Summary:
Zip code 33843 in Frostproof, Florida, is served by two public schools—Frostproof Middle/Senior High (grades 6-12) and Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Junior Elementary School (grades PK-5)—both part of the Polk district, which ranks in the 13th percentile statewide.
These schools face significant challenges, with high poverty rates and chronic absenteeism above 43%—well over the state average of 31.4%. The elementary school has the highest poverty rate at 82.88% and has seen a steady decline in its state ranking, dropping to the 13th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026. In contrast, the middle/high school, with a slightly lower poverty rate of 69.64%, ranks in the 33rd percentile and boasts a standout Civics program with a 97% proficiency rate, far exceeding district and state averages. It also shows relative strength in middle school math, outperforming the district in 7th and 8th-grade FAST Math scores. However, core subjects like Algebra 1 (47%) and 10th-grade ELA (43%) lag behind state averages. The high school’s graduation rate of 90.8% is commendable and only slightly below the state’s 92.2%.
Interesting takeaways include the “Civics paradox” at the high school, where an isolated program excels while other subjects struggle, and the “middle school math anomaly,” where strong 7th and 8th-grade scores drop off in high school-level Algebra 1. The elementary school had a bright spot in 2024-2025 with 5th-grade scores exceeding district averages, but this success was not sustained. Overall, these schools demonstrate that pockets of excellence exist despite systemic hurdles, and replicating these successes across all subjects is a key opportunity for improvement.
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