Southwood Elementary

Q: Is Southwood Elementary a good school?

Southwood Elementary ranks 910 th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Southwood Elementary is a public elementary school in Orlando, Florida, serving 532 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Orange County School District, which is ranked 31 out of 68 districts in Florida and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southwood Elementary stands out for its diverse student population, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (58.27%) and African American (16.73%) students compared to nearby schools. However, the school has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 12.8% in 2019-2020 to 27.1% in 2022-2023, which is higher than the nearby schools. Academically, Southwood Elementary's test scores in English Language Arts and Math are generally lower than the Orange County and Florida state averages, particularly in 3rd and 5th grades. Additionally, the school has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (52.82%) and a higher per-student spending ($11,336) compared to the nearby schools.

When comparing Southwood Elementary to the nearby schools, some interesting insights emerge. Hunters Creek Elementary and Endeavor Elementary have higher statewide rankings and better academic performance, despite serving similar student populations. In contrast, Meadow Woods Elementary and Waterbridge Elementary have lower statewide rankings and more significant academic challenges, similar to Southwood Elementary. The charter school, Renaissance Charter School at Hunters Creek, outperforms the traditional public schools in the area, particularly in higher-level subjects.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

12600 Bisted Dr
Orlando, FL 32824

(407) 858-2230

District: Orange

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,336

Students who attend Southwood Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	South Creek Middle
High:	Cypress Creek High

Student/teacher ratio: 15.6

Number of students: 532

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

58.3%

African American:

16.7%

White:

16.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 52.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Southwood Elementary ranks better than 59.7% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 72^nd among 163 ranked elementary schools in the Orange School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 57.52. (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 Southwood Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (58.3%), African American (16.7%), White (16.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 52.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southwood Elementary is 15.6, which is the 68^th best among 163 elementary schools in the Orange School District. (See more...)

Compare Southwood Elementary employs 34 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southwood Elementary is $11,336. 83 elementary schools in the Orange School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Southwood 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.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Southwood Elementary

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	49.61	872^nd	1688	48.3%
2007	42.49	1090^th	1786	39.0%
2008	34.80	1246^th	1789	30.4%
2009	43.25	1121^st	1847	39.3%
2010	45.63	1125^th	1919	41.4%
2011	55.27	945^th	1985	52.4%
2012	60.03	793^rd	1984	60.0%
2013	46.62	1079^th	2029	46.8%
2014	60.06	816^th	2064	60.5%
2016	64.13	730^th	2087	65.0%
2017	54.82	934^th	2112	55.8%
2018	61.07	798^th	2118	62.3%
2019	61.98	791^st	2182	63.7%
2021	58.97	890^th	2247	60.4%
2022	67.48	679^th	2219	69.4%
2023	63.00	771^st	2240	65.6%
2024	57.52	910^th	2256	59.7%

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 Southwood Elementary

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1998	337	85	60	220	5	n/a	n/a	0	707
1999	387	119	65	251	7	n/a	n/a	0	829
2000	410	138	73	281	11	n/a	n/a	0	913
2001	404	157	82	275	9	n/a	n/a	0	927
2002	370	156	87	303	9	n/a	n/a	0	925
2003	370	156	87	303	9	n/a	n/a	0	925
2004	314	162	90	330	14	n/a	n/a	0	910
2005	305	170	102	379	15	n/a	n/a	0	971
2006	282	143	95	356	16	n/a	n/a	0	892
2007	246	124	88	359	13	n/a	n/a	19	849
2008	256	136	78	347	10	n/a	n/a	29	856
2009	222	129	71	326	13	n/a	n/a	33	794
2010	191	125	85	342	11	n/a	n/a	25	779
2011	154	134	77	366	8	1	14	0	754
2012	152	105	77	349	5	2	14	0	704
2013	142	107	73	339	4	4	8	0	677
2014	119	82	64	317	2	2	8	0	594
2015	121	77	63	307	2	3	5	0	578
2016	97	66	57	298	1	4	10	0	533
2017	89	84	45	326	1	2	10	0	557
2018	99	78	47	286	0	5	12	0	527
2019	79	71	34	294	0	5	13	0	496
2020	82	81	36	311	0	4	18	0	532
2021	75	77	30	290	1	3	11	0	487
2022	77	98	30	299	0	2	12	0	518
2023	88	89	32	310	0	2	11	0	532

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 Southwood Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	707	40.0	17.7	21.8
1999	829	42.0	19.7	33.1
2000	913	53.0	17.2	33.4
2001	927	57.0	16.3	33.2
2002	925	49.0	18.9	35.5
2003	925	49.0	18.9	35.5
2004	910	57.0	16.0	37
2005	971	59.0	16.5	51.2
2006	892	64.0	13.9	45
2007	849	53.0	16.0	48.2
2008	856	55.0	15.6	53
2009	794	53.1	15.3	53.1
2010	779	46.0	16.9	58.6
2011	754	47.0	16.0	59.2
2012	704	45.0	15.6	52.3
2013	677	42.0	16.1	71.2
2014	594	41.0	14.4	74.1
2015	578	39.0	14.8	71.1
2016	533	35.0	15.2	77.3
2017	557	37.0	15.0	99.5
2018	527	34.0	15.5	99.4
2019	496	32.0	15.5	47.4
2020	532	34.0	15.6	40.8
2021	487	34.0	14.3	49.9
2022	518	32.0	16.1	50.6
2023	532	34.0	15.6	52.8

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 Southwood Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1998	707	40.0	17.7	21.8
1999	829	42.0	19.7	33.1
2000	913	53.0	17.2	33.4
2001	927	57.0	16.3	33.2
2002	925	49.0	18.9	35.5
2003	925	49.0	18.9	35.5
2004	910	57.0	16.0	37
2005	971	59.0	16.5	51.2
2006	892	64.0	13.9	45
2007	849	53.0	16.0	48.2
2008	856	55.0	15.6	53
2009	794	53.1	15.3	53.1
2010	779	46.0	16.9	58.6
2011	754	47.0	16.0	59.2
2012	704	45.0	15.6	52.3
2013	677	42.0	16.1	71.2
2014	594	41.0	14.4	74.1
2015	578	39.0	14.8	71.1
2016	533	35.0	15.2	77.3
2017	557	37.0	15.0	99.5
2018	527	34.0	15.5	99.4
2019	496	32.0	15.5	47.4
2020	532	34.0	15.6	40.8
2021	487	34.0	14.3	49.9
2022	518	32.0	16.1	50.6
2023	532	34.0	15.6	52.8

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 Southwood Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$438 (4.8%)	$8,739 (95.2%)	$9,177
2019	$333 (3.6%)	$9,014 (96.4%)	$9,348
2020	$433 (4.4%)	$9,304 (95.6%)	$9,737
2021	$1,028 (9.3%)	$10,075 (90.7%)	$11,103
2022	$1,547 (14.5%)	$9,118 (85.5%)	$10,665
2023	$1,868 (16.5%)	$9,469 (83.5%)	$11,336

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southwood 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 791^st of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 771^st of 2240 Elementary schools	1.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southwood Elementary)	69	54	15%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Orange)	55	54	1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Southwood Elementary)	70	67	3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Orange)	62	61	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Southwood Elementary)	65	64	1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Orange)	57	57
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Southwood Elementary)	66	67	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Orange)	63	62	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Southwood Elementary)	56	61	5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Orange)	54	53	1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Southwood Elementary)	53	60	7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Orange)	57	52	5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Southwood Elementary)	60	66	6%
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	496	532	7.3%
African American	71	89	25.4%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	34	32	5.9%
Hispanic	294	310	5.4%
Pacific Islander	5	2	60%
White	79	88	11.4%
Two or More Races	13	11	15.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.4%	52.8%	5.4%

Schools Near Southwood 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
Southwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12600 Bisted Dr	Orlando	32824	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 858-2230	532	34	15.6	52.8%	88 (16.5%)	89 (16.7%)	310 (58.3%)	32 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	11 (2.1%)	57.5	910^th of 2256 public elementary schools	59.7%		63	771^st of 2240 public elementary schools	65.6%	139	45.0	60.0	49.0				69.0	62.0	58.0				59.0						$11,336	$1,868	$9,469
Wetherbee Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	701 E Wetherbee Rd	Orlando	32824	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 850-5130	1,013	55	18.4	38.6%	109 (10.8%)	132 (13.0%)	647 (63.9%)	112 (11.1%)	4 (0.4%)	5 (0.5%)	4 (0.4%)	67.2	695^th of 2256 public elementary schools	69.2%		78.9	430^th of 2240 public elementary schools	80.8%	265	66.0	68.0	59.0				59.0	63.0	56.0				64.0						$9,066	$1,092	$7,974
Meadow Woods Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	500 Rhode Island Woods Cir	Orlando	32824	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	Yes	(407) 858-3140	667	39	17.1	68.8%	45 (6.7%)	112 (16.8%)	476 (71.4%)	16 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	16 (2.4%)	34.9	1493^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	33.8%		30.7	1594^th of 2240 public elementary schools	28.8%	101	49.0	46.0	44.0				49.0	46.0	43.0				49.0						$11,413	$2,215	$9,198
Endeavor Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	13501 Balcombe Rd	Orlando	32837	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 251-2560	598	39	15.3	45.8%	127 (21.2%)	42 (7.0%)	390 (65.2%)	20 (3.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.0%)	79.5	421^st of 2256 public elementary schools	81.3%		78.3	441^st of 2240 public elementary schools	80.3%	20	69.0	61.0	67.0				73.0	74.0	66.0				75.0						$11,330	$1,802	$9,527
Oakshire Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	14501 Oakshire Blvd	Orlando	32824	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 251-2500	527	31	17.0	52.4%	53 (10.1%)	52 (9.9%)	401 (76.1%)	14 (2.7%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	62.2	817^th of 2256 public elementary schools	63.8%		66.5	707^th of 2240 public elementary schools	68.4%	110	53.0	65.0	54.0				68.0	67.0	62.0				51.0						$9,996	$1,373	$8,623
John Young Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12550 Marsfield Ave	Orlando	32837	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 858-3120	673	41	16.4	54.5%	98 (14.6%)	60 (8.9%)	426 (63.3%)	69 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	14 (2.1%)	48.6	1122^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	50.3%		59	866^th of 2240 public elementary schools	61.3%	256	51.0	52.0	58.0				48.0	55.0	46.0				58.0						$12,274	$2,009	$10,265
Waterbridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11100 Galvin Dr	Orlando	32837	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 858-3190	596	34	17.5	55.0%	74 (12.4%)	76 (12.8%)	421 (70.6%)	18 (3.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.0%)	48.1	1134^th of 2256 public elementary schools	49.7%		47.8	1141^st of 2240 public elementary schools	49.1%	7	49.0	39.0	64.0				47.0	30.0	72.0				75.0						$9,819	$1,033	$8,786
Wyndham Lakes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	14360 Wyndham Lakes Blvd	Orlando	32824	Orange County	Orange	No	No	No	No	(407) 251-2347	584	40	14.6	54.8%	72 (12.3%)	84 (14.4%)	390 (66.8%)	24 (4.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.1%)	65.3	745^th of 2256 public elementary schools	67.0%		58.9	868^th of 2240 public elementary schools	61.3%	123	63.0	56.0	67.0				55.0	62.0	64.0				63.0						$11,971	$1,931	$10,040
Sally Ride Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	9601 11th Ave	Orlando	32824	Orange County	Orange	No	Yes	No	Yes	(407) 858-3100	406	28	14.5	71.2%	73 (18.0%)	61 (15.0%)	244 (60.1%)	14 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.4%)	29.2	1646^th of 2256 public elementary schools	27.0%		26	1717^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.3%	71	33.0	51.0	47.0				34.0	44.0	41.0				51.0						$13,524	$2,310	$11,214
Renaissance Charter School At Hunters Creek	Public, Charter	K-8	4140 Town Center Blvd	Orlando	32837	Orange County	Orange	Yes	No	No	No	(321) 206-3103	1,451	74	19.6	55.2%	95 (6.5%)	78 (5.4%)	1,220 (84.1%)	47 (3.2%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.5%)	56.8	926^th of 2256 public elementary schools	59.0%		56.6	927^th of 2240 public elementary schools	58.6%	1	57.0	53.0	54.0	54.0	51.0	40.0	69.0	63.0	43.0	63.0	62.0	33.0	59.0	39.0	66.0	78.0	85.0	73.0	$9,465	$794	$8,672

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwood Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Southwood Elementary?

Students at Southwood Elementary are 58% Hispanic, 17% African American, 17% White, 6% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Southwood Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 532 students attended Southwood Elementary.

What district is Southwood Elementary in?

Orange

What schools do graduates of Southwood Elementary attend?

Students who attend Southwood Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : South Creek Middle
High : Cypress Creek High

Is Southwood Elementary a good school?

Southwood Elementary ranks 910^th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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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.