George W. Jenkins Senior High

Q: Is George W. Jenkins Senior High a good school?

George W. Jenkins Senior High ranks 313 th of 807 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

George W. Jenkins Senior High is a public high school located in Lakeland, Florida, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 2,451 and is part of the Polk School District.

George W. Jenkins Senior High has maintained a strong four-year graduation rate, ranging from 94.2% to 97.3% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages. While the school has seen an increase in chronic absenteeism from 14.4% to 36.3% over the past few years, it still performs better than some nearby schools like Mulberry Senior High (46.6%) and Fresh Start Community School (63.2%). The school also outperforms the district and state averages in several subject areas, including Biology 1 (68% proficient or better) and US History (71% proficient or better) in the 2023-2024 school year.

George W. Jenkins Senior High has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup that has shifted over the past few years, and the school has seen an increase in spending per student, from $7,077 in 2019-2020 to $8,154 in 2022-2023. While the school generally outperforms the district and state averages, it faces competition from nearby schools like Polk State College Collegiate High and Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Charter High, which have higher graduation rates and lower chronic absenteeism. However, some of the nearby schools, such as Fresh Start Community School, Gause Academy of Leadership, and Bill Duncan Opportunity Center, struggle with much lower graduation rates, higher chronic absenteeism, and significantly lower test scores compared to George W. Jenkins Senior High and the district/state averages.

Detail:

Public 9-12

6000 Lakeland Highlands Rd
Lakeland, FL 33813

(863) 648-3566

District: Polk

SchoolDigger Rank:
313^th of 807 Florida High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,154

Feeder schools for George W. Jenkins Senior High:

Elementary:	Highlands Grove Elementary School
	Oscar J. Pope Elementary School
	Scott Lake Elementary School
	Southwest Elementary School
	More...
	Valleyview Elementary School
Middle:	Lakeland Highlands Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 22.4

Number of students: 2,451

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.5%

Hispanic:

29.4%

African American:

16.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 37%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details George W. Jenkins Senior High ranks better than 61.2% of high schools in Florida. It also ranks 3^rd among 26 ranked high schools in the Polk School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 49.16. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at George W. Jenkins Senior High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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 George W. Jenkins Senior High is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (48.5%), Hispanic (29.4%), African American (16.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 37% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at George W. Jenkins Senior High is 22.4. 20 high schools in the Polk School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare George W. Jenkins Senior High employs 109 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at George W. Jenkins Senior High is $8,154. 21 high schools in the Polk School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

George W. Jenkins Senior High was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks George W. Jenkins Senior High 313^th of 807 Florida public high schools. (See George W. Jenkins Senior High in the ranking list.)

Polk:

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

Average Rating:

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Rank History for George W. Jenkins Senior High

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	FL State Percentile
2004	73.19	118^th	484	75.6%
2005	73.11	120^th	487	75.4%
2006	62.70	178^th	477	62.7%
2007	66.49	176^th	563	68.7%
2008	67.79	173^rd	577	70.0%
2009	66.34	187^th	587	68.1%
2010	61.50	250^th	620	59.7%
2011	57.92	285^th	622	54.2%
2012	45.87	280^th	606	53.8%
2013	49.17	291^st	648	55.1%
2014	43.84	376^th	687	45.3%
2016	40.97	364^th	693	47.5%
2017	44.26	331^st	714	53.6%
2018	51.25	265^th	716	63.0%
2019	47.71	308^th	734	58.0%
2021	41.70	348^th	746	53.4%
2022	47.21	315^th	774	59.3%
2023	39.40	396^th	792	50.0%
2024	49.16	313^th	807	61.2%

See the entire list of Florida High 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 George W. Jenkins Senior High

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1994	1129	254	16	51	4	n/a	n/a	0	1454
1995	1403	270	34	60	7	n/a	n/a	0	1774
1996	1403	270	34	60	7	n/a	n/a	0	1774
1997	1488	288	38	58	11	n/a	n/a	0	1883
1998	1524	309	43	80	6	n/a	n/a	0	1962
1999	1465	300	47	83	5	n/a	n/a	0	1900
2000	1496	317	46	81	1	n/a	n/a	0	1941
2001	1427	283	39	86	2	n/a	n/a	0	1837
2002	1492	281	68	116	5	n/a	n/a	0	1962
2003	1492	281	68	116	5	n/a	n/a	0	1962
2004	1540	311	71	142	4	n/a	n/a	0	2068
2005	1571	311	78	181	6	n/a	n/a	0	2147
2006	1623	298	69	201	5	n/a	n/a	0	2196
2007	1612	295	71	221	3	n/a	n/a	21	2223
2008	1580	331	76	257	4	n/a	n/a	28	2276
2009	1500	307	75	257	4	n/a	n/a	43	2186
2010	1493	288	70	274	4	n/a	n/a	49	2178
2011	1397	314	65	350	14	3	68	0	2211
2012	1423	331	63	369	18	2	78	0	2284
2013	1338	333	62	372	20	2	81	0	2208
2014	1317	365	66	402	18	2	76	0	2246
2015	1334	361	69	459	16	1	79	0	2319
2016	1333	350	73	466	15	3	79	0	2319
2017	1293	374	67	499	13	3	83	0	2332
2018	1280	381	69	506	10	1	91	0	2338
2019	1227	380	67	518	8	2	89	0	2291
2020	1209	390	71	524	6	2	77	0	2279
2021	1138	355	71	581	8	3	73	0	2229
2022	1184	342	63	636	4	8	69	0	2306
2023	1189	399	67	720	4	3	69	0	2451

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 George W. Jenkins Senior High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	1454	81.0	18.0	13.8
1995	1774	92.0	19.3	13.9
1996	1774	92.0	19.3	13.9
1997	1883	97.0	19.4	13.9
1998	1962	105.0	18.7	13.9
1999	1900	110.0	17.3	15.7
2000	1941	109.0	17.8	15.7
2001	1837	106.0	17.3	14.5
2002	1962	96.0	20.4	15.9
2003	1962	96.0	20.4	15.9
2004	2068	96.0	21.5	19.6
2005	2147	98.0	21.9	17.4
2006	2196	110.0	20.0	18.9
2007	2223	124.0	17.9	24.3
2008	2276	122.5	18.6	24.6
2009	2186	141.0	18.2	23.8
2010	2178	120.0	18.1	28.5
2011	2211	122.0	18.1	32.4
2012	2284	121.0	18.8	34.9
2013	2208	125.0	17.6	35.3
2014	2246	121.0	18.5	36
2015	2319	116.0	19.9	36.1
2016	2319	115.0	20.1	38.5
2017	2332	115.0	20.2	38.1
2018	2338	113.0	20.6	34.6
2019	2291	110.0	20.8	29.9
2020	2279	110.0	20.7	28.9
2021	2229	109.0	20.4	34.5
2022	2306	104.0	22.1	35.5
2023	2451	109.0	22.4	37

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 George W. Jenkins Senior High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	1454	81.0	18.0	13.8
1995	1774	92.0	19.3	13.9
1996	1774	92.0	19.3	13.9
1997	1883	97.0	19.4	13.9
1998	1962	105.0	18.7	13.9
1999	1900	110.0	17.3	15.7
2000	1941	109.0	17.8	15.7
2001	1837	106.0	17.3	14.5
2002	1962	96.0	20.4	15.9
2003	1962	96.0	20.4	15.9
2004	2068	96.0	21.5	19.6
2005	2147	98.0	21.9	17.4
2006	2196	110.0	20.0	18.9
2007	2223	124.0	17.9	24.3
2008	2276	122.5	18.6	24.6
2009	2186	141.0	18.2	23.8
2010	2178	120.0	18.1	28.5
2011	2211	122.0	18.1	32.4
2012	2284	121.0	18.8	34.9
2013	2208	125.0	17.6	35.3
2014	2246	121.0	18.5	36
2015	2319	116.0	19.9	36.1
2016	2319	115.0	20.1	38.5
2017	2332	115.0	20.2	38.1
2018	2338	113.0	20.6	34.6
2019	2291	110.0	20.8	29.9
2020	2279	110.0	20.7	28.9
2021	2229	109.0	20.4	34.5
2022	2306	104.0	22.1	35.5
2023	2451	109.0	22.4	37

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 George W. Jenkins Senior High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$791 (11.5%)	$6,069 (88.5%)	$6,860
2019	$357 (5.2%)	$6,478 (94.8%)	$6,835
2020	$366 (5.2%)	$6,712 (94.8%)	$7,077
2021	$600 (8.0%)	$6,916 (92.0%)	$7,515
2022	$1,453 (18.2%)	$6,526 (81.8%)	$7,979
2023	$1,091 (13.4%)	$7,063 (86.6%)	$8,154

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on George W. Jenkins Senior High

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 308^th of 734 High schools	Ranks 396^th of 792 High schools	8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
9th Grade English Language Arts (George W. Jenkins Senior High)	53	58	5%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	45	44	1%
9th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	55	51	4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (George W. Jenkins Senior High)	56	47	9%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	42	38	4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	53	49	4%
End of Course Biology 1 (George W. Jenkins Senior High)	60	54	6%
End of Course Biology 1 (Polk)	54	50	4%
End of Course Biology 1 (Florida)	67	63	4%
End of Course US History (George W. Jenkins Senior High)	63	54	9%
End of Course US History (Polk)	58	50	8%
End of Course US History (Florida)	70	63	7%
End of Course Algebra 1 (George W. Jenkins Senior High)	50	42	8%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Polk)	51	41	10%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)	62	54	8%
End of Course Geometry (George W. Jenkins Senior High)	62	36	26%
End of Course Geometry (Polk)	54	37	17%
End of Course Geometry (Florida)	57	50	7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	2291	2451	7%
African American	380	399	5%
American Indian	8	4	50%
Asian	67	67
Hispanic	518	720	39%
Pacific Islander	2	3	50%
White	1227	1189	3.1%
Two or More Races	89	69	22.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	29.9%	37%	7.1%

Schools Near George W. Jenkins Senior High

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 US History (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 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
George W. Jenkins Senior High	Public	9-12	6000 Lakeland Highlands Rd	Lakeland	33813	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 648-3566	2,451	109	22.4	37.0%	1,189 (48.5%)	399 (16.3%)	720 (29.4%)	67 (2.7%)	4 (0.2%)	3 (0.1%)	69 (2.8%)	49.2	313^th of 807 public high schools	61.2%		39.4	396^th of 792 public high schools	50.0%	83				55.0	55.0				36.0	43.0	68.0	71.0		$8,154	$1,091	$7,063
Polk State College Collegiate High School	Public, Charter	11-12	3425 Winter Lake Rd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 669-2322	353	3	117.6	0.8%	211 (59.8%)	28 (7.9%)	65 (18.4%)	36 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	11 (3.1%)								(n/a)														$7,309	$341	$6,968
Polk State Lakeland Gateway To College Collegiate High School	Public, Charter	11-12	3425 Winter Lake Rd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 669-2322	255	7	36.4	1.2%	86 (33.7%)	83 (32.5%)	70 (27.5%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	11 (4.3%)	9.8	673^rd of 807 public high schools	16.6%					(n/a)										29.0		28.0		$8,867	$2,094	$6,774
Bill Duncan Opportunity Center	Public	6-12	3333 Winter Lake Rd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 499-2860	62	13	4.7	74.2%	17 (27.4%)	29 (46.8%)	11 (17.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.5%)	7.1	695^th of 807 public high schools	13.9%		9.8	662^nd of 792 public high schools	16.4%	33	10.0	0.0	19.0	4.0	23.0	0.0	17.0	13.0	20.0	30.0	18.0
Maynard A Traviss Technical Academy	Public	6-12	3225 Winter Lake Rd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2700	140	8	17.5	50.7%	53 (37.9%)	19 (13.6%)	63 (45.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.9%)	15.3	660^th of 807 public high schools	18.2%		15	641^st of 792 public high schools	19.1%	19										21.0		41.0		$11,249	$1,510	$9,740
Mulberry Senior High School	Public	9-12	4th Circle NE	Mulberry	33860	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 701-1104	1,315	62	21.2	56.6%	480 (36.5%)	127 (9.7%)	665 (50.6%)	11 (0.8%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (2.1%)	31.2	527^th of 807 public high schools	34.7%		27.1	534^th of 792 public high schools	32.6%	7				41.0	41.0				22.0	30.0	55.0	64.0		$9,210	$1,456	$7,755
Fresh Start Community School	Public	10-12	910 Lowry Ave	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 419-3486	154	5	30.8	54.5%	29 (18.8%)	32 (20.8%)	82 (53.2%)	4 (2.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.9%)								(n/a)
Polk Grad Academy	Public	9-12	910 Lowry Ave	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 413-2948	34	0		61.8%	12 (35.3%)	9 (26.5%)	8 (23.5%)	1 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (11.8%)								(n/a)
Polk Virtual Franchise	Public, Virtual	6-12	604 S. Central Ave	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	No	No	Yes	No	(863) 354-3999	0	17	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Gause Academy Of Leadership	Public	6-12	1395 Polk St W	Bartow	33830	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 534-7425	96	17	5.6	79.2%	25 (26.0%)	41 (42.7%)	29 (30.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	13.1	663^rd of 807 public high schools	17.8%		7.2	681^st of 792 public high schools	14.0%	18		33.0	7.0	47.0	20.0	20.0	13.0	11.0	16.0	0.0	18.0		41.0	$28,604	$3,434	$25,169

Frequently Asked Questions about George W. Jenkins Senior High

How many students attend George W. Jenkins Senior High?

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,451 students attended George W. Jenkins Senior High.

What district is George W. Jenkins Senior High in?

Polk

Is George W. Jenkins Senior High a good school?

George W. Jenkins Senior High ranks 313^th of 807 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into George W. Jenkins Senior High?

George W. Jenkins Senior High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Highlands Grove Elementary School
Elementary : Oscar J. Pope Elementary School
Elementary : Scott Lake Elementary School
Elementary : Southwest Elementary School
Elementary : Valleyview Elementary School
Middle : Lakeland Highlands Middle School

What is the racial makeup of George W. Jenkins Senior High?

Students at George W. Jenkins Senior High are 49% White, 29% Hispanic, 16% African American, 3% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

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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.