Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Polk County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 87 public preschools serving 52,924 students in Polk County, FL.
The top-ranked public preschools in Polk County, FL are Mckeel Academy Central, South Mckeel Academy and Frank E. Brigham Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Polk County, FL public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Florida public pre school average of 56%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 54% statewide average). Pre schools in Polk County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Florida public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Florida public preschool average of 67% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Polk County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mckeel Academy Central
Charter School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
411 Florida Ave N
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 499-1287
Gr: PK-6 | 610 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #22.
South Mckeel Academy
Charter School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2222 Edgewood Dr S
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 510-0044
Gr: PK-6 | 1,200 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Frank E. Brigham Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
601 Avenue C Se
Winter Haven, FL 33880
(863) 291-5300
Gr: PK-5 | 547 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #44.
Valleyview Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2900 State Rd 540a E
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3535
Gr: PK-5 | 783 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #55.
Davenport School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4751 County Road 547 N
Davenport, FL 33837
(863) 420-2557
Gr: PK-8 | 1,440 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #66.
Highlands Grove Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4510 Lakeland Highlands Rd
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3002
Gr: PK-5 | 691 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #77.
Winston Academy Of Engineering
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3415 Swindell Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 499-2890
Gr: PK-5 | 536 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #88.
Hillcrest Elementary School
Charter School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1051 State Road 60 E
Lake Wales, FL 33853
(863) 678-4216
Gr: PK-5 | 667 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #99.
Cypress Junction Montessori
Charter School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
220 5th St Sw
Winter Haven, FL 33880
(863) 259-1490
Gr: PK-8 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1010.
Dundee Elementary Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
215 Frederick Ave
Dundee, FL 33838
(863) 421-3316
Gr: PK-5 | 657 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1111.
Jean O'dell Learning Center
Special Education School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1310 Floral Ave S
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 534-7440
Gr: PK-12 | 81 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1212.
Chain Of Lakes Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
7001 State Highway 653
Winter Haven, FL 33884
(863) 326-5388
Gr: PK-5 | 1,007 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1313.
Scott Lake Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1140 County Road 540a E
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3520
Gr: PK-5 | 735 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1414.
Rochelle School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1501 Martin L King Jr Ave
Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 499-2810
Gr: PK-8 | 762 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1515.
James W. Sikes Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2727 Shepherd Rd
Lakeland, FL 33811
(863) 648-3525
Gr: PK-5 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1616.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2650 Southwest Ave
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 499-2830
Gr: PK-5 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1717.
Alturas Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
420 4th St
Alturas, FL 33820
(863) 519-3917
Gr: PK-5 | 274 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1818.
Wendell Watson Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6800 Walt Williams Rd
Lakeland, FL 33809
(863) 853-6060
Gr: PK-5 | 764 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1919.
Karen M. Siegel Academy
Special Education School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
935 Evenhouse Rd
Lake Alfred, FL 33850
(863) 965-5566
Gr: PK-12 | 175 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #2020.
Lake Alfred Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
550 Cummings St E
Lake Alfred, FL 33850
(863) 295-5985
Gr: PK-5 | 1,059 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2121.
Spessard L Holland Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2342 Ef Griffin Rd
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 648-3031
Gr: PK-5 | 843 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2222.
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5500 Yates Rd
Lakeland, FL 33811
(863) 701-1450
Gr: PK-5 | 899 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2323.
Bethune Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
900 Avenue F
Haines City, FL 33844
(863) 421-3334
Gr: PK-5 | 430 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2424.
Sleepy Hill Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2285 Sleepy Hill Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 815-6768
Gr: PK-5 | 711 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #2525.
Pinewood Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1400 Gilbert St
Eagle Lake, FL 33839
(863) 298-7977
Gr: PK-5 | 740 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #2626.
Highland City Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5355 9th Street Se
Highland City, FL 33846
(863) 648-3540
Gr: PK-5 | 414 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #2727.
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
610 Charleston Ave S
Fort Meade, FL 33841
(863) 285-1133
Gr: PK-5 | 593 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #2828.
Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
501 Mcleod Rd
Frostproof, FL 33843
(863) 635-7820
Gr: PK-5 | 853 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2929.
Willow Oak School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4815 Bailey Road
Mulberry, FL 33860
(863) 417-6670
Gr: PK-5 | 996 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #3030.
Carlton Palmore Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3725 Clevelnd Hts Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 648-3510
Gr: PK-5 | 402 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #3131.
R. Clem Churchwell Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
8201 Park Byrd Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 853-6011
Gr: PK-5 | 662 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #3232.
Jewett School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2250 8th St Ne
Winter Haven, FL 33881
(863) 291-5373
Gr: PK-8 | 746 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #3333.
Bella Citta
(Math: 46% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1915 S Floral Ave
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 519-7600
Gr: PK-8 | 1,459 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #3434.
Edgar L. Padgett Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
110 Leelon Rd
Lakeland, FL 33809
(863) 853-6044
Gr: PK-5 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #3535.
Medulla Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
850 Schoolhouse Rd
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3515
Gr: PK-5 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Show 52 more public schools in Polk County, FL (out of 87 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Polk County, FL?
The top-ranked public preschools in Polk County, FL include Mckeel Academy Central, South Mckeel Academy and Frank E. Brigham Academy.
How many public preschools are located in Polk County?
86 public preschools are located in Polk County.
What is the racial composition of students in Polk County?
Polk County public preschools minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Florida public preschools average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Polk County are often viewed compared to one another?

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