Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary schools in the 33880 zip code (Winter Haven and Eloise, FL), serving grades PK-5 (with one serving PK-8), all part of the Polk district, which faces significant systemic challenges.
Frank E. Brigham Academy is the clear standout, earning a 4 or 5-star rating and ranking in the top 10-13% of Florida elementary schools. It boasts the highest academic proficiency (80.4% average), the lowest chronic absenteeism (13.5%), and the lowest poverty rate (51.92%). In stark contrast, Inwood Elementary School is the lowest performer, with an average proficiency of just 38.7% and the highest chronic absenteeism at 45.3%. Wahneta Elementary School and Lake Shipp Elementary School also struggle, with absenteeism rates above 42% and low state rankings. Cypress Junction Montessori offers a unique PK-8 Montessori curriculum with mixed test scores but relatively low absenteeism (23.8%).
A key finding is that higher spending does not guarantee success. John Snively Elementary spends the most per student ($12,458) and has the best student-teacher ratio (16.5:1), yet remains below state averages. However, it is the only school showing consistent improvement, rising from the 30th to 43rd percentile over three years, offering a glimmer of hope. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, with the three lowest-performing schools also having the highest absenteeism rates, while the two highest-performing schools have the lowest. This suggests that improving attendance could be the most impactful lever for raising achievement across the area.
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