Real Academy (Reaching Every Adolescent Learner)

Real Academy (Reaching Every Adolescent Learner) is an alternative public school located in Lakeland, Florida, serving grades 4-12 with a total enrollment of 264 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. Real Academy's performance metrics indicate significant challenges compared to the district and state averages.

Real Academy has had a four-year graduation rate ranging from 78.3% to 89.7% over the past few years, which is lower than the state average of around 90%. The school also has a very high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 30.9% to 85.5% in recent years, significantly higher than the district and state averages. Academically, Real Academy's students perform poorly on standardized tests across all grade levels and subject areas, with proficiency rates well below the district and state averages. For example, in 2024-2025, only 18% of Real Academy students were proficient in Civics, compared to 81% in the district and 71% statewide. Additionally, Real Academy serves a high-need population, with 71.75% to 83.71% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than the district and state averages.

Interestingly, Real Academy's performance metrics are generally similar to other alternative schools in the Polk School District, such as Karen M. Siegel Academy, Jean O'Dell Learning Center, and Doris A. Sanders Learning Center. These schools also serve high-need populations and struggle with low academic achievement and high chronic absenteeism. Despite Real Academy spending significantly more per student ($15,995 to $17,889) compared to the district and state averages, this additional funding and resources alone may not be the primary driver of the school's challenges, as the school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 11.2 to 11.4.