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#2410 of 3,778 schools in FL

Walter Caldwell Elementary School

Elementary School · Polk · Auburndale, FL

A Polk elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.

141 DAIRY RD, Auburndale, FL 33823

  • Math 51% vs FL 58% (2024)
  • Reading 47% vs FL 54% (2024)
  • 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.7Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.23 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.8Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency51% (2024 FAST)
Reading/ELA Proficiency46.7% (2024 FAST)
Math vs. State Avg-9.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-8.5 pts
Overall Proficiency49% (2024 FAST, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)42% (model expectation from 2024 FAST)
vs. Expected+6.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile54th
Resources & Environment6.0Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.3:1
District spending per student$11,242
Chronic Absenteeism41.8%

Students at Walter Caldwell Elementary School score 49% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 FAST proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.

Math Proficiency51%(2024 FAST)
School
State
58%(2024 FAST)
ELA Proficiency47%(2024 FAST)
School
State
54%(2024 FAST)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 19 points since 2020, reaching 49% in 2024.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
66%
ELA
65%
2010
Math
58%
ELA
54%
2011
Math
51%
ELA
46%
2012
Math
53%
ELA
47%
2013
ELA
46%
2014
Math
39%
ELA
34%
2015
Math
40%
ELA
34%
2016
Math
40%
ELA
40%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
40%
2018
Math
46%
ELA
41%
2019
Math
46%
ELA
41%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
36%
ELA
37%
2024
Math
51%
ELA
47%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 43% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

71.7%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Walter Caldwell Elementary 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 27Car-Dependent
  • Bike 36Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,334/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Auburndale), 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

$64,248

Median home value

$234,300

Median rent

$1,068/mo

College educated

17.2%

Homeownership

71.2%

Poverty rate

15%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 33823; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
All Hope Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition6.3privateK–121.0 mi54Compare →
Auburndale Central Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.3PK–51.1 mi372Compare →
Hartridge AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified6.2K–51.8 mi171Compare →
Fred G. Garner AcademyEnrollment path unverified6.2PK–52.1 mi840Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

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
#71 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

Walter Caldwell Elementary School is listed in POLK; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Walter Caldwell Elementary School

Walter Caldwell Elementary School is a public elementary school in Auburndale, FL, part of Polk, serving approximately 895 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,410 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Walter Caldwell Elementary School

What grades does Walter Caldwell Elementary School serve?

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

How many students attend Walter Caldwell Elementary School?

Walter Caldwell Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 895 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter Caldwell Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Walter Caldwell 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 Walter Caldwell Elementary School rank in FL?

Walter Caldwell Elementary School ranks #2,410 of 3,778 schools in FL.

What is Walter Caldwell Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Walter Caldwell Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 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 Walter Caldwell Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Walter Caldwell Elementary School has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Walter Caldwell Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Walter Caldwell Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

71.7% of students at Walter Caldwell 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
895
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
55
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
41.8%
Area population (ZIP 33823)
39,146
Area average commute
29 min
Area median age
40.8
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 33823; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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