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Compass Middle Charter School

Public, Charter Grades 5-8

1161^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,205 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 4% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Compass Middle Charter School is a public charter middle school located in Bartow, Florida, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 161 students. The school is part of the Polk School District, which is ranked 61 out of 67 districts in Florida and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Compass Middle Charter School is struggling to provide a quality education to its students, as evidenced by its consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 30.9% to 66.7% over the past few years, and its significantly lower academic performance compared to the district and state averages across various standardized tests. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates ranged from 4% to 29% in English Language Arts and 4% to 21% in Math, compared to the state averages of 56% to 60% in ELA and 50% to 57% in Math. The school's performance on the Civics End-of-Course exam is also significantly lower than the district and state averages, with proficiency rates ranging from 17% to 25% compared to the state average of 66% to 71%.

When comparing Compass Middle Charter School to the nearby public middle schools, such as Union Academy, a public magnet school located just 1.46 miles away, it is clear that the charter school is performing significantly worse academically. Union Academy consistently outperforms Compass Middle Charter School across all academic measures, with proficiency rates ranging from 62% to 83% in ELA and 21% to 75% in Math. The high chronic absenteeism rates at Compass Middle Charter School likely contribute to the school's poor academic performance, and the school's leadership and the Polk School District should closely examine the factors contributing to these issues and develop a comprehensive plan to address them and improve student outcomes.

168

Students ?

18.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,325

Per pupil spending ?

86.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

550 Clower St E
Bartow, FL 33830

(863) 519-8701

District: Polk

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

43.5%

White:

28.0%

African American:

26.8%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2014 → 4th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (17% vs 57% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (4th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (67% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school17%

District avg45%

Florida avg57%

1,161^st of 1,205

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 4%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 8% (2016) to bottom 4% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

24^th of 24Middle 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	3.7	1161 of 1205	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.5	1144 of 1196	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.0	1156 of 1177	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.3	1094 of 1148	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.2	1066 of 1136	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	7.3	1029 of 1099	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	4.2	999 of 1035	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	7.6	965 of 1031	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	9.4	919 of 997	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	2.9	955 of 999	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	8.4	864 of 956	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	11.6	785 of 897	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	14.8	757 of 891	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	7.5	758 of 839	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	5.9	715 of 780	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	3.8	701 of 740	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	4.1	695 of 736	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	9.0	601 of 675	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	5.7	569 of 602	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	6.0	555 of 593	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Civics25%-46 vs state

English Language Arts23%-34 vs state

Math14%-43 vs state

Science6%-46 vs state

★

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Schools Near Compass Middle Charter 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 Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (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 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th 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
Compass Middle Charter School	Public, Charter	5-8	550 Clower St E	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	Yes	(863) 519-8701	168	9	18.6	86.9%	47 (28.0%)	45 (26.8%)	73 (43.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	3.7	1161^st of 1205 public middle schools	3.7%		4.5	1144^th of 1196 public middle schools	4.3%	17	24.0	29.0	20.0	13.0	21.0	16.0	10.0	4.0	8.0	4.0			25.0	$8,325	$1,559	$6,766
Bartow Middle School	Public	6-8	550 Clower St E	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 534-7415	881	46	19.1	71.3%	377 (42.8%)	172 (19.5%)	293 (33.3%)	6 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	29 (3.3%)	22.4	972^nd of 1205 public middle schools	19.3%		24.3	935^th of 1196 public middle schools	21.8%	37		52.0	42.0	35.0		46.0	25.0	29.0		28.0	77.0	98.0	79.0	$10,530	$1,385	$9,146
Union Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	1795 Wabash St E	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 534-7435	382	20	19.1	49.0%	200 (52.4%)	81 (21.2%)	71 (18.6%)	16 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.7%)	72.6	295^th of 1205 public middle schools	75.5%		73.5	289^th of 1196 public middle schools	75.8%	6		66.0	73.0	83.0		69.0	39.0	51.0		81.0	76.0	92.0	100.0	$11,630	$1,208	$10,422
Mulberry Middle School	Public	6-8	500 Dr Mlk Jr Ave SE	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 701-1066	1,058	46	23.0	74.1%	391 (37.0%)	87 (8.2%)	545 (51.5%)	8 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (2.5%)	29	899^th of 1205 public middle schools	25.4%		26.8	904^th of 1196 public middle schools	24.4%	5		52.0	37.0	45.0		51.0	35.0	30.0		38.0	55.0	84.0	88.0	$9,785	$1,433	$8,353
Lakeland Highlands Middle School	Public	6-8	740 Lake Miriam Dr	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 648-3500	1,118	61	18.3	52.4%	543 (48.6%)	170 (15.2%)	331 (29.6%)	39 (3.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	32 (2.9%)	48.6	611^th of 1205 public middle schools	49.3%		50.5	583^rd of 1196 public middle schools	51.3%	28		59.0	57.0	60.0		51.0	37.0	36.0		54.0	78.0	93.0	95.0	$9,544	$1,172	$8,372
Crystal Lake Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	2410 Crystal Lake Dr N	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2970	753	32	23.5	83.1%	213 (28.3%)	180 (23.9%)	310 (41.2%)	11 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	34 (4.5%)	8	1129^th of 1205 public middle schools	6.3%		14.5	1057^th of 1196 public middle schools	11.6%	72		27.0	32.0	26.0		23.0	16.0	14.0		18.0	56.0	53.0	72.0	$11,361	$1,695	$9,665
Westwood Middle School	Public	6-8	3520 Avenue J NW	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5484	712	44	16.1	77.2%	123 (17.3%)	233 (32.7%)	322 (45.2%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.4%)	19.9	1005^th of 1205 public middle schools	16.6%		11.6	1094^th of 1196 public middle schools	8.5%	89		37.0	36.0	38.0		61.0	23.0	20.0		29.0	75.0	100.0	85.0	$12,030	$1,699	$10,331
Southwest Middle School	Public	6-8	2815 Eden Pkwy	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2840	746	32	23.3	73.3%	218 (29.2%)	175 (23.5%)	317 (42.5%)	9 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	25 (3.4%)	20.4	997^th of 1205 public middle schools	17.3%		17.8	1028^th of 1196 public middle schools	14.0%	31		46.0	39.0	44.0		43.0	17.0	20.0		29.0	68.0	75.0	87.0	$9,973	$1,386	$8,587
Denison Middle School	Public	6-8	400 Avenue A SE	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5353	684	28	24.4	75.4%	128 (18.7%)	265 (38.7%)	270 (39.5%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.9%)	16.1	1054^th of 1205 public middle schools	12.5%		14.2	1063^rd of 1196 public middle schools	11.1%	9		36.0	35.0	33.0		30.0	29.0	35.0		26.0	68.0	100.0	80.0	$10,243	$1,529	$8,714
Jere L. Stambaugh Middle	Public	6-8	226 Main St N	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5494	1,013	46	22.0	75.8%	369 (36.4%)	196 (19.3%)	405 (40.0%)	7 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	31 (3.1%)	19.3	1016^th of 1205 public middle schools	15.7%		13.8	1068^th of 1196 public middle schools	10.7%	52		45.0	37.0	30.0		48.0	35.0	20.0		28.0	67.0	86.0	81.0	$9,690	$1,501	$8,188

Frequently Asked Questions about Compass Middle Charter School

What district is Compass Middle Charter School in?

Polk

What is the racial makeup of Compass Middle Charter School?

Students at Compass Middle Charter School are 43% Hispanic, 28% White, 27% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Is Compass Middle Charter School a good school?

Compass Middle Charter School ranks in the bottom 3.7% of Florida middle schools.

How many students attend Compass Middle Charter School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 168 students attended Compass Middle Charter School.

Rate Compass Middle Charter 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.