FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, a modestly sized senior high in FORT MEADE, Florida, run under POLK, teaches 731 students, covering grades 6 through 12. By comparison, Florida's public schools average about 1,035 students each, so FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL sits 29% smaller than that benchmark.

Across the 163 schools in POLK (116,552 students total), FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

In terms of who attends, FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL reports that the most-represented group is Hispanic (53%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Beyond that, the school shows 30% White, 15% Black. The wider county runs roughly 29% Hispanic, putting the school's mix noticeably more Hispanic than the area baseline.

Looking at school resources, FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL lists 46 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 15.9:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 23.5:1, putting FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 77% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. By comparison, Polk County runs at roughly 65%, so the school's eligibility rate is somewhat above the surrounding baseline.

After controlling for student poverty, FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 42.8%; this one delivers 49.4%.

Zooming out to the county, ACS estimates for Polk County put median household income runs about $65,978, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 11%. Across Polk County's 172 public schools (combined enrollment of about 117,004 students), FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is LEWIS ANNA WOODBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, roughly 1.7 miles away. Within ten miles, there are 8 other public schools, a sparser pattern than typical urban areas. Among the 4 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, above the local average of 47.4%.

The school occupies a countryside site.

Over the past 7-year window. Over the past 7-year window, the student count showed little movement: 722 students in 2018 compared to 731 in 2025. The White share of enrollment fell from 37% to 30% over that span. Class-load math has widened: from 13.4:1 in 2018 to 15.9:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around open house dates, ride-share offers, and field-trip permission slips. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.