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Wendell Watson Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1949^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Wendell Watson Elementary School is a public school in Lakeland, FL, serving 764 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Polk district, and it has experienced a significant decline in academic performance over the past decade, dropping from a 3-star rating to its current 1-star status.

This school has seen a "lost decade" of performance, falling from the 66th percentile in 2015-2016 to the 13th percentile today, with test scores now below both district and state averages across most subjects and grade levels. A key concern is chronic absenteeism, which at 35.3% is higher than the state average, though it is notably lower than several nearby schools like Griffin Elementary School (46.6%) and Edgar L. Padgett Elementary (46.3%). Interestingly, Wendell Watson has a lower rate of economic disadvantage (58.64% free/reduced lunch) compared to its peers, where the average is around 74%, making its low test scores even more striking. For example, Sleepy Hill Elementary School (80.03%) and North Lakeland Elementary School Of Choice (77.51%) have much higher poverty rates but still outperform Wendell Watson in some areas.

When compared to nearby schools, Wendell Watson's challenges appear school-specific rather than solely demographic. Edgar L. Padgett Elementary, just 2 miles away with a similar student profile, is showing improvement and outperforms Wendell Watson in math (e.g., 67% vs. 41% in 5th-grade math). Meanwhile, magnet schools like Combee Academy Of Design And Engineering and Lakeland Montessori School House far exceed Wendell Watson in academic outcomes, highlighting disparities in educational opportunities. Science is a consistent weak point, with 5th-grade scores (35%) well below the district average (49%), and the school's traditional strength in 3rd-grade English Language Arts has eroded, now falling below the district average.

764

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,869

Per pupil spending ?

58.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6800 Walt Williams Rd
Lakeland, FL 33809

(863) 853-6060

District: Polk

Students who attend Wendell Watson Elementary School usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.1%

Hispanic:

33.1%

African American:

14.4%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 66th percentile in 2016 → 13th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (45% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 53 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

1,949^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 53 pts since 2016

From top 34% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

65^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	19.2	1949 of 2240	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.9	1677 of 2258	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.5	1331 of 2256	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.2	1134 of 2240	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.0	1292 of 2219	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.5	1111 of 2247	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.8	1060 of 2182	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.6	987 of 2118	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	62.2	784 of 2112	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.0	716 of 2087	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	63.5	730 of 2064	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	70.8	553 of 2029	72.7%	★★★★☆
2012	66.2	663 of 1984	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	65.3	724 of 1985	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	56.9	894 of 1919	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.5	547 of 1847	70.4%	★★★★☆
2008	59.4	754 of 1789	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	70.5	527 of 1786	70.5%	★★★★☆
2006	71.9	482 of 1688	71.4%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts48%-12 vs state

Math44%-20 vs state

Science35%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near Wendell Watson 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)		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
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
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
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
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%)	66.7	712^th of 2240 public elementary schools	68.2%		53.7	1022^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	54.7%	310	69.0	68.0	62.0				76.0	71.0	69.0				60.0					$13,559	$1,927	$11,631
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
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
Lakeland Montessori School House	Public, Charter	K-8	1124 Lake Parker Ave N	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 413-0003	129	10	13.5	5.4%	78 (60.5%)	3 (2.3%)	41 (31.8%)	4 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	2 (1.6%)	67.6	690^th of 2240 public elementary schools	69.2%		84.8	296^th of 2258 public elementary schools	86.9%	394	100.0	80.0	73.0		92.0		100.0	60.0	55.0		100.0		45.0					$13,957	$329	$13,629
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Wendell Watson Elementary School

Is Wendell Watson Elementary School a good school?

Wendell Watson Elementary School ranks in the bottom 13.0% of Florida elementary schools.

What district is Wendell Watson Elementary School in?

Polk

What schools do graduates of Wendell Watson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Wendell Watson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

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

What is the racial makeup of Wendell Watson Elementary School?

Students at Wendell Watson Elementary School are 47% White, 33% Hispanic, 14% African American, 4% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Wendell Watson Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 764 students attended Wendell Watson 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.