McKeel Academy Central

Summary:

McKeel Academy Central is a public charter elementary school in Lakeland, Florida, serving 610 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Polk School District, which is ranked 57th out of 68 districts in the state.

McKeel Academy Central consistently ranks among the top 5% of elementary schools in Florida, with exceptional academic performance. In 2023-2024, 83% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to just 49% in the district and 55% statewide. The school's math proficiency rates are also impressive, with 85-88% of students in grades 3-6 achieving proficiency, far exceeding the district and state averages. McKeel Academy Central's diverse student population, with a higher percentage of White and Hispanic students compared to nearby schools, also sets it apart. Additionally, the school has very low chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 0.7% to 3.3% in recent years.

Compared to nearby public schools, such as Dixieland Elementary, Jesse Keen Elementary, and Philip O'Brien Elementary, McKeel Academy Central outperforms them significantly in academic metrics. The school's 3rd-grade ELA proficiency rate of 83% is nearly double the rates of these nearby public schools. While other public charter schools in the area, like Magnolia Montessori Academy and Lakeland Montessori School House, also perform well, they still lag behind McKeel Academy Central in some areas. This consistent high performance, along with the school's diverse student population and low chronic absenteeism, make McKeel Academy Central a standout choice for families in the Lakeland area.


Detail:

Public, Charter PK, KG-6

 411 Florida Ave N
       Lakeland, FL  33801


(863) 499-1287

District: Polk

SchoolDigger Rank:
129th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,790 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  17.4 Help
Number of students:  610

Racial breakdown:

White:
63.1%
Hispanic:
20.3%
African American:
10.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  38.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details McKeel Academy Central ranks better than 94.3% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 2nd among 85 ranked elementary schools in the Polk School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 91.36. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high 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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (63.1%), Hispanic (20.3%), African American (10.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 38.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at McKeel Academy Central is 17.4. 63 elementary schools in the Polk School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare McKeel Academy Central employs 35 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at McKeel Academy Central is $10,790, which is the 35th highest among 85 elementary schools in the Polk School District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

McKeel Academy Central was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Polk:

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


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Your rating for McKeel Academy Central?

Rank History for McKeel Academy Central

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 66.69 565th 1688 66.5%
2007 81.21 300th 1786 83.2%
2008 77.05 370th 1789 79.3%
2009 81.80 287th 1847 84.5%
2010 81.90 281st 1919 85.4%
2011 91.13 86th 1985 95.7%
2012 90.67 122nd 1984 93.9%
2013 82.99 289th 2029 85.8%
2014 84.04 288th 2064 86.0%
2016 89.79 150th 2087 92.8%
2017 89.57 159th 2112 92.5%
2018 89.98 151st 2118 92.9%
2019 89.32 171st 2182 92.2%
2021 90.31 177th 2247 92.1%
2022 92.27 119th 2219 94.6%
2023 91.73 121st 2240 94.6%
2024 91.36 129th 2256 94.3%
See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

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

McKeel Academy Central Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    






Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Saturday, March 11, 2023

Open Quote Excellent teachers, staff, and even bus drivers! They take such good care of my kindergartner and make sure he's always safe and cared for. They are always so hands on with his learning and constantly have something going on at the school for the kids! I never have to worry about my son and he actually enjoys going to school! Zero complaints really. Close Quote



Enrollment information for McKeel Academy Central

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2004 295 80 3 20 0 n/a n/a 0 398
2005 289 80 3 26 0 n/a n/a 0 398
2006 286 80 3 24 0 n/a n/a 0 393
2007 252 66 2 22 0 n/a n/a 15 357
2008 243 60 3 26 0 n/a n/a 16 348
2009 245 53 5 29 0 n/a n/a 16 348
2010 255 48 6 26 0 n/a n/a 13 348
2011 261 45 6 28 2 0 6 0 348
2012 260 46 5 29 1 0 6 0 347
2013 263 40 8 30 1 0 6 0 348
2014 322 48 8 42 2 0 13 0 435
2015 410 68 15 65 1 0 11 0 570
2016 410 66 14 69 0 0 11 0 570
2017 403 62 16 72 0 0 16 0 569
2018 405 57 17 92 0 0 17 0 588
2019 421 58 16 101 0 0 25 0 621
2020 425 61 12 102 1 0 26 0 627
2021 417 62 12 101 1 0 25 0 618
2022 401 58 12 113 1 2 23 0 610
2023 385 63 13 124 0 2 23 0 610

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 McKeel Academy Central

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2004 398 16.0 24.9 29.9
2005 398 21.0 19.0 34.2
2006 393 22.0 17.9 34.9
2007 357 20.0 17.9 26.6
2008 348 21.0 16.6 30.7
2009 348 24.6 16.6 21.4
2010 348 29.0 12.0 25.4
2011 348 29.0 12.0 19.8
2012 347 28.0 12.3 24.8
2013 348 23.0 15.1 27
2014 435 29.0 15.0 16.8
2015 570 34.0 16.7 1.8
2016 570 36.0 15.8 29.8
2017 569 36.0 15.8 30.8
2018 588 37.0 15.8 30.6
2019 621 36.0 17.2 30.8
2020 627 36.0 17.4 31.7
2021 618 36.0 17.1 32.4
2022 610 36.0 16.9 36.6
2023 610 35.0 17.4 38.7

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 McKeel Academy Central

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2004 398 16.0 24.9 29.9
2005 398 21.0 19.0 34.2
2006 393 22.0 17.9 34.9
2007 357 20.0 17.9 26.6
2008 348 21.0 16.6 30.7
2009 348 24.6 16.6 21.4
2010 348 29.0 12.0 25.4
2011 348 29.0 12.0 19.8
2012 347 28.0 12.3 24.8
2013 348 23.0 15.1 27
2014 435 29.0 15.0 16.8
2015 570 34.0 16.7 1.8
2016 570 36.0 15.8 29.8
2017 569 36.0 15.8 30.8
2018 588 37.0 15.8 30.6
2019 621 36.0 17.2 30.8
2020 627 36.0 17.4 31.7
2021 618 36.0 17.1 32.4
2022 610 36.0 16.9 36.6
2023 610 35.0 17.4 38.7

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 McKeel Academy Central

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $131 (2.2%) $5,908 (97.8%) $6,039
2019 $128 (1.9%) $6,768 (98.1%) $6,896
2020 $118 (1.7%) $6,888 (98.3%) $7,006
2021 $350 (4.5%) $7,488 (95.5%) $7,838
2022 $558 (6.6%) $7,950 (93.4%) $8,508
2023 $1,874 (17.4%) $8,916 (82.6%) $10,790

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on McKeel Academy Central

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 171st of 2182 Elementary schoolsRanks 121st of 2240 Elementary schools
 2.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (McKeel Academy Central)9082
 8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Polk)5248
 4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5853
 5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (McKeel Academy Central)8985
 4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Polk)5651
 5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)6258
 4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (McKeel Academy Central)6981
 12%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)4846
 2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5857
 1%
4th Grade Mathematics (McKeel Academy Central)7590
 15%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Polk)5650
 6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)6461
 3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (McKeel Academy Central)8275
 7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)4744
 3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5655
 1%
5th Grade Mathematics (McKeel Academy Central)8389
 6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Polk)5140
 11%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)6052
 8%
5th Grade Science (McKeel Academy Central)8282
   5th Grade Science (Polk)4539
 6%
   5th Grade Science (Florida)5351
 2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (McKeel Academy Central)7574
 1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)4843
 5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5452
 2%
6th Grade Mathematics (McKeel Academy Central)9877
 21%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Polk)4737
 10%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5549
 6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students621610
 1.8%
African American5863
 8.6%
American Indian00
Asian1613
 18.8%
Hispanic101124
 22.8%
Pacific Islander02
White421385
 8.6%
Two or More Races2523
 8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients30.8%38.7%
 7.9%


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Frequently Asked Questions about McKeel Academy Central

Yes. McKeel Academy Central ranks in the top 5.7% of Florida elementary schools.

Students at McKeel Academy Central are 63% White, 20% Hispanic, 10% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 610 students attended McKeel Academy Central.


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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.





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