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#2552 of 3,778 schools in FL

Discovery High School

High School · Polk · Lake Alfred, FL

A Polk charter high school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.

Charter

1000 N BUENA VISTA DR, Lake Alfred, FL 33850

  • Math 29% proficient (2021)
  • Reading 43% vs FL 53% (2024)
  • 95%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.7Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data7
Annual Change-1.23 pts/yr
Data Period2016–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics4.4Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency29% (2021 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency42.5% (2024 FAST)
Reading vs. State Avg-10.1 pts
Overall Proficiency36% (2024 FAST, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2024 FAST)
vs. Expected-6.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile25th
College Readiness6.7Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate95%+
AP Participation10.1%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment5.4Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.3:1
District spending per student$11,242
Chronic Absenteeism42.2%

Students at Discovery High School score 36% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 FAST proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.

Math Proficiency29%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency43%(2024 FAST)
School
State
53%(2024 FAST)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 9-year record (2016–2024), then recovered 5 points since 2019, reaching 43% in 2024.

Show all 7 years
2016
Math
35%
ELA
49%
2017
Math
36%
ELA
49%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
45%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
45%
2020*
Math
29%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
29%
ELA
42%
2024
ELA
43%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 32% (multi-year average, 2016-2021) · reading/ELA 45% (multi-year average, 2016-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 14 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

70.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Discovery High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 6Car-Dependent
  • Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,098/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Lake Alfred), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$53,877

Median home value

$215,700

Median rent

$1,072/mo

College educated

24.1%

Homeownership

73.6%

Poverty rate

10.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 33850; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
10.1% participation·State avg: 2.4 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics17sports offered
8 boys'·9 girls'·17 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses4of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Karen M. Siegel AcademyEnrollment path unverified8.2PK–120.4 mi159Compare →
Our Career Centered Academy Inc.Private · tuition7.5privateK–121.4 mi89Compare →
New Beginnings High SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified4.36–123.8 mi837Compare →
Auburndale Senior High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.19–124.6 mi1,777Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Polk

Schools in district
167
Rank in district
#83 of 155
District spending per student
$11,242NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
17.0%Census SAIPE · 2024

Discovery High School is listed in POLK; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Discovery High School

Discovery High School is a public high school in Lake Alfred, FL, part of Polk, serving approximately 812 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #2,552 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2021) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Discovery High School

What grades does Discovery High School serve?

Discovery High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Discovery High School?

Discovery High School has an enrollment of approximately 812 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Discovery High School is 17.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Discovery High School rank in FL?

Discovery High School ranks #2,552 of 3,778 schools in FL.

What is Discovery High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Discovery High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Discovery High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Discovery High School has 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2021) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2016-2024).

Is Discovery High School a charter school?

Yes, Discovery High School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Discovery High School a Title I school?

No, Discovery High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Discovery High School?

70.9% of students at Discovery High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
812
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
47
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
42.2%
4-Year Graduation
95%+
Area population (ZIP 33850)
9,825
Area average commute
29.6 min
Area median age
43.5
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 33850; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2016-2021, multi-year average, 2016-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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