Best High Schools in Zip Code 33809

In zip code 33809, there is one high school, Lake Gibson Senior High School, serving grades 9 through 12 in Lakeland, Florida, with a large enrollment of nearly 2,000 students.

Lake Gibson Senior High School presents a mixed picture for parents. On the positive side, the school boasts a strong graduation rate of 91.3%, which is above the Polk district average. It also shows a notable strength in Biology, with 70% of students proficient, outperforming the district. However, there are significant concerns. The school struggles with math proficiency, with only 25% of students proficient in Algebra 1, far below both the district and state averages. English Language Arts proficiency is also below average. The most alarming statistic is a chronic absenteeism rate of 46.3%, meaning nearly half of the student body misses enough school to be considered chronically absent, which is a major red flag for academic success. The school's state ranking has fluctuated in the bottom third of Florida high schools over the past three years.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Lake Gibson Senior High School has a high graduation rate but low academic proficiency in core subjects like math and reading, suggesting a possible gap between graduation requirements and college or career readiness. The high chronic absenteeism is a critical issue that likely impacts learning. While the school excels in Biology, families should be aware of the challenges in math and overall academic performance. The school serves a majority low-income student body (62% free/reduced lunch) and has a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 21:1.