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Haines city city hall haines city floridaPhoto: Connor J. Williams · CC BY 3.0
D
Schools in Haines City · Polk County School District

Haines City’s public schools score below 88% of Florida districts on tests and graduation

In Haines City, 42% of tested students are proficient in math, below the Florida average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving Haines City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Florida, not nationally.

#592of 638 Florida townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
43%
▼ 9 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
42%
▼ 10 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
78%
▼ 10 pts vs FL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.4K
▼ 4% vs FL $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.1
FL 18.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
13
9,507 students on the public path
In brief

Haines City’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 460 Florida towns with household incomes within a quarter of Haines City’s, its schools beat 3%, lower than their 12% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 43% of tested students were proficient in reading and 42% in math, against 52% and 52% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

78% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,447 per student, against $13,006 across Florida (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 12% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Landmark Christian School (private), Aba Haines City Inc (private), New Direction Academy (private), Esthers School Inc - Haines City (private), Millennium Christian Academy (private) and Kids Academy Lighthouse (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Haines City’s grade

C− Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 12% of Florida school districts, #592 of 638 Florida towns. Both inputs trail the Florida average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Florida school districts we grade (76)Better than 12%
Lower resultsHigher results
Florida towns with similar household incomes (460)Better than 3%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 61,844 test results and a graduating class of 7,813 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Haines City’s students in the tested grades sat them (59,192 in math, 64,495 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Haines City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to B
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD to C+
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressD

Haines City’s public schools are run by Polk County School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Polk County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 159 schools · 116,440 students, up 12% since 2020–21 · 19.1 per teacher (FL 18.0)
$12,447FL $13,006 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading43%
State average 52.1% · 64495 students tested
Math42%
State average 52.2% · 59192 students tested

Haines City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Florida towns that share Haines City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Haines CityDPolk County
DavenportDPolk County
Lake HamiltonDPolk County
Lake AlfredDPolk County

All 3 neighbors share Polk County with Haines City, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Haines City

13 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Haines Cityby address
Alta Vista Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
780 students17:1Rate it →
Eastside Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
725 students21:1Rate it →
Bethune Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
430 students22:1Rate it →
Shelley S. Boone Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
1,329 students27:1Rate it →
Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
506 students20:1Rate it →
Haines City Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
3,105 students25:1Rate it →
Ridge Community High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Davenport
D
2,632 students23:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Landmark Christian School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
265 students15:1Rate it →
Aba Haines City Inc
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
208 students13:1Rate it →
New Direction Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Nonsectarian
143 students24:1Rate it →
Esthers School Inc - Haines City
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
122 students17:1Rate it →
Millennium Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades K–7
Private · Religious
109 students14:1Rate it →
Kids Academy Lighthouse
Grades 2–11
Private · Special education
11 students4:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Haines City Headstart Center and Scenic Terrace K-8).

Questions about Haines City’s schools

Are Haines City’s schools good?

On Florida’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Haines City children attend score below 88% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #592 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 3%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Haines City in?

Polk County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 116,440 students in 159 schools (2024–25).

Where do Haines City kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Haines City Senior High School and Ridge Community High School.

What is Haines City’s graduation rate?

78% of the class of 2023 in Polk County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.

How much does Haines City spend per student?

$12,447 in Polk County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Haines City?

Yes: Landmark Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 265 students), Aba Haines City Inc (religious, grades K–12, 208 students), New Direction Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 143 students), Esthers School Inc - Haines City (religious, grades K–12, 122 students), Millennium Christian Academy (religious, grades K–7, 109 students) and Kids Academy Lighthouse (special education, grades 2–11, 11 students).

Parents talk

What Haines City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Haines City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Florida. Stars are from neighbors.