Ranked: The top schools in Lakeland

Finding the right school for your family can be a challenge — but we are here to help. Check out our list of the top elementary, middle, and high schools in Polk County based on Florida Department of Education ratings.

PCPS school buses line up

PCPS school buses | Photo via @polkcountypublicschools

If there’s a universal desire among parents, it’s that everyone wants to send their child to an excellent school. We’re here to help you do just that.

Luckily, the Florida Department of Education produces accountability reports for all Florida schools. While these aren’t perfect — check out our comprehensive schools guide for more information on that — it does provide some benchmarks we can use to help you select the right school for your family.

Keep in mind — the FDE only provides these ratings for public schools so that’s what you’ll see on our list.

Here are the top choices for public schools based on grade levels in Polk County:

Elementary

Cleveland Court Elementary, 328 East Edgewood Drive (Lakeland) | Founded 1947
🎒 Grades K-5
✍️ Elementary school, public
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Highlands Grove Elementary, 4510 Lakeland Highlands Rd (Lakeland) | Founded 2007
🎒 Grades K-5
✍️ Elementary school, public
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Lincoln Avenue Academy, 1330 N Lincoln Ave (Lakeland) | Founded 1992
🎒 Grades K-5
✍️ Elementary school, public magnet
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse, 1124 N. Lake Parker Ave (Lakeland) | Founded 2013
🎒 Grades PreK-6
✍️ Elementary school, public charter, Montessori methodology
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free (except PreK 3 and 4)

Magnolia Montessori Academy, 815 S Central Ave (Lakeland) | Founded 2013
🎒 Grades PreK-6
✍️ Elementary school, public charter, Montessori methodology
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

McKeel Academy Central, 411 N Florida Ave (Lakeland) | Founded 2003
🎒 Grades PreK–6
✍️ Elementary school, public charter
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Rochelle School of the Arts, 1501 Martin L King Jr Avenue (Lakeland) | Founded 1992
🎒 Grades PreK–8
✍️ Elementary + middle school, public magnet
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

South McKeel Academy, 2222 Edgewood Drive S (Lakeland) | Founded 2006
🎒 Grades PreK–6
✍️ Elementary school, public charter
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Valleyview Elementary, 2900 E. County Rd. 540 A (Lakeland) | Founded 1991
🎒 Grades K-5
✍️ Elementary school, public
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Middle Schools

Lakeland Highlands Middle School, 740 Lake Mariam Drive (Lakeland) | Founded 1975

🎒 Grades 6-8
✍️ Middle school, public
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Lakeland Montessori Middle, 1124 N. Lake Parker Ave (Lakeland) | Founded 2013
🎒 Grades 7-8
✍️ Middle school, public charter, Montessori methodology
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Lawton Chiles Middle Academy, 400 N. Florida Avenue (Lakeland) | Founded 1981
🎒 Grades 6-8
✍️ Middle school, public magnet
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

McKeel Academy of Technology, 1810 W. Parker Street (Lakeland) | Founded 1995
🎒 Grades 7-12
✍️ Middle + high school, public charter
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Rochelle School of the Arts, 1501 Martin L King Jr Avenue (Lakeland) | Founded 1992
🎒 Grades PreK–8
✍️ Elementary + middle school, public magnet
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

High Schools

Harrison School of the Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Rd (Lakeland) | Founded 1989
🎒 Grades 9-12
✍️ High school, public magnet
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

George Jenkins High School, 6000 Lakeland Highlands Rd (Lakeland) | Founded 1993
🎒 Grades 9-12
✍️ Elementary day school, public
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

Lakeland Senior High School, 726 Hollingsworth Rd (Lakeland) | Founded 1927
🎒 Grades 9-12
✍️ High school, public
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

McKeel Academy of Technology, 1810 W. Parker Street (Lakeland) | Founded 1995
🎒 Grades 7-12
✍️ Middle + high school, public charter
⛪ Non-sectarian
💸 Tuition-free

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