Summary:
Zip code 33813 in Lakeland, Florida, is served by a single large high school, George W. Jenkins Senior High, which educates 2,469 students in grades 9 through 12 as part of the Polk County school district.
George W. Jenkins Senior High presents a mixed profile for parents. Its most outstanding feature is an exceptional 98.9% graduation rate for the 2024-2025 school year, far exceeding both the district average of 87.7% and the state average of 92.2%. However, this success in graduating students contrasts sharply with academic proficiency. The school's test scores in core subjects like Algebra 1 (33% proficient) and Geometry (34% proficient) are significantly below state averages, while it performs better in Biology and US History, matching or exceeding state benchmarks. The school holds a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, placing it in the middle tier of Florida high schools, though its state ranking has been slowly declining from the 61st percentile to the 52nd percentile over the past three years.
A key area of concern is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 38.2%—notably higher than the state average of 31.4%. This high rate likely contributes to the school's below-average math and English scores. With a student-teacher ratio of 21.4:1 and a moderate level of economic disadvantage (47.02% free/reduced lunch), the school appears effective at moving students toward graduation but faces challenges in ensuring deep academic mastery, particularly in mathematics. The declining state rank, despite stable test scores, suggests other Florida schools are improving at a faster pace.
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