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Excellent

#2 of 1,462 private schools in FL

Top 1% of private schools

The Vanguard School

High School

22000 HWY 27, Lake Wales, FL 33859

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on FL statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

103

Student-Teacher

6.1:1

Score

9.2

Grades

6th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Lake Wales

#1 of 4

public schools

Florida high schools

#1 of 129

About The Vanguard School

The Vanguard School serves 103 students in grades 6-12 as a highly-rated public school in Lake Wales, Florida. With an exceptional 9.2 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #67 out of 1,462 schools statewide, The Vanguard School places in the 96th percentile of Florida schools, demonstrating outstanding academic excellence. The school maintains an remarkably low 6.1:1 student-teacher ratio with 17 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for highly personalized attention and individualized instruction that likely contributes to its stellar reputation.

This intimate learning environment enables teachers to closely monitor each student's progress and provide targeted support. Located at 22000 Highway 27, The Vanguard School draws students from the surrounding Lake Wales community in Polk County. The school's ZIP code area has a median household income of $61,815 and median home values around $181,100, with 23% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher.

While 19.4% of the community experiences poverty, the school's exceptional performance suggests it effectively serves students across all economic backgrounds. The Vanguard School is situated in a rural area near the town of Lake Wales, providing students with a peaceful learning environment away from urban distractions while maintaining access to community resources and opportunities.

What's said publicly about The Vanguard School

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

The Vanguard School is an independent, non-profit, co-educational boarding and day school situated on a 75-acre campus in Lake Wales, Florida 1 . The institution serves students in grades 6 through 12 1 . It specializes in supporting neurodiverse students with various learning differences, including dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, processing disorders, and executive functioning challenges 1 . Admission to the school does not require a formal clinical diagnosis 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 103 students, The Vanguard School 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.

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.1:1, The Vanguard School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, The Vanguard School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How The Vanguard School compares to 6 public schools serving similar grades in Lake Wales, FL

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.1:1
This School
vs
19.5:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
103
This School
vs
692
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
9.2
This School
vs
5.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 48.5% vs 0%
Black 24.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 19.4% vs 0%
Asian 7.8% vs 0%
The Vanguard School Lake Wales Public Avg

Nearby High Schools

School Rating
The Vanguard School (this school) 9.2
ROOSEVELT ACADEMY 6.6
VICTORY RIDGE ACADEMY 6.3
LAKE WALES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 5.3
EDWARD W BOK ACADEMY NORTH 4.6
MCLAUGHLIN ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE 5.9
BOK ACADEMY 4.9

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in FL.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.7 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,408
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 66%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 103
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in FL

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 48.5%
Black 24.3%
Hispanic 19.4%
Asian 7.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

22000 HWY 27, Lake Wales, FL 33859

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering The Vanguard School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. ROOSEVELT ACADEMY (rated 6.6/10, 1.7 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is DON E WOODS OPPORTUNITY CENTER (rated 6.2/10, 6.4 miles away, in nearby Dundee), a more accessible option. Additionally, LAKE WALES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.3/10, 2.2 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lake Wales, see our Lake Wales schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.0 mi
School Distance Rating
JANIE HOWARD WILSON SCHOOL Lake Wales 1.4 mi 5.8
ROOSEVELT ACADEMY Lake Wales 1.7 mi 6.6
VICTORY RIDGE ACADEMY Lake Wales 2.1 mi 6.3
SPOOK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lake Wales 2.2 mi 7.6
LAKE WALES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Lake Wales 2.2 mi 5.3
CANAAN ACADEMY Lake Wales 2.4 mi 6.0
EDWARD W BOK ACADEMY NORTH Lake Wales 2.3 mi 4.6
CANDLELIGHT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Lake Wales 2.3 mi 6.4
ENDTIME CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE Lake Wales 2.7 mi 4.8
POLK AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lake Wales 2.8 mi 6.7
MCLAUGHLIN ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE Lake Wales 3.4 mi 5.9
HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lake Wales 3.7 mi 8.5
CHAIN OF LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Winter Haven 4.5 mi 7.3
GARDEN GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Winter Haven 5.1 mi 6.8
DUNDEE RIDGE MIDDLE ACADEMY Dundee 5.9 mi 6.5
DON E WOODS OPPORTUNITY CENTER Dundee 6.4 mi 6.2
DUNDEE ELEMENTARY ACADEMY Dundee 6.5 mi 8.4
BOK ACADEMY Lake Wales 7.6 mi 4.9
FAMILY LIFE HOMESCHOOL Bartow 6.9 mi
WAHNETA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Winter Haven 7.0 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 33859 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,871

Median Home Value

$200,300

Median Rent

$1,232/mo

Population

10,827

College Educated

23.4%

Homeownership

75.6%

Avg Commute

30.3 min

Poverty Rate

22.5%

Median Age

50.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding The Vanguard School has a median household income of $61,871. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $200,300, with a median rent of $1,232/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 30 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
SHAAREI BINA TORAH ACADEMY FOR GIRLS Hollywood, FL 8.1
ESE TRANSITION Winter Garden, FL 7.8
AMIKIDS MARITIME ACADEMY Panama City, FL
LEE COUNTY ACCELERATION ACADEMIES Fort Myers, FL
MATER ACADEMY NARCOOSSEE HIGH SCHOOL Orlando, FL
NASSAU COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL Fernandina Beach, FL

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about The Vanguard School

What grades does The Vanguard School serve?

The Vanguard School serves students in grades 6th through 12th.

How many students attend The Vanguard School?

The Vanguard School has an enrollment of approximately 103 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at The Vanguard School?

The student-teacher ratio at The Vanguard School is 6.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does The Vanguard School rank in FL?

The Vanguard School is ranked #2 out of 1,462 private schools in FL.

What is The Vanguard School's MySchoolScout rating?

The Vanguard School has a composite rating of 9.2 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.

Is The Vanguard School a private school?

Yes, The Vanguard School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is The Vanguard School a religious school?

No, The Vanguard School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
12 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,772/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Lake Wales). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
6th – 12th
Enrollment
103
Gender Split
73% M / 27% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
8 hours
Days Per Year
176 days
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
POLK
Data Year
2022–2023

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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