Public schools in Lake Wales, FL
10 open public schools with an address in Lake Wales, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,547
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.2:1
Florida median 16.8:1
Charter schools
7
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Lake Wales public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Lake Wales, FL: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,547 students, an average of 655 per school. The largest campus is Lake Wales Senior High School (1,597 students), and the largest elementary school is Hillcrest Elementary School (667).
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 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 7 charter schools, 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 74% 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 Wales
Elementary schools in Lake Wales
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillcrest Elementary School Polk · Charter | PK–05 | 667 | 16.3:1 | |
| Janie Howard Wilson School Polk · Charter | PK–05 | 462 | 15.9:1 | |
| Polk Avenue Elementary School Polk · Charter | PK–05 | 523 | 17.4:1 | |
| Spook Hill Elementary School Polk | PK–05 | 574 | 16.9:1 |
Middle schools in Lake Wales
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bok Academy Polk · Charter | 06–08 | 640 | 20.6:1 | |
| Edward W Bok Academy North Polk · Charter | 06–08 | 726 | 20.2:1 |
High schools in Lake Wales
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wales Senior High School Polk · Charter · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,597 | 21.9:1 | |
| McLaughlin Academy of Excellence Polk | 06–12 | 758 | 24.5:1 | |
| Roosevelt Academy Polk · Alternative School | 06–12 | 279 | 12.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Lake Wales
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Ridge Academy Polk · Charter · Special Education School | PK–12 | 321 | 12.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White35.8%
- Hispanic37.9%
- Black21.9%
- Asian1.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial2.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Lake Wales schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,547 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Lake Wales
How many public schools are in Lake Wales, FL?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Lake Wales: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 6,547 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Lake Wales?
All listed public schools with an address in Lake Wales 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 Lake Wales?
Lake Wales Senior High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Lake Wales, with 1,597 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Lake Wales?
Yes. 7 of the 10 public schools in Lake Wales are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Bok Academy, Edward W Bok Academy North, Hillcrest Elementary School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Lake Wales schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Lake Wales 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 Wales 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