Summary:
In zip code 33843 (Frostproof, FL), there is one elementary school, Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Junior Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 with 853 students in a high-poverty area where 82.88% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
This school is part of the Polk district, which ranks in the 13th percentile statewide. The most critical concern is a sharp decline in performance: the school dropped from a 2-star rating (37th percentile) in 2023-2024 to a 1-star rating (13th percentile) in 2025-2026. Test scores are well below state averages across all subjects, with English Language Arts proficiency ranging from 44% to 51% (state average: 60-61%), Math proficiency from 31% to 51% (state average: 62-66%), and 5th-grade Science at 38% (state average: 60%). A major red flag is the chronic absenteeism rate of 43.6%, far exceeding the state average of 31.4%, which likely drives the low academic outcomes.
Despite spending $10,543 per student—a reasonable amount—the school struggles to translate funding into results. However, there was a notable bright spot in 2024-2025 when 5th-grade Math proficiency reached 55%, outperforming the district average, only to drop 24 points the following year. This volatility, combined with high poverty and absenteeism, paints a picture of a school facing significant challenges. For parents, the data suggests that while the school has shown it can achieve in specific areas, systemic issues like chronic absenteeism and declining rankings require urgent attention to improve student outcomes.
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