- Enrollment
- 3,105
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
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
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+124 students YoY
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence grew from 542 students in 2022-23 to 666 in 2023-24 (+22.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 35.0 → 33.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+124 students YoY 120159001773 · Lake Wales, FL Other · MID · TRAD
758 enr · 21.7:1 · 68.1% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Haines City Senior High School (3,105 students)
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence grew from 542 students in 2022-23 to 666 in 2023-24 (+22.9%). Teacher FTE lost 35.0 → 33.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Haines City Se
Haines City Senior High School
3,105 students
- Davenport High
Davenport High School
2,731 students
- Winter Haven S
Winter Haven Senior High School
2,648 students
- Ridge Communit
Ridge Community High School
2,632 students
- George W. Jenk
George W. Jenkins Senior High
2,469 students
- This school 758
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence
758 students
What this shows Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence reports 758 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence compares
Mclaughlin Academy of Excellence is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$11,747
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
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.
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
District finance for Polk reports $11,747 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~758 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 542 (2022-23) → 666 (2023-24), up 124.
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, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.