South McKeel Academy

Summary:

South McKeel Academy is a high-performing public charter elementary school serving 1,200 students in grades PK-6 in Lakeland, Florida. The school has consistently ranked among the top elementary schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for several years.

South McKeel Academy significantly outperforms the Polk County and Florida state averages on standardized tests across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, 86% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 49% in Polk County and 55% statewide. The school also has a more diverse racial makeup compared to many nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (18.58%) and Asian (6%) students. Additionally, South McKeel Academy has an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 0.1% to 2.4% over the past few years, and spends more per student ($10,515 in 2022-2023) compared to the district average.

While South McKeel Academy outperforms the nearby public schools in the Polk County district, there are a few other high-performing schools in the area, such as Highlands Grove Elementary and Magnolia Montessori Academy, which also demonstrate strong academic results and low chronic absenteeism rates. South McKeel Academy's success can be attributed to factors such as effective teaching, a focus on student engagement, and strategic resource allocation, which have allowed the school to consistently deliver excellent educational outcomes for its students.

Detail:

Public, Charter PK, KG-6

2222 Edgewood Dr S
Lakeland, FL 33803

(863) 510-0044

District: Polk

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,515

Student/teacher ratio: 18.4

Number of students: 1,199

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.9%

Hispanic:

20.4%

African American:

8.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 48.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details South McKeel Academy ranks better than 91.6% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 5^th among 85 ranked elementary schools in the Polk School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.62. (See more...)

Compare Details South McKeel Academy is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2019 the calculated Average Standard Score was 90.97. (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 Racial makeup is: White (59.9%), Hispanic (20.4%), African American (8.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 48.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South McKeel Academy is 18.4. 74 elementary schools in the Polk School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare South McKeel Academy employs 65 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South McKeel Academy is $10,515, which is the 40^th highest among 85 elementary schools in the Polk School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

South McKeel Academy 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:

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Rank History for South McKeel Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2009	91.19	80^th	1847	95.7%
2010	88.95	123^rd	1919	93.6%
2011	92.70	49^th	1985	97.5%
2012	85.55	228^th	1984	88.5%
2013	87.54	194^th	2029	90.4%
2014	91.08	128^th	2064	93.8%
2016	93.72	74^th	2087	96.5%
2017	89.06	173^rd	2112	91.8%
2018	90.49	140^th	2118	93.4%
2019	90.63	139^th	2182	93.6%
2021	86.82	269^th	2247	88.0%
2022	82.05	368^th	2219	83.4%
2023	89.53	179^th	2240	92.0%
2024	89.62	190^th	2256	91.6%

See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

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

Rank History for South McKeel Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	FL State Percentile
2010	78.27	157^th	839	81.3%
2011	91.22	41^st	891	95.4%
2012	91.06	52^nd	897	94.2%
2013	82.03	141^st	956	85.3%
2014	87.60	90^th	999	91.0%
2016	95.22	27^th	997	97.3%
2017	95.15	31^st	1031	97.0%
2018	91.70	64^th	1035	93.8%
2019	90.97	70^th	1099	93.6%

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: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for South McKeel Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2007	411	74	22	40	1	n/a	n/a	30	578
2008	393	84	24	36	1	n/a	n/a	38	576
2009	411	68	22	29	1	n/a	n/a	41	572
2010	764	109	34	97	1	n/a	n/a	61	1066
2011	835	89	33	104	8	0	66	0	1135
2012	833	108	36	96	9	0	63	0	1145
2013	858	98	33	113	6	0	54	0	1162
2014	862	84	33	130	4	0	50	0	1163
2015	847	82	42	156	6	0	34	0	1167
2016	844	79	42	166	8	0	26	0	1165
2017	836	88	42	172	3	1	22	0	1164
2018	846	90	48	182	2	1	26	0	1195
2019	876	106	50	187	2	0	30	0	1251
2020	877	109	48	190	1	1	30	0	1256
2021	822	107	52	203	0	1	40	0	1225
2022	790	101	56	207	0	0	46	0	1200
2023	744	108	72	223	0	0	53	0	1200
2024	718	107	70	245	0	1	58	0	1199

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 South McKeel Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	578	34.0	17.0	29.4
2008	576	34.0	16.9	30.3
2009	572	38.7	17.3	26.7
2010	1066	68.0	15.6	29.1
2011	1135	77.0	14.7	24.1
2012	1145	81.0	14.1	24.4
2013	1162	79.0	14.7	22.8
2014	1163	74.0	15.7	20.4
2015	1167	70.0	16.6	21.3
2016	1165	69.0	16.8	20.9
2017	1164	72.0	16.1	19.8
2018	1195	79.0	15.1	27.4
2019	1251	70.0	17.8	25.7
2020	1256	68.0	18.4	29.2
2021	1225	67.0	18.2	29.3
2022	1200	69.0	17.3	29.4
2023	1200	68.0	17.6	33.8
2024	1199	65.0	18.4	48.8

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 South McKeel Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	578	34.0	17.0	29.4
2008	576	34.0	16.9	30.3
2009	572	38.7	17.3	26.7
2010	1066	68.0	15.6	29.1
2011	1135	77.0	14.7	24.1
2012	1145	81.0	14.1	24.4
2013	1162	79.0	14.7	22.8
2014	1163	74.0	15.7	20.4
2015	1167	70.0	16.6	21.3
2016	1165	69.0	16.8	20.9
2017	1164	72.0	16.1	19.8
2018	1195	79.0	15.1	27.4
2019	1251	70.0	17.8	25.7
2020	1256	68.0	18.4	29.2
2021	1225	67.0	18.2	29.3
2022	1200	69.0	17.3	29.4
2023	1200	68.0	17.6	33.8
2024	1199	65.0	18.4	48.8

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 South McKeel Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$95 (1.4%)	$6,639 (98.6%)	$6,734
2019	$85 (1.2%)	$7,133 (98.8%)	$7,218
2020	$80 (1.0%)	$7,552 (99.0%)	$7,632
2021	$354 (4.4%)	$7,750 (95.6%)	$8,104
2022	$465 (5.9%)	$7,392 (94.1%)	$7,857
2023	$1,785 (17.0%)	$8,731 (83.0%)	$10,515

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South McKeel Academy

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 139^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 179^th of 2240 Elementary schools	1.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South McKeel Academy)	90	82	8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	52	48	4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (South McKeel Academy)	95	86	9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Polk)	56	51	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South McKeel Academy)	82	71	11%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	48	46	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (South McKeel Academy)	73	76	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Polk)	56	50	6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (South McKeel Academy)	81	70	11%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	47	44	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (South McKeel Academy)	78	63	15%
5th Grade Mathematics (Polk)	51	40	11%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (South McKeel Academy)	80	67	13%
5th Grade Science (Polk)	45	39	6%
5th Grade Science (Florida)	53	51	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (South McKeel Academy)	78	68	10%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	48	43	5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	54	52	2%
6th Grade Mathematics (South McKeel Academy)	87	83	4%
6th Grade Mathematics (Polk)	47	37	10%
6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	55	49	6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1251	1200	4.1%
African American	106	108	1.9%
American Indian	2	0	100%
Asian	50	72	44%
Hispanic	187	223	19.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	876	744	15.1%
Two or More Races	30	53	76.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	25.7%	33.8%	8.1%

Schools Near South McKeel Academy

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
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
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
Crystal Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	700 Galvin Dr	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2966	425	26	16.3	82.1%	102 (24.0%)	109 (25.6%)	185 (43.5%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.6%)	6.9	2203^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	2.3%		7.6	2177^th of 2240 public elementary schools	2.8%	26	26.0	33.0	18.0		29.0	35.0	16.0		19.0	$12,259	$2,663	$9,596
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
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
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
Philip O'Brien Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1225 Lime St E	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2950	633	33	19.1	79.9%	199 (31.4%)	176 (27.8%)	217 (34.3%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	35 (5.5%)	9.1	2171^st of 2256 public elementary schools	3.8%		8	2174^th of 2240 public elementary schools	2.9%	3	30.0	25.0	32.0		28.0	27.0	31.0		32.0	$11,314	$2,371	$8,944
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
Dixieland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	416 Ariana St	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2930	325	24	13.5	80.3%	84 (25.8%)	72 (22.2%)	148 (45.5%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.8%)	28.4	1665^th of 2256 public elementary schools	26.2%		26	1719^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.3%	54	42.0	28.0	33.0		56.0	57.0	46.0		33.0	$11,484	$2,192	$9,292

Frequently Asked Questions about South McKeel Academy

What district is South McKeel Academy in?

Polk

How many students attend South McKeel Academy?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,199 students attended South McKeel Academy.

Is South McKeel Academy a good school?

Yes. South McKeel Academy ranks in the top 8.4% of Florida elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of South McKeel Academy?

Students at South McKeel Academy are 60% White, 20% Hispanic, 9% African American, 6% Asian, 5% Two or more races.

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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.