Phillis Wheatley Elementary

Summary:

Phillis Wheatley Elementary is a public elementary school in Apopka, Florida, serving 403 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Orange County School District. While the school has a significantly higher percentage of African American students compared to nearby schools, it faces persistent challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates and consistently low academic performance.

Phillis Wheatley Elementary stands out for its racial makeup, with 63.52% of its students being African American, significantly higher than the 13.45% to 49.35% range at nearby schools like Clay Springs Elementary and Bear Lake Elementary School. This racial imbalance suggests potential issues with school segregation or unequal access to educational opportunities. Additionally, the school has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 39.9% to 49.8%, much higher than the 23.8% to 33.2% range at nearby schools.

Academically, Phillis Wheatley Elementary underperforms compared to the Orange County and Florida state averages in English Language Arts, Math, and Science proficiency. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates were 33-37% in ELA and 32-48% in Math, compared to 54-58% and 58-62% for Orange County, and 53-55% and 56-60% for Florida. Despite this, the school has a higher spending per student ($14,367 in 2022-2023) compared to the $8,638 to $13,181 range at nearby schools, raising questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of resource utilization.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1475 Marvin C Zanders Ave
Apopka, FL 32703

(407) 884-2250

District: Orange

SchoolDigger Rank:
1888^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,367

Students who attend Phillis Wheatley Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Piedmont Lakes Middle
High:	Wekiva High

Student/teacher ratio: 14.9

Number of students: 403

Racial breakdown:

African American:

63.5%

Hispanic:

27.5%

White:

6.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 83.9%

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Compare Phillis Wheatley Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Phillis Wheatley Elementary ranks worse than 83.7% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 145^th among 163 ranked elementary schools in the Orange School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 20.68. (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: African American (63.5%), Hispanic (27.5%), White (6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 83.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Phillis Wheatley Elementary is 14.9, which is the 41^st best among 163 elementary schools in the Orange School District. (See more...)

Compare Phillis Wheatley Elementary employs 27 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Phillis Wheatley Elementary is $14,367, which is the 19^th highest among 163 elementary schools in the Orange School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Phillis Wheatley Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Orange:

SchoolDigger ranks Orange 31^st of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Phillis Wheatley Elementary

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	6.63	1619^th	1688	4.1%
2007	4.86	1736^th	1786	2.8%
2008	3.59	1764^th	1789	1.4%
2009	5.24	1793^rd	1847	2.9%
2010	12.17	1775^th	1919	7.5%
2011	3.89	1962^nd	1985	1.2%
2012	5.28	1946^th	1984	1.9%
2013	16.79	1804^th	2029	11.1%
2014	23.87	1656^th	2064	19.8%
2016	15.49	1853^rd	2087	11.2%
2017	20.64	1761^st	2112	16.6%
2018	15.43	1886^th	2118	11.0%
2019	8.42	2083^rd	2182	4.5%
2021	23.57	1733^rd	2247	22.9%
2022	36.89	1397^th	2219	37.0%
2023	25.82	1727^th	2240	22.9%
2024	20.68	1888^th	2256	16.3%

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

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Enrollment information for Phillis Wheatley Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	175	628	0	33	2	n/a	n/a	0	838
1989	151	558	1	24	0	n/a	n/a	0	734
1990	173	574	1	38	0	n/a	n/a	0	786
1991	172	550	1	57	2	n/a	n/a	0	782
1992	89	530	2	48	0	n/a	n/a	0	669
1993	71	502	1	39	0	n/a	n/a	0	613
1994	76	525	0	34	0	n/a	n/a	0	635
1995	59	507	0	55	1	n/a	n/a	0	622
1996	59	507	0	55	1	n/a	n/a	0	622
1997	48	481	0	59	0	n/a	n/a	0	588
1998	25	452	0	63	0	n/a	n/a	0	540
1999	38	406	0	61	0	n/a	n/a	0	505
2000	39	380	0	74	0	n/a	n/a	0	493
2001	31	403	0	68	0	n/a	n/a	0	502
2002	40	311	0	58	0	n/a	n/a	0	409
2003	40	311	0	58	0	n/a	n/a	0	409
2004	30	320	0	87	1	n/a	n/a	0	438
2005	35	338	0	76	1	n/a	n/a	0	450
2006	39	357	1	92	1	n/a	n/a	0	490
2007	36	308	2	105	0	n/a	n/a	15	466
2008	31	260	1	94	0	n/a	n/a	13	399
2009	24	259	1	113	0	n/a	n/a	13	410
2010	30	255	0	109	0	n/a	n/a	8	402
2011	24	259	0	92	0	0	5	0	380
2012	24	223	0	89	0	0	3	0	339
2013	29	173	1	81	0	0	4	0	288
2014	27	192	1	93	0	0	9	0	322
2015	38	230	1	110	0	0	7	0	386
2016	26	292	2	121	0	0	7	0	448
2017	32	291	3	101	0	1	12	0	440
2018	30	290	3	119	1	0	6	0	449
2019	35	302	6	115	1	1	11	0	471
2020	20	295	7	110	0	0	10	0	442
2021	20	284	3	91	0	0	5	0	403
2022	24	258	4	113	0	0	12	0	411
2023	24	256	3	111	0	0	9	0	403

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 Phillis Wheatley Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	838	51.0	16.4	74.1
1989	734	53.0	13.8	95.4
1990	786	51.0	15.4	85.5
1991	782	54.0	14.4	84.5
1992	669	48.0	13.9	n/a
1993	613	41.0	15.0	63.5
1994	635	41.0	15.5	22.2
1995	622	35.0	17.8	81.7
1996	622	35.0	17.8	81.7
1997	588	40.0	14.7	37.2
1998	540	30.0	18.0	76.7
1999	505	37.0	13.6	81.8
2000	493	42.0	11.7	85.8
2001	502	33.0	15.2	93.8
2002	409	27.0	15.1	82.9
2003	409	27.0	15.1	82.9
2004	438	30.0	14.6	84.5
2005	450	29.0	15.5	81.8
2006	490	27.0	18.1	0
2007	466	33.0	14.1	92.2
2008	399	28.0	14.3	98.7
2009	410	27.6	15.2	101
2010	402	28.5	14.1	95.9
2011	380	29.0	13.1	99.2
2012	339	26.0	13.0	99.1
2013	288	27.0	10.6	99
2014	322	26.0	12.3	88.8
2015	386	30.0	12.8	83.2
2016	448	31.0	14.4	89.3
2017	440	31.0	14.1	88
2018	449	27.0	16.6	85.7
2019	471	29.0	16.2	81.1
2020	442	27.0	16.3	83.9
2021	403	26.0	15.5	82.1
2022	411	27.0	15.2	83.2
2023	403	27.0	14.9	83.9

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 Phillis Wheatley Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	838	51.0	16.4	74.1
1989	734	53.0	13.8	95.4
1990	786	51.0	15.4	85.5
1991	782	54.0	14.4	84.5
1992	669	48.0	13.9	n/a
1993	613	41.0	15.0	63.5
1994	635	41.0	15.5	22.2
1995	622	35.0	17.8	81.7
1996	622	35.0	17.8	81.7
1997	588	40.0	14.7	37.2
1998	540	30.0	18.0	76.7
1999	505	37.0	13.6	81.8
2000	493	42.0	11.7	85.8
2001	502	33.0	15.2	93.8
2002	409	27.0	15.1	82.9
2003	409	27.0	15.1	82.9
2004	438	30.0	14.6	84.5
2005	450	29.0	15.5	81.8
2006	490	27.0	18.1	0
2007	466	33.0	14.1	92.2
2008	399	28.0	14.3	98.7
2009	410	27.6	15.2	101
2010	402	28.5	14.1	95.9
2011	380	29.0	13.1	99.2
2012	339	26.0	13.0	99.1
2013	288	27.0	10.6	99
2014	322	26.0	12.3	88.8
2015	386	30.0	12.8	83.2
2016	448	31.0	14.4	89.3
2017	440	31.0	14.1	88
2018	449	27.0	16.6	85.7
2019	471	29.0	16.2	81.1
2020	442	27.0	16.3	83.9
2021	403	26.0	15.5	82.1
2022	411	27.0	15.2	83.2
2023	403	27.0	14.9	83.9

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 Phillis Wheatley Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$2,398 (23.2%)	$7,941 (76.8%)	$10,339
2019	$1,911 (18.9%)	$8,199 (81.1%)	$10,111
2020	$2,539 (21.0%)	$9,539 (79.0%)	$12,077
2021	$2,898 (21.9%)	$10,357 (78.1%)	$13,255
2022	$5,421 (32.6%)	$11,193 (67.4%)	$16,614
2023	$3,605 (25.1%)	$10,763 (74.9%)	$14,367

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Phillis Wheatley Elementary

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 2083^rd of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 1727^th of 2240 Elementary schools	18.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Phillis Wheatley Elementary)	24	21	3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Orange)	55	54	1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Phillis Wheatley Elementary)	15	54	39%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Orange)	62	61	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Phillis Wheatley Elementary)	29	24	5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Orange)	57	57
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Phillis Wheatley Elementary)	31	59	28%
4th Grade Mathematics (Orange)	63	62	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Phillis Wheatley Elementary)	30	41	11%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Orange)	54	53	1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Phillis Wheatley Elementary)	43	53	10%
5th Grade Mathematics (Orange)	57	52	5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Phillis Wheatley Elementary)	29	36	7%
5th Grade Science (Orange)	54	59	5%
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	471	403	14.4%
African American	302	256	15.2%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	6	3	50%
Hispanic	115	111	3.5%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	35	24	31.4%
Two or More Races	11	9	18.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	81.1%	83.9%	2.8%

Schools Near Phillis Wheatley Elementary

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)		EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Biology 1 (2024)	EOC Civics (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 English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Phillis Wheatley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1475 Marvin C Zanders Ave	Apopka	32703	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 884-2250	403	27	14.9	83.9%	24 (6.0%)	256 (63.5%)	111 (27.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	20.7	1888^th of 2256 public elementary schools	16.3%		25.8	1727^th of 2240 public elementary schools	22.9%	161	33.0	37.0	33.0				33.0	32.0	48.0				51.0						$14,367	$3,605	$10,763
Lovell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	815 Roger Williams Rd	Apopka	32703	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 884-2235	643	38	16.9	75.6%	94 (14.6%)	101 (15.7%)	433 (67.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.0%)	27.7	1693^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	25.0%		24.3	1762^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	21.3%	69	39.0	31.0	41.0				57.0	44.0	37.0				49.0						$11,701	$3,520	$8,182
Apopka Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	311 Vick Rd	Apopka	32712	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 884-2200	883	50	17.6	52.2%	175 (19.8%)	311 (35.2%)	338 (38.3%)	25 (2.8%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	30 (3.4%)	51.5	1056^th of 2256 public elementary schools	53.2%		55.7	955^th of 2240 public elementary schools	57.4%	101	50.0	59.0	53.0				52.0	63.0	55.0				52.0						$10,373	$1,815	$8,559
Lakeville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2015 Lakeville Rd	Apopka	32703	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 814-6110	661	36	18.3	66.1%	97 (14.7%)	307 (46.4%)	200 (30.3%)	16 (2.4%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.6%)	34.3	1506^th of 2256 public elementary schools	33.2%		23.3	1791^st of 2240 public elementary schools	20.0%	285	44.0	32.0	47.0				51.0	43.0	48.0				55.0						$9,101	$1,835	$7,266
Dream Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 N Park Avenue	Apopka	32712	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 884-2227	694	44	15.7	64.6%	133 (19.2%)	158 (22.8%)	368 (53.0%)	11 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	22 (3.2%)	49.1	1110^th of 2256 public elementary schools	50.8%		52.7	1025^th of 2240 public elementary schools	54.2%	85	44.0	50.0	53.0				61.0	53.0	55.0				58.0						$12,070	$2,479	$9,590
Clay Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	555 N Wekiwa Springs Rd	Apopka	32712	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 884-2275	714	47	15.1	57.8%	188 (26.3%)	96 (13.4%)	389 (54.5%)	7 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	31 (4.3%)	35.9	1462^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	35.2%		39.3	1353^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	39.6%	109	47.0	50.0	47.0				44.0	51.0	37.0				51.0						$11,247	$1,693	$9,554
Bear Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3399 Gleaves Ct	Apopka	32703	Orange County	Seminole	No	No	No	No	(407) 746-5550	924	56	16.4	58.9%	344 (37.2%)	142 (15.4%)	364 (39.4%)	20 (2.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (5.7%)	47.2	1170^th of 2256 public elementary schools	48.1%		47.3	1154^th of 2240 public elementary schools	48.5%	16	50.0	48.0	58.0				53.0	42.0	10.0	87.0			60.0						$8,638	$912	$7,726
Lake Gem Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4801 Bloodhound St	Orlando	32818	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 532-7900	566	39	14.5	70.7%	22 (3.9%)	453 (80.0%)	76 (13.4%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.5%)	26.5	1729^th of 2256 public elementary schools	23.4%		31.5	1568^th of 2240 public elementary schools	30.0%	161	41.0	46.0	38.0				47.0	41.0	40.0				42.0						$13,181	$3,235	$9,946
Prairie Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8723 Hackney Prairie Rd	Orlando	32818	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 884-2220	849	51	16.6	58.8%	142 (16.7%)	419 (49.4%)	201 (23.7%)	43 (5.1%)	2 (0.2%)	6 (0.7%)	36 (4.2%)	36.1	1455^th of 2256 public elementary schools	35.5%		42.3	1273^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	43.2%	182	47.0	52.0	46.0				55.0	47.0	44.0				38.0						$9,612	$1,279	$8,334
Renaissance Charter At Crown Point	Public, Charter	K-8	83 West Rd	Ocoee	34761	Orange County	Orange	Yes	No	No	No	(321) 401-6714	1,157	64	18.0	67.0%	151 (13.1%)	510 (44.1%)	376 (32.5%)	59 (5.1%)	4 (0.3%)	10 (0.9%)	47 (4.1%)	32.7	1542^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	31.6%		41.2	1296^th of 2240 public elementary schools	42.1%	246	57.0	47.0	39.0	44.0	49.0	35.0	57.0	51.0	37.0	31.0	45.0	37.0	38.0	32.0	57.0	91.0	100.0	65.0	$9,448	$865	$8,584

Frequently Asked Questions about Phillis Wheatley Elementary

What schools do graduates of Phillis Wheatley Elementary attend?

Students who attend Phillis Wheatley Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Piedmont Lakes Middle
High : Wekiva High

How many students attend Phillis Wheatley Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 403 students attended Phillis Wheatley Elementary.

Is Phillis Wheatley Elementary a good school?

Phillis Wheatley Elementary ranks in the bottom 16.3% of Florida elementary schools.

What district is Phillis Wheatley Elementary in?

Orange

What is the racial makeup of Phillis Wheatley Elementary?

Students at Phillis Wheatley Elementary are 64% African American, 28% Hispanic, 6% White, 2% 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.