BETHUNE ACADEMY

428 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Bethune Academy, located in Haines City, Florida, is a public elementary school within the Polk County School District. Serving students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the school is deeply committed to fostering academic excellence while promoting the social and emotional development of its diverse student body. The academy emphasizes a structured, supportive learning environment where educators focus on building foundational literacy and numeracy skills, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the transition to middle school and beyond.

Beyond its core curriculum, Bethune Academy places a strong emphasis on community involvement and character education. The school actively encourages parental engagement and maintains a focus on inclusivity, striving to meet the individual needs of every child through differentiated instruction. By leveraging digital resources and fostering a culture of high expectations, the faculty at Bethune Academy works to inspire a lifelong passion for learning in their students while creating a safe and welcoming campus atmosphere.

428

Total Students

19.0

Full-Time Teachers

22.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

78.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for BETHUNE ACADEMY
Demographic	Student Count
White	52
Hispanic	147
Black	213
Asian	6
Two or More	10

Black
213 (49.8 %)
Hispanic
147 (34.3 %)
White
52 (12.1 %)
Two or More
10 (2.3 %)
Asian
6 (1.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	POLK
Phone:	(863)421-3334
Website:	http://schools.polk-fl.net/bethune
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	428
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	19.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	22.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	335
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* 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

Pre-Kindergarten 36

Kindergarten 71

Grade 1 52

Grade 2 58

Grade 3 70

Grade 4 67

Grade 5 74

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for BETHUNE ACADEMY
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	36
Kindergarten	71
Grade 1	52
Grade 2	58
Grade 3	70
Grade 4	67
Grade 5	74

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for BETHUNE ACADEMY
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	214	50%
Male	214	50%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)