Summary:
In zip code 33827 (Babson Park, FL), there is one elementary school, Dale R Fair Babson Park Elementary, serving grades Kindergarten through 5th grade with 453 students as part of the Polk school district.
Dale R Fair Babson Park Elementary stands out as a high-performing school within a district ranked near the bottom of Florida (13th percentile). The school consistently outperforms its district in nearly every subject and grade level, often meeting or exceeding state averages. For example, 3rd grade math proficiency is 75% (district: 56%, state: 66%), and 3rd grade ELA is 67% (district: 53%, state: 60%). The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 19.6%, compared to the district's 39.1% and the state's 31.4%, indicating a positive and engaging environment. With a student-teacher ratio of 15.6:1 and spending of $8,677 per student, the school appears to operate efficiently, achieving strong results with modest resources.
Despite these strengths, there are notable concerns. The most significant is a sharp decline in 5th grade English Language Arts proficiency, which dropped to 48% in 2025-2026—20 points below the 4th grade score and below both district and state averages. Additionally, while raw test scores have generally improved, the school's state ranking has fallen from the 72nd percentile (4 stars) to the 56th percentile (3 stars) over three years, suggesting other schools are improving faster. This school is a clear bright spot in a struggling district, but parents should investigate the 5th grade ELA curriculum and monitor the declining relative ranking.
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