Summary:
Zip code 33846 is home to a single school, Highland City Elementary School, a public school serving grades Pre-K through 5th with 414 students in the Polk County district.
Highland City Elementary School presents a mixed performance profile. It is a clear standout within its district, outperforming the Polk County average in all seven reported test score categories for the 2025-2026 school year. However, its state ranking has declined from the 61st percentile to the 47th percentile over two years, indicating that while the school is improving, other schools across Florida are improving at a faster pace. The school shows notable strength in math and science, with 5th-grade math proficiency at 72% and science at 66%, both exceeding state averages. Conversely, 4th-grade English Language Arts (44%) and math (48%) are significant weak points, falling well below state averages and suggesting a need for targeted support at that grade level.
Key metrics include a student-teacher ratio of 14.7 and spending of $13,608 per student. A majority of students (63.53%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating economic challenges. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at 30.8%, though this is better than the district average of 39.1%. A positive takeaway is the strong year-over-year growth in several subjects, such as 5th-grade science jumping from 45% to 66% proficiency. This suggests recent instructional strategies may be taking effect, particularly in the upper elementary grades, making the school a place of both challenges and promising progress.
Thank you for your feedback!