SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL

801 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Southwest Middle School, located at 2815 Eden Parkway in Lakeland, Florida, is a public middle school serving the Polk County School District. As a key educational institution in the area, the school is dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes academic achievement, personal growth, and social responsibility for students in the middle grades. Its curriculum is designed to meet state standards while preparing students for the transition to high school, offering a blend of core academic subjects and elective opportunities that cater to diverse student interests.

Beyond the classroom, Southwest Middle School emphasizes community engagement and a supportive school culture. By utilizing its official portal, the school maintains clear lines of communication with parents and guardians regarding academic progress, extracurricular activities, and district-wide initiatives. Through its commitment to a well-rounded education, the school strives to empower its students to become productive, informed citizens, leveraging its resources to ensure that every learner has the tools necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving academic landscape.

801

Total Students

46.0

Full-Time Teachers

17.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

68.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	243
Hispanic	304
Black	210
Asian	8
Two or More	32
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	2

Hispanic
304 (38.0 %)
White
243 (30.3 %)
Black
210 (26.2 %)
Two or More
32 (4.0 %)
Asian
8 (1.0 %)
American Indian
2 (0.2 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	POLK
Phone:	(863)499-2840
Website:	http://schools.polk-fl.net/swms
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	801
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	46.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	547
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

Grade 6 273

Grade 7 259

Grade 8 269