- Enrollment
- 3,105
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lakeland, FL
Southwest Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120159001717
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 2
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Elementary School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Florida schools.
- #15 of 38
- schools in Lakeland · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13:1
- small classes for Florida
- 60.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Elementary School ranks #15 of 38 schools in Lakeland, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Southwest Elementary School held near 380 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 29.0 → 27.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 120159001717 · Lakeland, FL Other · SMALL · TRAD
376 enr · 13:1 · 60.5% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Haines City Senior High School (3,105 students)
Southwest Elementary School held near 380 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 29.0 → 27.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Southwest Elementary School 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 376
Southwest Elementary School
376 students
What this shows Southwest Elementary School reports 376 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Elementary School compares
Southwest Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▼ 27% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.5% | ▲ 16% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 376 | top 73% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
376
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
60.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
13:1
students per teacher
- 27% below state mean
Top 15% in Florida - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
39.4%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 376 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 38.8%
White 32.7%
African American 21.0%
Two or More 6.6%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 38.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.4, Southwest Elementary School 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 Southwest Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haines City Senior High School | Larger | Similar 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge Community High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George W. Jenkins Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Elementary School'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 (~376 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Elementary School
How many students attend Southwest Elementary School?
Southwest Elementary School has 376 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lakeland, FL. CCD year-over-year: 382 (2022-23) → 380 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Elementary School is 13:1, which is 27% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest Elementary School?
60.5% of students at Southwest Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 38.8% of enrollment, in Lakeland, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Elementary School?
Southwest Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Southwest Elementary School rank among schools in Lakeland?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Elementary School ranks #15 of 38 schools in Lakeland, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lakeland on the city page.
What other schools are in Polk?
Besides Southwest Elementary School, 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.