- Enrollment
- 3,105
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lakeland, FL
Wendell Watson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Wendell Watson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120159002893
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wendell Watson Elementary School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 85% of Florida schools.
- #25 of 38
- schools in Lakeland · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 12.9:1
- small classes for Florida
- 40.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Wendell Watson Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wendell Watson Elementary School ranks #25 of 38 schools in Lakeland, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-40 students YoY
Wendell Watson Elementary School held near 835 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-40 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 59.0 → 53.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-40 students YoY 120159002893 · Lakeland, FL Other · MID · TRAD
764 enr · 12.9:1 · 40.1% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Haines City Senior High School (3,105 students)
Wendell Watson Elementary School held near 835 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-40 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 59.0 → 53.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Wendell Watson 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 764
Wendell Watson Elementary School
764 students
What this shows Wendell Watson Elementary School reports 764 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wendell Watson Elementary School compares
Wendell Watson 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 28% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.1% | ▼ 23% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 764 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
764
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 28% 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
49.1%
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 764 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 47.1%
Hispanic or Latino 33.1%
African American 14.4%
Two or More 3.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: White at 47.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.6, Wendell Watson 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 Wendell Watson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haines City Senior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Davenport High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Winter Haven Senior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridge Community High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George W. Jenkins Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wendell Watson 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 (~764 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wendell Watson Elementary School
How many students attend Wendell Watson Elementary School?
Wendell Watson Elementary School has 764 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lakeland, FL. CCD year-over-year: 875 (2022-23) → 835 (2023-24), nearly flat (-40).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wendell Watson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wendell Watson Elementary School is 12.9:1, which is 28% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 18% 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 Wendell Watson Elementary School?
40.1% of students at Wendell Watson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wendell Watson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Wendell Watson Elementary School is White at 47.1% of enrollment, in Lakeland, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wendell Watson Elementary School?
Wendell Watson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Wendell Watson Elementary School rank among schools in Lakeland?
By Resource Investment Index, Wendell Watson Elementary School ranks #25 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 Wendell Watson 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.