Needs Improvement
#3661 of 3,778 schools in FL
Southwest Middle School
Middle School · Polk · Lakeland, FL
A Polk middle school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2815 EDEN PKWY, Lakeland, FL 33803
- Math 25% vs FL 53% (2024)
- Reading 31% vs FL 52% (2024)
- 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southwest Middle School score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2024 FAST proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 28 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 28% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 40% (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 33 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
72.5%
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 Southwest Middle 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 42Car-Dependent
- Bike 65Bikeable
- County Safety: Average575/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$63,180
Median home value
$236,200
Median rent
$1,337/mo
College educated
33.8%
Homeownership
62.2%
Poverty rate
12.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 33803; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cygnet SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.5private | K–10 | 0.5 mi | 63 | Compare → |
| Wonderhere AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.0private | 1–6 | 0.9 mi | 36 | Compare → |
| Lakeland Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.2private | PK–12 | 1.0 mi | 1,076 | Compare → |
| Berkley AcceleratedCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.8 | 6–10 | Not available | 627 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
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
- #142 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
Southwest Middle School is listed in POLK; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southwest Middle School
Southwest Middle School is a public middle school in Lakeland, FL, part of Polk, serving approximately 745 students in grades 6th-8th with a 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 out of 10 and ranks #3,661 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southwest Middle School
What grades does Southwest Middle School serve?
Southwest Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Southwest Middle School?
Southwest Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 745 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle School is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southwest Middle School rank in FL?
Southwest Middle School ranks #3,661 of 3,778 schools in FL.
What is Southwest Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Southwest Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 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 Southwest Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southwest Middle School has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Southwest Middle School a charter school?
No, Southwest Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southwest Middle School a Title I school?
No, Southwest Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southwest Middle School?
72.5% of students at Southwest Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 745
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 52.2%
- Phone
- (863) 499-2840
- Area population (ZIP 33803)
- 29,058
- Area average commute
- 21.8 min
- Area median age
- 42.3
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 · 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.
- 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 33803; 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, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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