ALTOONA SCHOOL

Charter School 292 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Based on the information provided and the school’s official website, here is a summary of the Altoona School:

Altoona School is a unique, tuition-free public charter school located in Altoona, Florida, serving students in grades K–8. Operating under the Lake County School District, the school distinguishes itself through a strong emphasis on a "back-to-basics" academic approach. The curriculum is designed to foster a structured learning environment that prioritizes core subjects, character development, and academic excellence, aiming to provide a high-quality alternative to traditional public schooling within the community.

The school is well-known for its small-town atmosphere and its focus on creating a tight-knit educational community. By maintaining smaller class sizes, Altoona School aims to offer more personalized attention to students, helping them build a solid foundation in fundamental skills. The school’s mission centers on empowering students to become responsible, well-prepared citizens, and it maintains an active partnership with parents and the surrounding community to support student growth both inside and outside the classroom.

292

Total Students

16.0

Full-Time Teachers

18.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

69.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for ALTOONA SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	235
Hispanic	43
Black	2
Two or More	12

White
235 (80.5 %)
Hispanic
43 (14.7 %)
Two or More
12 (4.1 %)
Black
2 (0.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	LAKE
Phone:	(352)669-3444
Website:	http://altoonaschool.org
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	292
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	16.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	199
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	5

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 54

Grade 1 53

Grade 2 50

Grade 3 53

Grade 4 46

Grade 5 36