Enrollment
758
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lake Wales, FL
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence
Federal NCES profile for Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120159001773
👥 S:T ratio 13
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Florida schools.
- #2 of 7
- schools in Lake Wales · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.7:1
- large classes for Florida
- 68.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence has class sizes larger than 84% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence ranks #2 of 7 schools in Lake Wales, FL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
35.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.7:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
+22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.1%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
+31% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Lake Wales, Florida, enrolling 758 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 21.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Florida schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 758 puts it in the larger third of Florida schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Against 972 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #342.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (44%) and African American (28%) (diversity index 66/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 179 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 758 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 5 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Polk also operates Haines City Senior High School (3,105 students) and Davenport High School (2,731 students) alongside Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence compares
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.7:1 | ▲ 22% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.1% | ▲ 31% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 758 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.7:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
758
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.7:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 84% in Florida - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
31.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,454
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $11,167
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 144 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 43.7%
African American 28.4%
White 25.7%
Two or More 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Asian 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.2, Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Polk, which includes Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence.
$11,454
Per student
+3%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.2%
State 43.8%
Federal 21.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haines City Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Davenport High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Winter Haven Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ridge Community High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| George W. Jenkins Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,105
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,731
- Students per teacher
- 32.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 2,648
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,632
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 2,469
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~758 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence's federal record.
- Compare Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence against another school. Compare schools
- Polk's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence
How many students attend Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence?
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence has 758 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lake Wales, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence?
The student-teacher ratio at Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence is 21.7:1, which is 22% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 38% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence?
68.1% of students at Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence?
The largest demographic group at Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence is Hispanic or Latino at 43.7% of enrollment, in Lake Wales, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence?
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence rank among schools in Lake Wales?
By Resource Investment Index, Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence ranks #2 of 7 schools in Lake Wales, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lake Wales on the city page.
Is Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence a good school?
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Florida schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Polk?
Besides Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence, Polk also operates Haines City Senior High School (3,105 students), Davenport High School (2,731 students), and Winter Haven Senior High School (2,648 students). See the Polk district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.