Public schools in Bartow, FL
14 open public schools with an address in Bartow, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
14
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,477
14 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
18.7:1
Florida median 16.8:1
Charter schools
1
3 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Bartow public schools
The federal directory lists 14 public schools in Bartow, FL: 4 elementary, 3 middle, 5 high, 2 combined or other. The 14 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,477 students, an average of 463 per school. The largest campus is Bartow Senior High School (2,276 students), and the largest elementary school is Spessard L Holland Elementary (843).
Every listed school belongs to Polk. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 18.7:1, higher than the statewide school median of 16.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school, 3 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 61% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Bartow
Elementary schools in Bartow
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartow Elementary Academy Polk · Magnet | KG–05 | 524 | 15.4:1 | |
| Floral Avenue Elementary School Polk | PK–05 | 585 | 15.4:1 | |
| James E. Stephens Academy Polk | PK–05 | 336 | 14.6:1 | |
| Spessard L Holland Elementary Polk | PK–05 | 843 | 17.2:1 |
Middle schools in Bartow
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartow Middle School Polk | 06–08 | 881 | 19.2:1 | |
| Compass Middle Charter School Polk · Charter · Alternative School | 05–08 | 168 | 18.7:1 | |
| Union Academy Polk · Magnet | 06–08 | 382 | 19.1:1 |
High schools in Bartow
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartow Senior High School Polk · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,276 | 22.3:1 | |
| Gause Academy of Leadership Polk · Alternative School | 06–12 | 97 | 5.7:1 | |
| Polk County Sheriff's Central Center Polk · Alternative School | 07–12 | 45 | 22.5:1 | |
| Polk County Sheriffs Regional Detention Center Polk · Alternative School | 05–12 | 58 | 19.3:1 | |
| Transition School Polk · Special Education School | 12–12 | 50 | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Bartow
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Homebound Polk · Special Education School | PK–12 | 151 | 75.5:1 | |
| Jean O'Dell Learning Center Polk · Special Education School | PK–12 | 81 | 4.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White40.6%
- Hispanic31.2%
- Black22.3%
- Asian2.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 14 Bartow schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,477 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Bartow
How many public schools are in Bartow, FL?
The current NCES directory lists 14 open public schools with a location address in Bartow: 4 elementary, 3 middle, 5 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 6,477 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Bartow?
All listed public schools with an address in Bartow belong to Polk. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Bartow?
Bartow Senior High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Bartow, with 2,276 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Bartow?
Yes. 1 of the 14 public schools in Bartow are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Compass Middle Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Bartow schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Bartow public schools is 18.7:1, higher than the Florida school median of 16.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Bartow guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Florida cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Florida cities