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Best Public Schools in Lakeland, FL (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Lakeland Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 61 public schools serving 38,005 students in Lakeland, FL (there are 29 private schools, serving 5,415 private students). 88% of all K-12 students in Lakeland, FL are educated in public schools (compared to the FL state average of 87%).
The top-ranked public schools in Lakeland, FL are Magnolia Montessori Academy, Lakeland Montessori School House and Lincoln Avenue Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Lakeland, FL public schools have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the Florida public school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 52% statewide average). Schools in Lakeland have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Florida public schools.
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public school average of 67% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Lakeland, FL (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Magnolia Montessori Academy
Charter School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
815 S Central Ave
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 797-4991
Gr: K-8 | 182 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #22.
Lakeland Montessori School House
Charter School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1124 Lake Parker Ave N
Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 413-0003
Gr: K-8 | 129 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #33.
Lincoln Avenue Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1330 Lincoln Ave N
Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 499-2955
Gr: K-5 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #44.
Mckeel Academy Central
Charter School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
411 Florida Ave N
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 499-1287
Gr: PK-6 | 610 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #55.
Mckeel Academy Of Technology
Charter School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1810 Parker St W
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 499-2818
Gr: 7-12 | 1,750 student Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #66.
South Mckeel Academy
Charter School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2222 Edgewood Dr S
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 510-0044
Gr: PK-6 | 1,200 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #77.
Cleveland Court Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
328 Edgewood Dr E
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 499-2929
Gr: K-5 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #88.
Valleyview Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2900 State Rd 540a E
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3535
Gr: PK-5 | 783 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #99.
Highlands Grove Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4510 Lakeland Highlands Rd
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3002
Gr: PK-5 | 691 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1010.
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
400 Florida Ave N
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 499-2742
Gr: 6-8 | 704 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1111.
Winston Academy Of Engineering
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3415 Swindell Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 499-2890
Gr: PK-5 | 536 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1212.
Scott Lake Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1140 County Road 540a E
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3520
Gr: PK-5 | 735 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1313.
Rochelle School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1501 Martin L King Jr Ave
Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 499-2810
Gr: PK-8 | 762 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1414.
James W. Sikes Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2727 Shepherd Rd
Lakeland, FL 33811
(863) 648-3525
Gr: PK-5 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1515.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2650 Southwest Ave
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 499-2830
Gr: PK-5 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1616.
Lakeland Highlands Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
740 Lake Miriam Dr
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3500
Gr: 6-8 | 1,118 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1717.
Wendell Watson Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6800 Walt Williams Rd
Lakeland, FL 33809
(863) 853-6060
Gr: PK-5 | 764 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1818.
R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5500 Yates Rd
Lakeland, FL 33811
(863) 701-1450
Gr: PK-5 | 899 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1919.
Sleepy Hill Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2285 Sleepy Hill Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 815-6768
Gr: PK-5 | 711 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #2020.
Carlton Palmore Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3725 Clevelnd Hts Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 648-3510
Gr: PK-5 | 402 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2121.
R. Clem Churchwell Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
8201 Park Byrd Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 853-6011
Gr: PK-5 | 662 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #2222.
Polk Full Time Eschool
(Math: 33% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
604 S Central Ave
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 354-3999
Gr: K-12 | 429 students Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2323.
Edgar L. Padgett Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
110 Leelon Rd
Lakeland, FL 33809
(863) 853-6044
Gr: PK-5 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2424.
Medulla Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
850 Schoolhouse Rd
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3515
Gr: PK-5 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2525.
Combee Academy Of Design And Engineering
Magnet School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2805 Morgan Combee Rd
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 499-2960
Gr: PK-5 | 479 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #2626.
Mi Escuela Montessori
Charter School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2130 E Edgewood Dr, Ste 1
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 934-2780
Gr: PK-7 | 275 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2727.
George W. Jenkins Senior High School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
6000 Lakeland Highlands Rd
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 648-3566
Gr: 9-12 | 2,469 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #2828.
Lakeland Senior High School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
726 Hollingsworth Rd
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 499-2900
Gr: 9-12 | 1,985 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2929.
Dr. Ne Roberts Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
6600 Green Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 815-6633
Gr: PK-5 | 697 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #3030.
Dixieland Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
416 Ariana St
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 499-2930
Gr: PK-5 | 344 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #3131.
Oscar J. Pope Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2730 Maine Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 499-2992
Gr: PK-5 | 365 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #3232.
Griffin Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3315 Kathleen Rd
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 853-6020
Gr: PK-5 | 431 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #3333.
Rosabelle W. Blake Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
510 Hartsell Ave
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 499-2870
Gr: PK-8 | 562 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #3434.
Maynard A Traviss Technical Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3225 Winter Lake Rd
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 499-2700
Gr: 6-12 | 151 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #3535.
Polk Virtual Instruction Program
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
604 S Central Ave
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 354-3999
Gr: K-12 | 17 students Minority enrollment: 59%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Lakeland, FL?
The top-ranked public schools in Lakeland, FL include Magnolia Montessori Academy, Lakeland Montessori School House and Lincoln Avenue Academy.
How many public schools are located in Lakeland?
61 public schools are located in Lakeland.
What percentage of students in Lakeland go to public school?
88% of all K-12 students in Lakeland are educated in public schools (compared to the FL state average of 87%).
What is the racial composition of students in Lakeland?
Lakeland public schools minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public schools average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Lakeland are often viewed compared to one another?

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