "math-first" profile is consistent across all grades, with math scores significantly outpacing English Language Arts (ELA) scores. The school has also made a remarkable turnaround in 5th-grade science, jumping to 60% proficiency, which matches the state average. While ELA remains a work in progress—especially in 4th grade, where only 42% of students are proficient—the overall trend is positive. The school’s state ranking jumped from the 26th to the 40th percentile in one year, a faster improvement than most nearby schools like Wendell Watson Elementary, which declined. Additionally, a lower student-to-teacher ratio of 16.5:1 offers more individualized attention compared to schools like Griffin Elementary School (22.6:1).

The main challenge is a high chronic absenteeism rate of 46.3%, which is above the district average and a barrier to even greater success. Despite this, Padgett delivers strong results with per-student spending ($11,696) that is lower than some peers, such as Kathleen Elementary School ($12,376). It also significantly outperforms the local charter option, Idea Lakeland, in every subject. For parents, Padgett Elementary is a school that is clearly improving and offers a competitive math and science education, making it a strong choice within the Polk district.

531

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,696

Per pupil spending ?

71.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

110 Leelon Rd
Lakeland, FL 33809

(863) 853-6044

District: Polk

Students who attend Edgar L. Padgett Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Lake Gibson Middle School
High:	Lake Gibson Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

36.9%

Hispanic:

31.6%

African American:

25.6%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 39th percentile in 2016 → 40th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (57% vs 62% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (46% vs 31% Florida)

!English Language Arts scores 10 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

1,337^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

30^th 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	42.4	1337 of 2240	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.9	1678 of 2258	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.9	1538 of 2256	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.9	1640 of 2240	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.9	1698 of 2219	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.1	1622 of 2247	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.5	1331 of 2182	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.5	1017 of 2118	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	44.7	1176 of 2112	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	39.9	1270 of 2087	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	34.9	1376 of 2064	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	38.1	1273 of 2029	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	30.4	1431 of 1984	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	23.5	1621 of 1985	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	27.9	1478 of 1919	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	30.6	1393 of 1847	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	42.7	1090 of 1789	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	38.8	1161 of 1786	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	28.4	1247 of 1688	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math63%~ state avg

Science60%~ state avg

English Language Arts50%-10 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Worst school to send your children too. Principle is terrible and does not back her staff and is very disrespectful to them. I have never seen a worst principle in a school. Need to boot her out and and get someone who cares about there hard working teachers, lunchroom workers and bus drivers. Close Quote

Schools Near Edgar L. Padgett Elementary

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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)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Civics (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 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	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Edgar L. Padgett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	110 Leelon Rd	Lakeland	33809	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6044	531	32	16.5	71.4%	196 (36.9%)	136 (25.6%)	168 (31.6%)	9 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.0%)	42.4	1337^th of 2240 public elementary schools	40.3%		28.9	1678^th of 2258 public elementary schools	25.7%	341	57.0	42.0	51.0				63.0	59.0	67.0				60.0					$11,696	$1,889	$9,806
Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6600 Green Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 815-6633	697	34	20.5	72.9%	280 (40.2%)	124 (17.8%)	269 (38.6%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	16 (2.3%)	27.5	1731^st of 2240 public elementary schools	22.7%		24.6	1791^st of 2258 public elementary schools	20.7%	60	46.0	49.0	56.0				54.0	45.0	42.0				53.0					$10,776	$1,622	$9,154
Wendell Watson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6800 Walt Williams Rd	Lakeland	33809	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6060	764	45	16.9	58.6%	360 (47.1%)	110 (14.4%)	253 (33.1%)	5 (0.7%)	9 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.5%)	19.2	1949^th of 2240 public elementary schools	13.0%		28.9	1677^th of 2258 public elementary schools	25.7%	272	52.0	47.0	46.0				46.0	46.0	41.0				35.0					$10,869	$1,365	$9,504
North Lakeland Elementary School Of Choice	Public	PK, KG-5	410 Robson St W	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2850	658	38	17.3	77.5%	137 (20.8%)	187 (28.4%)	302 (45.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	28 (4.3%)	11.6	2112^th of 2240 public elementary schools	5.7%		6.2	2204^th of 2258 public elementary schools	2.4%	92	37.0	28.0	36.0				52.0	46.0	27.0				40.0					$11,087	$1,972	$9,115
R. Clem Churchwell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8201 Park Byrd Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6011	662	41	16.1	73.7%	249 (37.6%)	110 (16.6%)	264 (39.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (5.3%)	24.5	1805^th of 2240 public elementary schools	19.4%		21.7	1854^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.9%	49	61.0	43.0	42.0				50.0	38.0	41.0				53.0					$10,870	$1,537	$9,334
Sleepy Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2285 Sleepy Hill Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 815-6768	711	45	15.8	80.0%	180 (25.3%)	172 (24.2%)	317 (44.6%)	6 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (4.8%)	32.3	1612^th of 2240 public elementary schools	28.0%		24.7	1790^th of 2258 public elementary schools	20.7%	178	49.0	48.0	52.0				48.0	64.0	55.0				52.0					$11,576	$1,844	$9,732
Griffin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3315 Kathleen Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6020	431	19	22.6	80.7%	80 (18.6%)	156 (36.2%)	168 (39.0%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (4.6%)	34	1560^th of 2240 public elementary schools	30.4%		21.4	1864^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.4%	304	53.0	46.0	49.0				59.0	53.0	55.0				56.0					$10,784	$1,581	$9,202
Elementary - N Lakeland	Public	PK, KG-5	3315 Kathleen Road	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(863) 853-6020	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Kathleen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3515 Sheretz Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6030	453	29	15.6	78.8%	192 (42.4%)	89 (19.6%)	159 (35.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.4%)	24.6	1799^th of 2240 public elementary schools	19.7%		20.9	1876^th of 2258 public elementary schools	16.9%	77	41.0	40.0	57.0				36.0	27.0	57.0				64.0					$12,376	$1,886	$10,490
Rochelle School Of The Arts	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	1501 Martin L King Jr Ave	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2810	762	51	14.9	59.6%	270 (35.4%)	255 (33.5%)	193 (25.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (5.2%)	50	1141^st of 2240 public elementary schools	49.1%		45.8	1209^th of 2258 public elementary schools	46.5%	68	64.0	57.0	63.0	66.0	72.0	75.0	53.0	57.0	75.0	50.0	71.0	61.0	58.0	72.0	93.0	96.0	100.0	$12,785	$1,466	$11,319

Frequently Asked Questions about Edgar L. Padgett Elementary

How many students attend Edgar L. Padgett Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 531 students attended Edgar L. Padgett Elementary.

What district is Edgar L. Padgett Elementary in?

Polk

What schools do graduates of Edgar L. Padgett Elementary attend?

Students who attend Edgar L. Padgett Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lake Gibson Middle School
High : Lake Gibson Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of Edgar L. Padgett Elementary?

Students at Edgar L. Padgett Elementary are 37% White, 32% Hispanic, 26% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Edgar L. Padgett Elementary a good school?

Edgar L. Padgett Elementary ranks 1337^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Edgar L. Padgett Elementary!

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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.