Highlands Grove Elementary School

Q: Is Highlands Grove Elementary School a good school?

Highlands Grove Elementary School ranks 576 th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Highlands Grove Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lakeland, Florida, serving 731 students in grades PK-5. The school stands out for its strong academic performance, outpacing the Polk County and Florida state averages in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subjects.

In the 2023-2024 school year, Highlands Grove had significantly higher proficiency rates than the Polk County district in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and 5th grade Science. For example, 67% of 3rd graders, 53% of 4th graders, and 59% of 5th graders at Highlands Grove were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 49%, 44%, and 50% for Polk County, respectively. The school also has a more diverse student population, with a higher percentage of Hispanic and Asian students compared to nearby schools like Highland City Elementary and Cleveland Court Elementary. However, Highlands Grove has experienced a higher rate of chronic absenteeism at 27.4% compared to the state and district averages.

While Highlands Grove outperforms many of its neighbors, other schools in the area, such as Magnolia Montessori Academy and South McKeel Academy, have also demonstrated strong academic results. Highlands Grove's higher per-student spending of $10,707 may contribute to its success, but the school's equity concerns, such as the performance gap for certain subgroups, warrant further investigation and targeted interventions to ensure all students have the opportunity to thrive.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

4510 Lakeland Highlands Rd
Lakeland, FL 33813

(863) 648-3002

District: Polk

SchoolDigger Rank:
576^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,707

Students who attend Highlands Grove Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lakeland Highlands Middle School
High:	George W. Jenkins Senior High

Student/teacher ratio: 15.8

Number of students: 712

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.8%

Hispanic:

27.0%

African American:

12.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 46.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Highlands Grove Elementary School ranks better than 74.5% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 14^th among 85 ranked elementary schools in the Polk School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 72.87. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Highlands Grove Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (52.8%), Hispanic (27%), African American (12.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 46.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Highlands Grove Elementary School is 15.8, which is the 33^rd best among 85 elementary schools in the Polk School District. (See more...)

Compare Highlands Grove Elementary School employs 45 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Highlands Grove Elementary School is $10,707, which is the 38^th highest among 85 elementary schools in the Polk School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Highlands Grove Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Polk:

SchoolDigger ranks Polk 57^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Highlands Grove Elementary School.

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Rank History for Highlands Grove Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2009	63.61	702^nd	1847	62.0%
2010	70.92	547^th	1919	71.5%
2011	65.92	707^th	1985	64.4%
2012	68.95	598^th	1984	69.9%
2013	60.35	789^th	2029	61.1%
2014	71.70	536^th	2064	74.0%
2016	84.24	288^th	2087	86.2%
2017	79.99	376^th	2112	82.2%
2018	83.81	322^nd	2118	84.8%
2019	65.89	712^th	2182	67.4%
2021	71.87	607^th	2247	73.0%
2022	75.50	516^th	2219	76.7%
2023	82.15	361^st	2240	83.9%
2024	72.87	576^th	2256	74.5%

See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)

50%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, August 16, 2018

The school is nice, but they lack communication with the parents as a one on one basis. They will consistently tell you “our door is open”. They have a problem communicating and consistency. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Highlands Grove Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2008	409	149	21	75	2	n/a	n/a	29	685
2009	441	150	16	70	2	n/a	n/a	45	724
2010	492	114	12	88	4	n/a	n/a	39	749
2011	486	123	25	94	7	0	31	0	766
2012	449	116	23	96	7	0	25	0	716
2013	455	143	22	101	4	0	16	0	741
2014	448	117	26	92	3	0	17	0	703
2015	468	107	26	109	1	0	20	0	731
2016	469	110	26	128	0	0	16	0	749
2017	478	119	20	153	2	1	22	0	795
2018	478	96	22	163	2	0	31	0	792
2019	500	126	21	175	2	0	31	0	855
2020	450	103	28	164	3	0	24	0	772
2021	397	101	29	172	3	0	21	0	723
2022	407	88	22	192	1	0	32	0	742
2023	407	92	23	183	2	0	24	0	731
2024	376	90	26	192	2	0	26	0	712

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Highlands Grove Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	685	48.0	14.3	45.3
2009	724	57.5	14.8	51.7
2010	749	50.0	14.9	51.1
2011	766	52.0	14.7	50.8
2012	716	47.0	15.2	51.4
2013	741	46.0	16.1	51.7
2014	703	45.0	15.6	50.9
2015	731	44.0	16.6	50.8
2016	749	45.0	16.6	44.6
2017	795	50.0	15.9	39.9
2018	792	51.0	15.5	38.4
2019	855	48.0	17.8	39.8
2020	772	48.0	16.0	34.5
2021	723	43.0	16.8	37.9
2022	742	44.0	16.8	42.6
2023	731	46.0	15.8	35.8
2024	712	45.0	15.8	46.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Highlands Grove Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	685	48.0	14.3	45.3
2009	724	57.5	14.8	51.7
2010	749	50.0	14.9	51.1
2011	766	52.0	14.7	50.8
2012	716	47.0	15.2	51.4
2013	741	46.0	16.1	51.7
2014	703	45.0	15.6	50.9
2015	731	44.0	16.6	50.8
2016	749	45.0	16.6	44.6
2017	795	50.0	15.9	39.9
2018	792	51.0	15.5	38.4
2019	855	48.0	17.8	39.8
2020	772	48.0	16.0	34.5
2021	723	43.0	16.8	37.9
2022	742	44.0	16.8	42.6
2023	731	46.0	15.8	35.8
2024	712	45.0	15.8	46.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Highlands Grove Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$496 (6.3%)	$7,322 (93.7%)	$7,818
2019	$803 (10.1%)	$7,181 (89.9%)	$7,985
2020	$790 (9.4%)	$7,612 (90.6%)	$8,402
2021	$1,009 (11.6%)	$7,651 (88.3%)	$8,661
2022	$2,143 (21.7%)	$7,753 (78.3%)	$9,897
2023	$1,431 (13.4%)	$9,277 (86.6%)	$10,707

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Highlands Grove Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 712^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 361^st of 2240 Elementary schools	16.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Grove Elementary School)	67	74	7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	52	48	4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Highlands Grove Elementary School)	74	81	7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Polk)	56	51	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Grove Elementary School)	67	55	12%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	48	46	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Grove Elementary School)	74	65	9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Polk)	56	50	6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Highlands Grove Elementary School)	52	60	8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	47	44	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Highlands Grove Elementary School)	68	79	11%
5th Grade Mathematics (Polk)	51	40	11%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Highlands Grove Elementary School)	51	65	14%
5th Grade Science (Polk)	45	39	6%
5th Grade Science (Florida)	53	51	2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	855	731	14.5%
African American	126	92	27%
American Indian	2	2
Asian	21	23	9.5%
Hispanic	175	183	4.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	500	407	18.6%
Two or More Races	31	24	22.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	39.8%	35.8%	3.9%

Schools Near Highlands Grove Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)				FAST Math (2024)				Statewide Science Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Highlands Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4510 Lakeland Highlands Rd	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3002	712	45	15.8	46.9%	376 (52.8%)	90 (12.6%)	192 (27.0%)	26 (3.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.7%)	72.9	576^th of 2256 public elementary schools	74.5%		82.2	361^st of 2240 public elementary schools	83.9%	215	67.0	53.0	59.0		73.0	57.0	82.0		74.0	$10,707	$1,431	$9,277
Carlton Palmore Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3725 Clevelnd Hts Blvd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3510	413	30	13.7	66.1%	187 (45.3%)	90 (21.8%)	111 (26.9%)	4 (1.0%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.9%)	26.7	1720^th of 2256 public elementary schools	23.8%		36.7	1423^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	36.5%	297	35.0	40.0	45.0		18.0	33.0	61.0		53.0	$12,393	$1,706	$10,687
South McKeel Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	2222 Edgewood Dr S	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 510-0044	1,199	65	18.4	48.8%	718 (59.9%)	107 (8.9%)	245 (20.4%)	70 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	58 (4.8%)	89.6	190^th of 2256 public elementary schools	91.6%		89.5	179^th of 2240 public elementary schools	92.0%	11	86.0	73.0	73.0	80.0	83.0	84.0	72.0	88.0	72.0	$10,515	$1,785	$8,731
Mi Escuela Montessori	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	2130 E. Edgewood Drive	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 934-2780	239	20	11.7	48.1%	89 (37.2%)	8 (3.3%)	127 (53.1%)	7 (2.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.9%)	32.8	1540^th of 2256 public elementary schools	31.7%		31.1	1582^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	29.4%	42	34.0	61.0	47.0	71.0	15.0	30.0	37.0	64.0	53.0	$10,756	$2,208	$8,549
Valleyview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2900 State Rd 540a E	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 648-3535	817	52	15.7	38.9%	446 (54.6%)	115 (14.1%)	177 (21.7%)	58 (7.1%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.1%)	84.4	313^th of 2256 public elementary schools	86.1%		83.2	334^th of 2240 public elementary schools	85.1%	21	70.0	71.0	73.0		76.0	76.0	74.0		66.0	$9,589	$1,090	$8,499
Oscar J. Pope Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2730 Maine Ave	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2992	378	25	15.1	80.4%	93 (24.6%)	62 (16.4%)	211 (55.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.6%)	54.2	988^th of 2256 public elementary schools	56.2%		31.5	1565^th of 2240 public elementary schools	30.1%	577	47.0	48.0	64.0		64.0	55.0	64.0		56.0	$15,455	$3,339	$12,117
Scott Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1140 County Road 540a E	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3520	777	49	15.8	51.1%	429 (55.2%)	91 (11.7%)	200 (25.7%)	26 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (4.0%)	68.5	676^th of 2256 public elementary schools	70.0%		62.6	782^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	65.1%	106	65.0	59.0	58.0		76.0	66.0	59.0		55.0	$10,771	$1,706	$9,066
Highland City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5355 9th Street SE	Highland City	33846	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 648-3540	415	28	14.8	62.7%	208 (50.1%)	47 (11.3%)	126 (30.4%)	5 (1.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.5%)	58.8	886^th of 2256 public elementary schools	60.7%		42.1	1285^th of 2240 public elementary schools	42.6%	399	70.0	54.0	48.0		73.0	44.0	63.0		60.0	$12,217	$1,734	$10,483
Cleveland Court Elementary School	Public	K-5	328 Edgewood Dr E	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2929	398	31	12.8	54.3%	174 (43.7%)	92 (23.1%)	111 (27.9%)	15 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	77.1	477^th of 2256 public elementary schools	78.9%		84.6	297^th of 2240 public elementary schools	86.7%	180	66.0	74.0	67.0		68.0	71.0	67.0		62.0	$11,532	$1,571	$9,961
Southwest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2650 Southwest Ave	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2830	380	27	14.0	75.8%	137 (36.1%)	76 (20.0%)	145 (38.2%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.7%)	47.4	1161^st of 2256 public elementary schools	48.5%		55	969^th of 2240 public elementary schools	56.7%	192	39.0	47.0	49.0		54.0	58.0	75.0		55.0	$13,291	$2,033	$11,259

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Grove Elementary School

Is Highlands Grove Elementary School a good school?

Highlands Grove Elementary School ranks 576^th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Highlands Grove Elementary School in?

Polk

What is the racial makeup of Highlands Grove Elementary School?

Students at Highlands Grove Elementary School are 53% White, 27% Hispanic, 13% African American, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

How many students attend Highlands Grove Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 712 students attended Highlands Grove Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Highlands Grove Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Highlands Grove Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lakeland Highlands Middle School
High : George W. Jenkins Senior High

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.