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Oscar J. Pope Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1977^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 12% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Oscar J. Pope Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lakeland, Florida, serving 378 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Polk School District, which is ranked 61 out of 67 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite the school's relatively high spending per student, ranging from $14,106 to $17,636 over the past few years, Oscar J. Pope Elementary has consistently struggled with key performance metrics. The school has significantly higher chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 30.9% to 50.4%, compared to state and district averages. Additionally, its academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is consistently below the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math were 34-43%, compared to the state averages of 56-63%.

When comparing Oscar J. Pope Elementary to nearby schools in the Polk School District, such as Cleveland Court Elementary School and Highlands Grove Elementary School, it becomes clear that the school is underperforming compared to its peers. These nearby schools have significantly higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism rates, suggesting that the challenges faced by Oscar J. Pope Elementary may be unique and require targeted interventions and strategies to address the specific needs of its student population.

365

Students ?

19.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,313

Per pupil spending ?

80.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2730 Maine Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801

(863) 499-2992

District: Polk

Students who attend Oscar J. Pope Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Crystal Lake Middle School
High:	George W. Jenkins Senior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

47.4%

White:

27.9%

African American:

20.3%

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Compare Oscar J. Pope Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 9th percentile in 2014 → 12th in 2025

Worth a look

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

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (50% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg49%

Florida avg58%

1,977^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 21% (2016) to bottom 12% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

69^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	17.7	1977 of 2258	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	54.2	988 of 2256	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.5	1565 of 2240	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	14.8	2006 of 2219	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	15.9	1956 of 2247	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	7.0	2108 of 2182	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	17.5	1840 of 2118	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.0	1836 of 2112	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	24.2	1639 of 2087	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	13.9	1885 of 2064	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	23.9	1638 of 2029	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	31.1	1414 of 1984	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	23.7	1611 of 1985	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	12.7	1762 of 1919	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	6.7	1779 of 1847	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	15.8	1594 of 1789	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	27.4	1365 of 1786	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	14.8	1485 of 1688	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Science40%-15 vs state

English Language Arts39%-17 vs state

Math39%-22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Oscar J. Pope 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 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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Oscar J. Pope Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2730 Maine Ave	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2992	365	19	19.2	80.8%	102 (27.9%)	74 (20.3%)	173 (47.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.8%)	17.7	1977^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.4%		54.2	988^th of 2256 public elementary schools	56.2%	989	34.0	43.0	41.0			37.0	37.0	43.0			40.0		$12,313	$1,606	$10,707
South McKeel Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	2222 Edgewood Dr S	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 510-0044	1,200	69	17.3	56.3%	719 (59.9%)	103 (8.6%)	252 (21.0%)	66 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	59 (4.9%)	89.3	188^th of 2258 public elementary schools	91.7%		89.6	190^th of 2256 public elementary schools	91.6%	2	83.0	75.0	74.0	83.0		83.0	82.0	75.0	93.0	100.0	80.0		$9,708	$467	$9,240
Mi Escuela Montessori	Public, Charter	PK, KG-7	2130 E Edgewood Dr	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 934-2780	275	22	12.6	48.4%	89 (32.4%)	9 (3.3%)	160 (58.2%)	5 (1.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.0%)	28.1	1700^th of 2258 public elementary schools	24.7%		32.8	1540^th of 2256 public elementary schools	31.7%	160	54.0	47.0	38.0	60.0	71.0	41.0	34.0	38.0	47.0	71.0	54.0	69.0	$10,345	$471	$9,874
Crystal Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	700 Galvin Dr	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2966	437	27	16.1	79.9%	97 (22.2%)	119 (27.2%)	186 (42.6%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.6%)	9	2167^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.0%		6.9	2203^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	2.3%	36	31.0	28.0	34.0			32.0	38.0	37.0			24.0		$14,049	$2,478	$11,571
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
Philip O'Brien Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1225 Lime St E	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2950	625	31	20.1	80.3%	193 (30.9%)	165 (26.4%)	233 (37.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	29 (4.6%)	9	2166^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.1%		9.1	2171^st of 2256 public elementary schools	3.8%	5	34.0	17.0	39.0			36.0	23.0	28.0			31.0		$11,604	$1,709	$9,895
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
Cleveland Court Elementary School	Public	K-5	328 Edgewood Dr E	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2929	374	27	13.8	54.0%	153 (40.9%)	90 (24.1%)	109 (29.1%)	12 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	76	495^th of 2258 public elementary schools	78.1%		77.1	477^th of 2256 public elementary schools	78.9%	18	77.0	72.0	63.0			84.0	70.0	66.0			54.0		$13,187	$1,655	$11,533
Southwest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2650 Southwest Ave	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2830	376	31	12.1	77.7%	123 (32.7%)	79 (21.0%)	146 (38.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.6%)	43.7	1255^th of 2258 public elementary schools	44.4%		47.4	1161^st of 2256 public elementary schools	48.5%	94	49.0	48.0	55.0			44.0	40.0	71.0			71.0		$14,321	$2,064	$12,257
Combee Academy Of Design And Engineering	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	2805 Morgan Combee Rd	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2960	479	36	13.3	76.2%	218 (45.5%)	72 (15.0%)	166 (34.7%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.8%)	53.7	1022^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	54.7%		50.2	1088^th of 2256 public elementary schools	51.8%	66	64.0	62.0	60.0			64.0	59.0	45.0			51.0		$13,559	$1,927	$11,631

Frequently Asked Questions about Oscar J. Pope Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Oscar J. Pope Elementary School?

Students at Oscar J. Pope Elementary School are 47% Hispanic, 28% White, 20% African American, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Oscar J. Pope Elementary School in?

Polk

What schools do graduates of Oscar J. Pope Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Oscar J. Pope Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Crystal Lake Middle School
High : George W. Jenkins Senior High

How many students attend Oscar J. Pope Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 365 students attended Oscar J. Pope Elementary School.

Is Oscar J. Pope Elementary School a good school?

Oscar J. Pope Elementary School ranks in the bottom 12.4% of Florida elementary schools.

Rate Oscar J. Pope 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.