Below Average
#3148 of 3,778 schools in FL
Pioneer Career Academy
High School · Hardee · Wauchula, FL
A Hardee high school where students score 13 points below what's typical for similar communities.
200 S FLORIDA AVE, Wauchula, FL 33873
- Math 25% proficient (2021)
- Reading 18% vs FL 53% (2024)
- <50% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Pioneer Career Academy score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).
2024 FAST proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2019, to 18% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 23% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 23% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 25 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
90.9%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Pioneer Career Academy 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 35Car-Dependent
- Bike 43Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,150/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Wauchula), 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
$51,311
Median home value
$128,500
Median rent
$944/mo
College educated
14.2%
Homeownership
70.1%
Poverty rate
27.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 33873; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardee Virtual FranchiseEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | K–12 | 0.9 mi | 35 | Compare → |
| Hardee Senior High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | 9–12 | 1.5 mi | 1,335 | Compare → |
| Hardee Junior High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | 6–12 | 2.8 mi | 1,089 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Hardee
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #9 of 9
- District spending per student
- $11,932NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 22.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pioneer Career Academy is listed in HARDEE; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pioneer Career Academy
Pioneer Career Academy is a public high school in Wauchula, FL, part of Hardee, serving approximately 44 students in grades 5th-12th with a 44:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #3,148 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pioneer Career Academy
What grades does Pioneer Career Academy serve?
Pioneer Career Academy serves students in grades 5th through 12th.
How many students attend Pioneer Career Academy?
Pioneer Career Academy has an enrollment of approximately 44 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Career Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Career Academy is 44:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pioneer Career Academy rank in FL?
Pioneer Career Academy ranks #3,148 of 3,778 schools in FL.
What is Pioneer Career Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Pioneer Career Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 Pioneer Career Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pioneer Career Academy has 23% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Pioneer Career Academy a charter school?
No, Pioneer Career Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pioneer Career Academy a Title I school?
No, Pioneer Career Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pioneer Career Academy?
90.9% of students at Pioneer Career Academy 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
- 5th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 44
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 44:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Hardee County
- Phone
- (863) 735-2300
- 4-Year Graduation
- <50%
- Area population (ZIP 33873)
- 14,162
- Area average commute
- 27 min
- Area median age
- 36.7
Official sources & links
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 33873; 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, 2009-2021, multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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