Public schools in Lakeland, FL
57 open public schools with an address in Lakeland, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
57
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
37,256
57 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.3:1
Florida median 16.8:1
Charter schools
10
7 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Lakeland public schools
The federal directory lists 57 public schools in Lakeland, FL: 35 elementary, 7 middle, 12 high, 3 combined or other. The 57 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 37,256 students, an average of 654 per school. The largest campus is George W. Jenkins Senior High (2,469 students), and the largest elementary school is South McKeel Academy (1,200).
Polk operates the most schools here (56), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 17.3:1, 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 10 charter schools, 7 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 13 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 6 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 14 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 63% 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 Lakeland
Elementary schools in Lakeland
35Middle schools in Lakeland
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake Middle School Polk · Magnet | 06–08 | 753 | 23.5:1 | |
| Kathleen Middle School Polk | 06–08 | 742 | 19:1 | |
| Lake Gibson Middle School Polk | 06–08 | 1,149 | 21.7:1 | |
| Lakeland Highlands Middle School Polk | 06–08 | 1,118 | 18.3:1 | |
| Lawton Chiles Middle Academy Polk · Magnet | 06–08 | 704 | 20.7:1 | |
| Sleepy Hill Middle School Polk | 06–08 | 886 | 20.6:1 | |
| Southwest Middle School Polk | 06–08 | 746 | 23.3:1 |
High schools in Lakeland
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Duncan Opportunity Center Polk · Alternative School | 06–12 | 87 | 7.3:1 | |
| George W. Jenkins Senior High Polk | 09–12 | 2,469 | 21.5:1 | |
| Kathleen Senior High School Polk | 09–12 | 1,861 | 24.5:1 | |
| Lake Gibson Senior High School Polk | 09–12 | 1,973 | 21.2:1 | |
| Lakeland Senior High School Polk | 09–12 | 1,985 | 19.3:1 | |
| Maynard a Traviss Technical Academy Polk · Alternative School | 06–12 | 151 | 21.6:1 | |
| McKeel Academy of Technology Polk · Charter | 07–12 | 1,750 | 23.6:1 | |
| Pace Center for Girls Polk · Alternative School | 06–12 | 59 | 9.8:1 | |
| Polk Grad Academy Polk · Alternative School | 09–12 | 14 | — | |
| Polk State College Collegiate High School Polk · Charter | 10–12 | 343 | 68.6:1 | |
| Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High Scho Polk · Charter | 11–12 | 296 | 32.9:1 | |
| Tenoroc High School Polk | 09–12 | 1,141 | 23.8:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Lakeland
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achievement Academy Polk · Charter · Special Education School | PK–PK | 157 | 7.5:1 | |
| Doris A. Sanders Learning Center Polk · Special Education School | PK–12 | 84 | 5.6:1 | |
| Polk Virtual Instruction Program Polk · Virtual · Alternative School | KG–12 | 17 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White39.6%
- Hispanic34.7%
- Black19.8%
- Asian2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 56 Lakeland schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (37,256 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Lakeland
How many public schools are in Lakeland, FL?
The current NCES directory lists 57 open public schools with a location address in Lakeland: 35 elementary, 7 middle, 12 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 37,256 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Lakeland?
Schools with an address in Lakeland belong to 2 education agencies, led by Polk (56 schools), IDEA Public Schools (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Lakeland?
George W. Jenkins Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Lakeland, with 2,469 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Lakeland?
Yes. 10 of the 57 public schools in Lakeland are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Achievement Academy, IDEA Lakeland, Lakeland Montessori School House. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Lakeland schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Lakeland public schools is 17.3:1, 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 Lakeland 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