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:
129^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,790

Student/teacher ratio: 16.9

Number of students: 610

Racial breakdown:

White:

59.2%

Hispanic:

22.1%

African American:

12.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 37.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details McKeel Academy Central ranks better than 94.3% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 2^nd among 85 ranked elementary schools in the Polk School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 91.36. (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 McKeel Academy Central is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (59.2%), Hispanic (22.1%), African American (12%). (See more...)

Compare Details 37.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at McKeel Academy Central is 16.9. 57 elementary schools in the Polk School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare McKeel Academy Central employs 36 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at McKeel Academy Central is $10,790, which is the 35^th 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 57^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for McKeel Academy Central

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

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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Saturday, March 11, 2023

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

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
2024	361	73	13	135	1	2	25	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

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
2024	610	36.0	16.9	37.9

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 McKeel Academy Central

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
2024	610	36.0	16.9	37.9

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 McKeel Academy Central

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total 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 171^st of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 121^st 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)	90	82	8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	52	48	4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (McKeel Academy Central)	89	85	4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Polk)	56	51	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (McKeel Academy Central)	69	81	12%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	48	46	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (McKeel Academy Central)	75	90	15%
4th Grade Mathematics (Polk)	56	50	6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (McKeel Academy Central)	82	75	7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	47	44	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (McKeel Academy Central)	83	89	6%
5th Grade Mathematics (Polk)	51	40	11%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (McKeel Academy Central)	82	82
5th Grade Science (Polk)	45	39	6%
5th Grade Science (Florida)	53	51	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (McKeel Academy Central)	75	74	1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)	48	43	5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	54	52	2%
6th Grade Mathematics (McKeel Academy Central)	98	77	21%
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	621	610	1.8%
African American	58	63	8.6%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	16	13	18.8%
Hispanic	101	124	22.8%
Pacific Islander	0	2
White	421	385	8.6%
Two or More Races	25	23	8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	30.8%	38.7%	7.9%

Schools Near McKeel Academy Central

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 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 Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McKeel Academy Central	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	411 Florida Ave N	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 499-1287	610	36	16.9	37.9%	361 (59.2%)	73 (12.0%)	135 (22.1%)	13 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	25 (4.1%)	91.4	129^th of 2256 public elementary schools	94.3%		91.7	121^st of 2240 public elementary schools	94.6%	8	83.0	67.0	75.0	83.0			85.0	86.0	88.0	85.0			80.0					$10,790	$1,874	$8,916
Rosabelle W. Blake Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	510 Hartsell Ave	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2870	603	36	16.7	73.8%	159 (26.4%)	250 (41.5%)	163 (27.0%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.5%)	19.3	1927^th of 2256 public elementary schools	14.6%		25.3	1738^th of 2240 public elementary schools	22.4%	189	32.0	38.0	40.0	33.0	38.0	48.0	27.0	62.0	38.0	17.0	23.0	35.0	35.0	39.0	37.0	55.0	75.0	$9,800	$1,430	$8,370
Lincoln Avenue Academy	Public, Magnet	K-5	1330 Lincoln Ave N	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	No	(863) 499-2955	522	36	14.5	36.8%	221 (42.3%)	142 (27.2%)	102 (19.5%)	29 (5.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (5.0%)	94.9	54^th of 2256 public elementary schools	97.6%		94.4	54^th of 2240 public elementary schools	97.6%		93.0	78.0	76.0				95.0	90.0	79.0				82.0					$10,095	$1,094	$9,001
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
Rochelle School Of The Arts	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	1501 Martin L King Jr Ave	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 499-2810	803	57	14.0	58.7%	275 (34.2%)	282 (35.1%)	198 (24.7%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (5.2%)	50.4	1083^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	52.0%		45.3	1204^th of 2240 public elementary schools	46.3%	121	57.0	56.0	45.0	71.0	70.0	71.0	58.0	60.0	45.0	61.0	61.0	65.0	35.0	51.0	100.0	94.0	90.0	$11,296	$1,484	$9,813
Lakeland Montessori School House	Public, Charter	K-6	1124 Lake Parker Ave N	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 413-0003	108	9	12.0	7.4%	72 (66.7%)	2 (1.9%)	30 (27.8%)	2 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)	82.9	342^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	84.8%		94.2	58^th of 2240 public elementary schools	97.4%	284	81.0	85.0		83.0			63.0	69.0		83.0								$11,131	$1,420	$9,712
Magnolia Montessori Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	815 S. Central Ave	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 797-4991	178	15	11.8	6.2%	113 (63.5%)	10 (5.6%)	41 (23.0%)	3 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	10 (5.6%)	89.7	188^th of 2256 public elementary schools	91.7%		85.9	270^th of 2240 public elementary schools	87.9%	82	63.0	75.0	88.0	100.0	62.0	85.0	74.0	88.0	82.0	87.0	85.0		82.0	62.0			79.0	$10,843	$368	$10,475
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
Achievement Academy	Public, Charter	PK	716 Bella Vista St E	Lakeland	33805	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 683-6504	157	21	7.4	57.3%	53 (33.8%)	34 (21.7%)	63 (40.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	4 (2.5%)								(n/a)
Jesse Keen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	815 Plateau Ave	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2880	614	40	15.3	82.9%	87 (14.2%)	73 (11.9%)	448 (73.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.0%)	14.8	2040^th of 2256 public elementary schools	9.6%		6.1	2192^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	2.1%	152	28.0	26.0	33.0				33.0	34.0	44.0				48.0					$10,511	$2,348	$8,162

Frequently Asked Questions about McKeel Academy Central

How many students attend McKeel Academy Central?

In the 2023-24 school year, 610 students attended McKeel Academy Central.

What district is McKeel Academy Central in?

Polk

Is McKeel Academy Central a good school?

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

What is the racial makeup of McKeel Academy Central?

Students at McKeel Academy Central are 59% White, 22% Hispanic, 12% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% 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.