Average
#1862 of 3,777 schools in FL
Top 49% in state
Polk Pre-collegiate Academy
School · POLK
114 NORTH TENNESSEE AVE SUITE 302, Lakeland, FL 33801
Enrollment
39
Student-Teacher
13:1
Score
6.5
Grades
9th – 10th
Enrollment
39
Student-Teacher
13:1
Score
6.5
Grades
9th – 10th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Lakeland
#28 of 58
public schools
In district
#67 of 155
POLK
School environment
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Polk Pre-collegiate Academy
Polk Pre-Collegiate Academy serves 39 students in grades 9 and 10 as a charter school in Lakeland, Florida. This small, focused institution maintains a favorable 13:1 student-teacher ratio with 3 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention in its early high school program. The school demonstrates exceptional academic performance, earning an impressive 8.8 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #209 out of 3,816 schools statewide, placing it in the 94th percentile of Florida schools.
Students show strong literacy skills, with 74% achieving proficiency or above in ELA/Reading across grade levels. This outstanding achievement is particularly noteworthy given the school's charter status and intimate size. Located at 114 North Tennessee Avenue in downtown Lakeland, the academy operates in the heart of this mid-size Central Florida city.
The surrounding 33801 ZIP code area reflects a working-class community with a median household income of $45,932 and median home values around $123,300. While 16% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher and the poverty rate stands at 26%, Polk Pre-Collegiate Academy has clearly established itself as a high-performing educational option. The school's urban Lakeland setting provides students access to the resources and opportunities of Polk County's largest city.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 39 students, Polk Pre-collegiate 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.
Polk Pre-collegiate Academy is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/3 metricsView breakdown
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Polk Pre-collegiate Academy — Students at Polk Pre-collegiate Academy score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
30.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores FL FAST (2023-24)
Based on 6 test records from FL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 1.8/10.
How Polk Pre-collegiate Academy Compares
See how Polk Pre-collegiate Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 84.5% (2019) to 67% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 87% (2019) to 77% (2021).
Location
114 NORTH TENNESSEE AVE SUITE 302, Lakeland, FL 33801
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Polk Pre-collegiate Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF LAKELAND (rated 8.5/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is MCKEEL ACADEMY CENTRAL (rated 8.3/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, MAGNOLIA MONTESSORI ACADEMY (rated 8.3/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Lakeland, see our Lakeland schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| LAWTON CHILES MIDDLE ACADEMY Lakeland | 0.3 mi | 5.9 |
| MCKEEL ACADEMY CENTRAL Lakeland | 0.3 mi | 8.3 |
| ROSABELLE W. BLAKE ACADEMY Lakeland | 0.7 mi | 4.8 |
| HADLEYS EARLY EDUCATION DBA INSPIRE ACADEM Lakeland | 0.8 mi | — |
| ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF LAKELAND Lakeland | 0.8 mi | 8.5 |
| PREPARING THE WAY ACADEMY Lakeland | 1.0 mi | — |
| PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS Lakeland | 1.0 mi | 5.9 |
| PHILIP O'BRIEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland | 1.1 mi | 5.1 |
| POLK VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM Lakeland | 1.1 mi | — |
| POLK FULL TIME ESCHOOL Lakeland | 1.1 mi | 4.9 |
| LAKELAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Lakeland | 1.2 mi | 5.2 |
| ROBERTS ACADEMY AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE Lakeland | 1.2 mi | 7.6 |
| DIXIELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland | 1.3 mi | 7.8 |
| LINCOLN AVENUE ACADEMY Lakeland | 1.3 mi | 7.8 |
| MAGNOLIA MONTESSORI ACADEMY Lakeland | 1.3 mi | 8.3 |
| ROCHELLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Lakeland | 1.4 mi | 8.1 |
| LAKELAND MONTESSORI SCHOOL HOUSE Lakeland | 1.3 mi | 7.6 |
| LAKELAND MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL Lakeland | 1.3 mi | 7.8 |
| LAKELAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Lakeland | 1.7 mi | 7.2 |
| ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY Lakeland | 1.8 mi | 7.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 33801 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$49,210
Median Home Value
$138,700
Median Rent
$1,100/mo
Population
33,460
College Educated
15.8%
Homeownership
50.2%
Avg Commute
25.6 min
Poverty Rate
22.8%
Median Age
33.4
Community Profile
The community surrounding Polk Pre-collegiate Academy has a median household income of $49,210. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $138,700, with a median rent of $1,100/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Polk Pre-collegiate Academy
What grades does Polk Pre-collegiate Academy serve?
Polk Pre-collegiate Academy serves students in grades 9th through 10th.
How many students attend Polk Pre-collegiate Academy?
Polk Pre-collegiate Academy has an enrollment of approximately 39 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polk Pre-collegiate Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Polk Pre-collegiate Academy is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Polk Pre-collegiate Academy rank in FL?
Polk Pre-collegiate Academy is ranked #1862 out of 3,777 schools in FL.
What is Polk Pre-collegiate Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Polk Pre-collegiate Academy has a composite rating of 6.5 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 Polk Pre-collegiate Academy?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Polk Pre-collegiate Academy has 75.8% math proficiency and 77.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Polk Pre-collegiate Academy a charter school?
Yes, Polk Pre-collegiate Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Polk Pre-collegiate Academy a Title I school?
No, Polk Pre-collegiate Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Polk Pre-collegiate Academy?
30.8% of students at Polk Pre-collegiate 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- County Safety
- Average (575/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 10th
- Enrollment
- 39
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 3
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 30.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (863) 204-1771
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
POLK- District Enrollment
- 111,041
- Schools in District
- 167
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,242
- District Rank
- #67 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.
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