Learning in Lkld
“What are the schools like here?”
Number one question most families ask. Details about school names and locations you can get from your real estate agent or the apartment manager, but certain information – like teachers, quality and reputation – can only come from other parents, and so much depends on finding the right fit for your student but we can give you some context to start.
Number one question most families ask. Details about school names and locations you can get from your real estate agent or the apartment manager, but certain information – like teachers, quality and reputation – can only come from other parents, and so much depends on finding the right fit for your student but we can give you some context to start.
Lakeland is part of the countywide public school district called Polk County Public Schools. It is one of the 67 in Florida and includes more than 110,000 students. As part of the public school system, students have choices of magnet, charter and choice schools. Many schools offer academies – areas of focused study, such as culinary, robotics, healthcare and agriculture.
Local Resources
Find your zone school: Use this convenient Zone Finder, prepared by Polk County Public Schools.
Enrolling:Click here to enroll your child in a Polk public school.
Polk County School Board: The Polk County School Board consists of seven elected members and an appointed superintendent. Learn more about School Board meetings here.
Making sense of school options:Polk County Public Schools also offers an easy-to-read guide to school options throughout the county. Lakeland Mom does a great job helping to explain the differences between magnet, charter and choice schools.
After school: Lakeland Mom offers a look at After School Programs in the area.
Private school roundup: Lakeland Mom offers a comprehensive guide to private schools in Polk County, including information on scheduling tours, registration deadlines and unique details about each school.
Preschools and daycares: Lakeland Mom has a helpful guide to daycares and preschools in the area, including Voluntary Pre-K programs as well as which daycares accept newborns and infants.
Homeschooling: Contrary to some perception of homeschooling families as independent and keeping to themselves, many homeschooling families love to pool resources, take field trips together, create intramural sports teams and co-teach. Polk County Public Schools offers answers to Frequently Asked Questions about homeschooling. Main Street Auxiliary is a homeschooling co-op for children 10 and up, and Lighthouse Homeschoolers is a local cooperative for homeschoolers with a religious bent.
Virtual schools: Families looking for something between homeschooling and traditional schools have two options: Florida Virtual School, which offers both a full-time and flex programs, and Polk Virtual School.
Colleges and universities: Lakeland is home to several colleges and universities, including Florida Southern College, Southeastern University, Florida Polytechnic University and Polk State College, as well as a campus of Keiser University. Lakeland is also home to Traviss Technical College, offering career programs and high school completion programs.
Additional Notes:
- Early-release days are scheduled once a month throughout the school year.
- Uniforms are required at most public elementary and middle schools.
- Register for the parent portal and you’ll never have to wait for interim reports and progress reports to know how your student is doing in school.
- Car dropoff and pickup lines have a life of their own. Do not be surprised to see parents getting into line more than an hour before students are let in or dismissed from school.
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Each Thursday, we’ll send you the latest news, including a preview of weekend events