Public schools in Lake City, FL
15 open public schools with an address in Lake City, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,779
14 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.2:1
Florida median 16.8:1
Charter schools
1
3 virtual
An overview of Lake City public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Lake City, FL: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 3 combined or other. The 14 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,779 students, an average of 484 per school. The largest campus is Columbia High School (1,711 students), and the largest elementary school is Westside Elementary School (695).
Every listed school belongs to Columbia. 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 17.2:1, similar to 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 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 51% 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 Lake City
Elementary schools in Lake City
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia City Elementary School Columbia | PK–05 | 585 | 16.3:1 | |
| Eastside Elementary School Columbia | PK–05 | 655 | 18.7:1 | |
| Niblack Elementary School Columbia | PK–05 | — | — | |
| Pinemount Elementary School Columbia | PK–05 | 448 | 14.9:1 | |
| Summers Elementary School Columbia | PK–05 | 492 | 15.9:1 | |
| Westside Elementary School Columbia | PK–05 | 695 | 17.4:1 |
Middle schools in Lake City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City Middle School Columbia | 07–08 | 809 | 18.7:1 | |
| Richardson Sixth Grade Academy Columbia | 06–06 | 455 | 16.9:1 |
High schools in Lake City
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia High School Columbia | 09–12 | 1,711 | 23:1 | |
| Columbia Virtual Franchise Columbia · Virtual | 06–12 | 0 | — | |
| Columbia Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided) Columbia · Virtual | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Pathways Academy Columbia · Alternative School | 06–12 | 94 | 15.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Lake City
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont Academy Columbia · Charter | PK–12 | 828 | 20.7:1 | |
| Columbia Virtual Instruction Program Columbia · Virtual | KG–12 | 0 | — | |
| Prek Ese Columbia · Special Education School | PK–PK | 7 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White59%
- Hispanic9.7%
- Black22.2%
- Asian1.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 11 Lake City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,779 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Lake City
How many public schools are in Lake City, FL?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Lake City: 6 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 6,779 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Lake City?
All listed public schools with an address in Lake City belong to Columbia. 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 Lake City?
Columbia High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Lake City, with 1,711 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Lake City?
Yes. 1 of the 15 public schools in Lake City are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Belmont Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Lake City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Lake City public schools is 17.2:1, similar to 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 Lake City 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