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Very Good

#1194 of 3,777 schools in FL

Top 32% in state

Purcell Elementary School

Elementary School · POLK

305 1ST AVE NE, Mulberry, FL 33860

Enrollment

474

Student-Teacher

16.3:1

Score

7.2

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Mulberry

#2 of 4

public schools

Florida elementary schools

#1,029 of 2,196

In district

#46 of 155

POLK

Academic growth

7.8 / 10

Very strong

About Purcell Elementary School

PURCELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is a regular public elementary school in Mulberry, Florida, located in Polk County. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and has an enrollment of 474 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.3:1. With 29 full-time equivalent teachers, the school offers personalized attention to each child.

Academically, PURCELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks as the 46th percentile among Florida schools with an academic score of 4.0/10. The ELA/Reading proficiency rate is at 37% for all grades combined, while Math proficiency stands at 35%. These scores indicate that there is room for growth in student performance but also highlight areas where the school can focus on improvement.

The school is situated in a large suburban area of Mulberry, offering students a community setting with access to various amenities.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.26 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics6.0Above Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency41%
Reading/ELA Proficiency34%
Math vs. State Avg-19.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-21.2 pts
Overall Proficiency38%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected+4.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile43th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.3Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,952

Purcell Elementary School — Students at Purcell Elementary School score 38% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

81.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores FL FAST (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 35.4%
School
State
58.1%
ELA Proficiency 36.6%
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
40%
ELA
33%
2021*
Math
41%
ELA
34%
2024
Math
32%
ELA
38.7%

* 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: 7.8/10.

How Purcell Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.2/10
68th percentile in FL
Academic
6.0/10
6.0/10
Growth
7.8/10
Above average
Environment
7.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
81%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers

Location

305 1ST AVE NE, Mulberry, FL 33860

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Purcell Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 4.3 miles away, in nearby Lakeland), which scores notably higher. Another option is R. BRUCE WAGNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.0/10, 5.3 miles away, in nearby Lakeland), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, JAMES W. SIKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 3.4 miles away, in nearby Lakeland), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Mulberry, see our Mulberry schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.2 mi
School Distance Rating
HARVEST ACADEMY LLC Mulberry 0.6 mi 7.9
MULBERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL Mulberry 0.6 mi 4.6
MULBERRY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mulberry 0.7 mi 7.8
MULBERRY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Mulberry 0.8 mi 3.4
BRILLIANT MINDS EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY Mulberry 3.1 mi 6.5
JAMES W. SIKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 3.4 mi 7.9
WILLOW OAK SCHOOL Mulberry 3.4 mi 7.6
LIMITLESS LEARNING EDU Lakeland 4.1 mi
SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 4.3 mi 8.3
MEDULLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 4.8 mi 5.5
R. BRUCE WAGNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 5.3 mi 8.0
GEORGE W. JENKINS SENIOR HIGH Lakeland 5.3 mi 4.6
LAKELAND HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL Lakeland 5.6 mi 5.8
VALLEYVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 5.4 mi 7.4
ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Lakeland 6.1 mi 5.6
RESURRECTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL Lakeland 6.7 mi 7.3
HIGHLANDS GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 6.7 mi 7.8
CARLTON PALMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 6.9 mi 5.1
PARKWAY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lakeland 7.0 mi 7.6
HIGHLAND CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Highland City 7.2 mi 7.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 33860 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$62,779

Median Home Value

$221,400

Median Rent

$1,150/mo

Population

25,617

College Educated

14.8%

Homeownership

70%

Avg Commute

29 min

Poverty Rate

16.7%

Median Age

34.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Purcell Elementary School has a median household income of $62,779. It is a community where 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $221,400, with a median rent of $1,150/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.7%. The average commute for residents is 29 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
ANNABEL C. PERRY PK-8 Miramar, FL 7.2
ARCHER ELEMENTARY Archer, FL 7.2
AVALON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Naples, FL 7.2
AVON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Avon Park, FL 7.2
BELVEDERE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL West Palm Beach, FL 7.2
BLANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL St. Petersburg, FL 7.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Purcell Elementary School

What grades does Purcell Elementary School serve?

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

How many students attend Purcell Elementary School?

Purcell Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 474 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Purcell Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Purcell Elementary School is 16.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Purcell Elementary School rank in FL?

Purcell Elementary School is ranked #1194 out of 3,777 schools in FL.

What is Purcell Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Purcell Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.2 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 Purcell Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Purcell Elementary School has 35.4% math proficiency and 36.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Purcell Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Purcell Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

81.2% of students at Purcell 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
55 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
62 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
474
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
81.2%
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
#46 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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