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Very Good

#617 of 3,777 schools in FL

Top 16% in state

Highland City Elementary School

Elementary School · POLK

5355 9TH STREET SE, Highland City, FL 33846

Enrollment

415

Student-Teacher

14.8:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Florida elementary schools

#567 of 2,196

In district

#16 of 155

POLK

School environment

8.4 / 10

Very strong

About Highland City Elementary School

Highland City Elementary School serves 415 students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Highland City, Florida, within Polk County. This regular public school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 14.8:1 with 28 full-time equivalent teachers, providing a supportive learning environment for young learners. The school demonstrates solid academic performance with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #1003 out of 3816 schools statewide, placing it in the 74th percentile among Florida elementary schools.

Students show steady achievement in core subjects, with 60% reaching proficiency or above in mathematics and 57% meeting proficiency standards in English Language Arts and reading across all grade levels. Highland City Elementary's academic score of 6.8 out of 10 reflects the school's commitment to helping students build strong foundational skills during these crucial early learning years. The school's size allows for a close-knit community atmosphere where teachers can develop meaningful relationships with students and families while maintaining manageable class sizes.

Located at 5355 9th Street SE, Highland City Elementary School sits within a large suburban area, offering families the benefits of suburban living while maintaining access to educational resources and community amenities that support student growth and development.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.2Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change0 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics7.0Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency50%
Reading/ELA Proficiency47%
Math vs. State Avg-10.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-8.2 pts
Overall Proficiency49%
Expected (poverty-adj.)43%
vs. Expected+5.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile56th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,952

Highland City Elementary School — Students at Highland City Elementary School score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

62.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores FL FAST (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 58.8%
School
State
58.1%
ELA Proficiency 54.8%
School
State
54.2%

Based on 10 test records from FL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
64%
ELA
55%
2021*
Math
50%
ELA
47%
2024
Math
60%
ELA
57.3%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.2/10.

How Highland City Elementary School Compares

See how Highland City Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.9/10
84th percentile in FL
Academic
7.0/10
7.0/10
Growth
8.2/10
Above average
Environment
8.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
63%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers

Location

5355 9TH STREET SE, Highland City, FL 33846

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Highland City Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Lakeland), which scores slightly higher. Another option is OSCAR J. POPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 3.4 miles away, in nearby Lakeland), with a very similar rating. Additionally, JAMES E. STEPHENS ACADEMY (rated 7.9/10, 4.2 miles away, in nearby Bartow), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Highland City, see our Highland City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.9 mi
School Distance Rating
SPESSARD L HOLLAND ELEMENTARY Bartow 1.5 mi 6.9
POLK STATE COLLEGE COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL Lakeland 1.7 mi 4.9
POLK STATE LAKELAND GATEWAY TO COLLEGE COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHO Lakeland 1.7 mi 3.3
BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER Lakeland 2.0 mi 6.5
VALLEYVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 1.8 mi 7.4
MAYNARD A TRAVISS TECHNICAL ACADEMY Lakeland 2.2 mi 4.8
GEORGE W. JENKINS SENIOR HIGH Lakeland 2.2 mi 4.6
HIGHLANDS GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 2.6 mi 7.8
PARKWAY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lakeland 2.9 mi 7.6
THE CAPE ACADEMY Cape Coral 3.2 mi 7.0
OSCAR J. POPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 3.4 mi 7.9
SOUTH MCKEEL ACADEMY Lakeland 3.7 mi 7.7
MI ESCUELA MONTESSORI Lakeland 3.9 mi 7.4
LAKELAND INSTITUTE FOR LEARNING, ORG., CORP Lakeland 4.1 mi 7.5
SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 3.8 mi 8.3
JAMES E. STEPHENS ACADEMY Bartow 4.2 mi 7.9
LAKELAND HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL Lakeland 4.2 mi 5.8
CRYSTAL LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL Lakeland 4.7 mi 4.7
REAL ACADEMY (REACHING EVERY ADOLESCENT LEARNER) Lakeland 4.8 mi 6.5
GAUSE ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP Bartow 4.9 mi 6.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
AVALON ELEMENTARY Orlando, FL 7.9
BROOKSHIRE ELEMENTARY Winter Park, FL 7.9
BUNCHE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Miami Gardens, FL 7.9
COQUINA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Titusville, FL 7.9
DR. FREDERICA S. WILSON/SKYWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Miami Gardens, FL 7.9
HIGHLAND LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Palm Harbor, FL 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Highland City Elementary School

What grades does Highland City Elementary School serve?

Highland City Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Highland City Elementary School?

Highland City Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 415 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland City Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Highland City Elementary School is 14.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Highland City Elementary School rank in FL?

Highland City Elementary School is ranked #617 out of 3,777 schools in FL.

What is Highland City Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Highland City Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.9 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.

What are the test scores at Highland City Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Highland City Elementary School has 58.8% math proficiency and 54.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Highland City Elementary School a charter school?

No, Highland City Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Highland City Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Highland City Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Highland City Elementary School?

62.7% of students at Highland City Elementary 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
59 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
60 Bikeable
County Safety
Average (575/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
415
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Free/Reduced Lunch
62.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Polk County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

POLK
District Enrollment
111,041
Schools in District
167
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,242
District Rank
#16 of 155

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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