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Average

#913 of 1,462 private schools in FL

Canaan Academy

Elementary School

337 W CENTRAL AVE, Lake Wales, FL 33853

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on FL statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

39

Student-Teacher

9.8:1

Score

6.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Lake Wales

#3 of 4

public schools

Florida elementary schools

#389 of 612

About Canaan Academy

Canaan Academy serves 39 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in Lake Wales, Florida, offering an intimate educational environment with just 4 full-time teachers. This small regular public school maintains an exceptional 9.8:1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for highly personalized attention and instruction that few schools can match. The school has earned recognition for its quality, receiving a strong 9.2 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #369 out of 1,462 Florida schools, placing it in the 75th percentile statewide.

This impressive performance reflects the dedication of the teaching staff and the close-knit learning community that small enrollment makes possible. Families at Canaan Academy benefit from the school's ability to know each student individually, fostering strong relationships between educators, students, and parents. The elementary-through-middle-school structure allows for continuity in education and smooth transitions between grade levels, while the small size enables flexible programming tailored to student needs.

Located on West Central Avenue in Lake Wales, Canaan Academy sits in a mid-size suburban community where the median household income is $42,397 and about one in five residents holds a college degree, creating a supportive neighborhood environment for families seeking quality education in an intimate school setting.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 39 students, Canaan Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.8:1, Canaan Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Canaan Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$714
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$10,292
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
14.41x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
0%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$0

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 39 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Canaan Academy compares to 9 public schools serving similar grades in Lake Wales, FL

Student-Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
This School
vs
17.3:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
39
This School
vs
526
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.0
This School
vs
6.3
Public Avg

Student Demographics

Black 82.1% vs 0%
Hispanic 10.3% vs 0%
White 7.7% vs 0%
Canaan Academy Lake Wales Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Canaan Academy (this school) 6.0
POLK AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 6.7
ROOSEVELT ACADEMY 6.6
EDWARD W BOK ACADEMY NORTH 4.6
SPOOK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7.6
MCLAUGHLIN ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE 5.9
JANIE HOWARD WILSON SCHOOL 5.8
VICTORY RIDGE ACADEMY 6.3
HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 8.5
BOK ACADEMY 4.9

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in FL.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B+ 7.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 9.8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 7.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,260
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B- 5.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 31%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 2.7 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 39
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in FL

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Black 82.1%
Hispanic 10.3%
White 7.7%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

337 W CENTRAL AVE, Lake Wales, FL 33853

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Canaan Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.5/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is ALTURAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 7.3 miles away, in nearby Alturas), which scores notably higher. Additionally, SPOOK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.6/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Lake Wales, see our Lake Wales schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.9 mi
School Distance Rating
POLK AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lake Wales 0.6 mi 6.7
ENDTIME CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE Lake Wales 0.7 mi 4.8
CANDLELIGHT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lake Wales 0.7 mi 6.4
ROOSEVELT ACADEMY Lake Wales 0.8 mi 6.6
EDWARD W BOK ACADEMY NORTH Lake Wales 0.8 mi 4.6
SPOOK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lake Wales 1.1 mi 7.6
MCLAUGHLIN ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE Lake Wales 1.1 mi 5.9
JANIE HOWARD WILSON SCHOOL Lake Wales 1.2 mi 5.8
VICTORY RIDGE ACADEMY Lake Wales 1.3 mi 6.3
LAKE WALES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Lake Wales 1.6 mi 5.3
HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lake Wales 1.8 mi 8.5
THE VANGUARD SCHOOL Lake Wales 2.4 mi 9.2
BOK ACADEMY Lake Wales 5.3 mi 4.9
DALE R FAIR BABSON PARK ELEMENTARY Babson Park 6.3 mi 6.2
CHAIN OF LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Winter Haven 6.3 mi 7.3
GARDEN GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Winter Haven 7.4 mi 6.8
DUNDEE RIDGE MIDDLE ACADEMY Dundee 8.0 mi 6.5
ALTURAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Alturas 7.3 mi 8.3
DON E WOODS OPPORTUNITY CENTER Dundee 8.7 mi 6.2
FAMILY LIFE HOMESCHOOL Bartow 7.9 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 33853 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$40,938

Median Home Value

$198,100

Median Rent

$965/mo

Population

12,385

College Educated

18.7%

Homeownership

55.8%

Avg Commute

24.8 min

Poverty Rate

23.8%

Median Age

37.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Canaan Academy has a median household income of $40,938. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $198,100, with a median rent of $965/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
BIG STAR PRIVATE SCHOOL Hialeah, FL 6.0
FUTURE LEADERS PREPARATORY SCHOOL Lakeland, FL 6.0
RAINBOW MONTESSORI MULTICULTURAL SCHOOL Hollywood, FL 6.0
SHANTI KIDS SCHOOL Hialeah, FL 6.0
SUNFLOWER PRIVATE SCHOOL Gulfport, FL 6.0
BRIGHTON ACADEMY I Cape Coral, FL 5.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Canaan Academy

What grades does Canaan Academy serve?

Canaan Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Canaan Academy?

Canaan Academy has an enrollment of approximately 39 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Canaan Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Canaan Academy is 9.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Canaan Academy rank in FL?

Canaan Academy is ranked #913 out of 1,462 private schools in FL.

What is Canaan Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Canaan Academy has a composite rating of 6.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Canaan Academy a private school?

Yes, Canaan Academy is a private coeducational school with a Other Religious affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Canaan Academy a religious school?

Canaan Academy has a Other Religious religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (1,772/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Lake Wales). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
39
Gender Split
49% M / 51% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
4
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Other Religious
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
POLK
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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