Below Average
#2998 of 3,778 schools in FL
Wendell Watson Elementary School
Elementary School · Polk · Lakeland, FL
A Polk elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
6800 WALT WILLIAMS RD, Lakeland, FL 33809
- Math 50% vs FL 58% (2024)
- Reading 50% vs FL 54% (2024)
- 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Wendell Watson Elementary School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
2024 FAST proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 24 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 50% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 58% (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
53.2%
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 Wendell Watson 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
$67,112
Median home value
$248,700
Median rent
$1,492/mo
College educated
26.9%
Homeownership
63.8%
Poverty rate
10.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 33809; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avengers Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | K–11 | 0.5 mi | 35 | Compare → |
| Edgar L. Padgett ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–5 | 2.0 mi | 554 | Compare → |
| St Anthony Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | PK–8 | 2.9 mi | 182 | Compare → |
| Sparrow AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.4private | 2–11 | 3.4 mi | 53 | Compare → |
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.
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
- #105 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
Wendell Watson Elementary School is listed in POLK; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Wendell Watson Elementary School
Wendell Watson Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lakeland, FL, part of Polk, serving approximately 835 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #2,998 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Wendell Watson Elementary School
What grades does Wendell Watson Elementary School serve?
Wendell Watson Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Wendell Watson Elementary School?
Wendell Watson Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 835 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wendell Watson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wendell Watson Elementary School is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Wendell Watson Elementary School rank in FL?
Wendell Watson Elementary School ranks #2,998 of 3,778 schools in FL.
What is Wendell Watson Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Wendell Watson Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Wendell Watson Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Wendell Watson Elementary School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Wendell Watson Elementary School a charter school?
No, Wendell Watson Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Wendell Watson Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Wendell Watson Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Wendell Watson Elementary School?
53.2% of students at Wendell Watson 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
- 835
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 53
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 41.2%
- Phone
- (863) 853-6060
- Area population (ZIP 33809)
- 30,498
- Area average commute
- 27.3 min
- Area median age
- 42.6
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 33809; 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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