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Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1731^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School in Lakeland, FL, serves 697 students in grades PK-5 and is part of the Polk school district, which faces significant district-wide challenges. The school has a 1-star rating and ranks in the 23rd percentile statewide, with a notable decline in performance over the past decade. A key factor is chronic absenteeism, which at 42.9% is the highest among nearby schools like R. Clem Churchwell Elementary (37.6%) and well above the state average of 31.4%. This persistent issue, combined with a sharp increase in students eligible for free or reduced lunch (from 53.69% to over 72% in recent years), suggests the school is serving a much higher-needs population than before.

Despite these challenges, Dr. NE Roberts has a bright spot in 5th Grade Science, where it consistently outperforms local peers. In the 2025-2026 school year, its proficiency rate of 53% tied for the highest among seven Polk County peer schools and exceeded the district average of 49%. However, the school struggles with 5th Grade Math, where proficiency has dropped to 42%, well below the district (51%) and state (62%) averages. This contrasts with 3rd Grade Math, where proficiency (54%) is closer to the district average (56%), suggesting students may fall behind in upper elementary grades. Nearby Edgar L. Padgett Elementary (40th percentile) and Sleepy Hill Elementary (55% math proficiency) show stronger overall math performance.

Spending per student at Dr. NE Roberts ($10,776) is in the middle of its peer group, but it does not correlate with performance—Socrum Elementary spends more ($14,810) but ranks lower (9th percentile), while Padgett spends more ($11,696) and achieves better results. Compared to nearby Churchwell Elementary, which has a similar free/reduced lunch rate (73.72%) but lower chronic absenteeism (37.6%), Dr. NE Roberts may face specific school culture or community engagement issues driving higher absenteeism. The nearby charter school Idea Lakeland (part of the Idea Public Schools district) excels in Civics (81% proficient) but has lower math scores, highlighting different strengths across local options.

697

Students ?

20.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,776

Per pupil spending ?

72.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6600 Green Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810

(863) 815-6633

District: Polk

Students who attend Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Kathleen Middle School
High:	Kathleen Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.2%

Hispanic:

38.6%

African American:

17.8%

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Compare Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 33rd percentile in 2016 → 23rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (49% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (43% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg53%

Florida avg62%

1,731^st of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 33% (2016) to bottom 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

49^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	27.5	1731 of 2240	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.6	1791 of 2258	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.5	1502 of 2256	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.5	1541 of 2240	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.3	1540 of 2219	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.7	1605 of 2247	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.9	1317 of 2182	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.1	999 of 2118	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.4	1134 of 2112	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	34.3	1393 of 2087	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	23.1	1672 of 2064	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	44.5	1127 of 2029	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	38.3	1253 of 1984	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	49.5	1062 of 1985	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	46.6	1106 of 1919	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	39.4	1216 of 1847	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.0	1152 of 1789	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	44.9	1044 of 1786	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	56.3	753 of 1688	55.4%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science53%-7 vs state

English Language Arts51%-10 vs state

Math47%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dr. NE Roberts 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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
Socrum Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	9400 Old Dade City Rd	Lakeland	33810	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 853-6050	523	29	18.0	81.3%	252 (48.2%)	88 (16.8%)	162 (31.0%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.1%)	14.7	2045^th of 2240 public elementary schools	8.7%		29.1	1672^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	26.0%	373	25.0	44.0	44.0	38.0	47.0	51.0	38.0	$14,810	$1,704	$13,105
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School

What district is Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School in?

Polk

What is the racial makeup of Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School?

Students at Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School are 40% White, 39% Hispanic, 18% African American, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 697 students attended Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School.

Is Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School a good school?

Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School ranks in the bottom 22.7% of Florida elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kathleen Middle School
High : Kathleen Senior High School

Rate Dr. NE Roberts 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.