Hi there, I’m Katie — a Lakeland mom who is about to enroll my child in kindergarten.

I'm writing this from the perspective of one parent to another that has spent years engaged with the school system and private schools in our area, in the hopes that it helps you — whether you're a lifelong Lakelander or a person considering a move to the area.

When it comes to Pre-K-12 education in Florida, we are what is known as an “opportunity state,” which means parents have more choices on where to send their student outside of their traditional zoned school.

The positive of this is that it empowers parents and guardians to have more options to choose the school that best meets the needs of their children.

The downside is that it also creates a rather large menu of options, and it isn’t always clear on how to access those options or navigate the system.

That is why we’ve put together this guide to help parents and guardians understand the enrollment processes, accessibility to the programs and how to make the best choices for their families.

Prefer your schools in list format? You can also quickly peruse a list of the top Lakeland public schools, as rated by the Florida Department of Education.

What does school choice mean?

Ultimately, it means you can send your child to the school you are zoned for via your residential address, or you can use "parental choice" or opportunity scholarships to try to get them into a different school within the school district (or a private school in some cases).

There are important steps and deadlines parents need to pay attention to for enrollment in a traditional school or to take advantage of alternative school options.

First, let’s tackle the public school system in Polk County.

We have many high-quality options for students within the Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) system, which covers Lakeland and the other 17 municipalities in Polk County.

What makes up the Polk County Public Schools system?

Unlike other school systems around the country, in Florida a school district's service area is defined by the boundaries of the county. There are 67 counties in Florida, and therefore, 67 public school districts.

Polk County is the seventh-largest school district in Florida with more than 117,000 students, 120 schools, and 14,000 employees in the 2022-2023 school year. It's also among the top 30 largest districts across the US.

What are the statistics?

Here are the most recent PCPS student demographics:

42.6% — Hispanic
31.5% — White
21.2% — Black
2.7% — Multiracial
1.6% — Asian
0.4% — Indian American/Pacific Islander
11.2% — English language learners
16.5% — Students with disabilities

How many public schools are in the Lakeland?

There are 50+ public schools in Lakeland(including magnet, choice and charter — more about this later). This includes Pre-K, elementary, middle and high school levels.

What do school grades mean?

You may have done some online research and read about school grades, but what do they mean?

School and district grades are a very nuanced topic in Florida. Most people believe that there needs to be accountability and measures, but the formulas and testing used to calculate those grades can often lead to misconceptions and misinformation when describing the quality of the school and the educational outcomes and programs they provide.

Here's an example: A high school is measured on myriad factors, including graduation rate. However, if a new school opens with just ninth graders, that school would have a 0% graduation rate and therefore be unable to earn points in that category. The school's grade would then be calculated using fewer possible points, typically resulting in a lower grade that does not accurately describe the quality of the actual education the children are receiving.

So the bottom line, from a parent's perspective, is not to put too much credence in the school grade. It’s a great place to start, but it is far from telling the whole story about a school.

What is voluntary pre-K?

Voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) is a state program designed to prepare every 4-year-old child in Florida for kindergarten. What’s great about it is that it is tuition free as it is subsidized by the state for all eligible Florida students.

As a parent, this can be a much-needed break from the cost of daycare. It is important to note, however, that VPK is only a four-hour program, so you may have to pay for wrap-around services depending on your family’s needs.

VPK is offered through PCPS as well as numerous private daycares and preschools. To receive the tuition waiver, you must apply through the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County and present this voucher to your VPK provider. It’s simple to complete and the Early Learning Coalition can be very helpful in answering any questions you might have.

Applications for the next year's VPK program typically open in the spring. There are also other state-approved VPK providers in Polk County. Learn more about PCPS' VPK and early childhood learning offerings.

When it comes to charter and private schools, it can be advantageous to enroll your child in the VPK program at their location to increase your child’s chances of accessing seats during the kindergarten enrollment process.

How do I enroll my child in Polk County Public Schools?

PCPS has a very comprehensive guide to enrolling your child in their school system. Here are a few things to keep in mind from my personal experience.

The first step in enrollment is to decide what school you are interested in sending your student to. You have two options:

Send them to your traditional zoned school
Explore school choice options

What about zoning?

You can use this map to search for your address and find the zoned schools. My husband and I used this tool when we were house hunting to validate zoning. Pro tip: Realtor.com or Zillow often do not have accurate zoning information.

As a heads up — PCPS is undergoing a full rezoning exercise. New maps for elementary zoning are in development for the 2025-2026 school year, and middle/high schools are set to be rezoned in the 2026-2027 school year. We all wait in anticipation of the new maps, but as Polk County is one of the fastest-growing communities in the country, the need to rezone is understandable.

If you take advantage of your zoned school, you’ll need to make sure you review the appropriate required documents, entrance and immunization requirements, and complete the student entry form. Then, make an appointment to visit your zoned school to submit the registration forms + complete the process.

The zoned, magnet, and choice public school open enrollment process typically opens at the start of the spring semester.

Welcome to the new Southwest Middle, home of the Seminoles. | Photo via Polk County Public Schools

Enrolling in traditional zoned schools

Previews allow students and parents to learn what to expect during the transition into kindergarten, middle school, or high school. These previews are typically held in the spring.

Specific information about bus routes, bus times, lunch procedures, teacher assignments, and schedules will be available during regular orientation in August. If you missed the preview, contact your zoned school directly.

Students entering kindergarten must be five years old on or before Sept. 1 in the year they begin school. Visit your zoned elementary school with the required documents on preview day or on a following day by appointment. New students may be registered in person or online. Students currently enrolled in a Polk County Pre-K or VPK program must register in person.

You can call 863-534-0716 for additional assistance enrolling your child.

What about other options?

This is where the process gets alittlemore complicated, but stick with me. PCPS offers several different types of school choices.

Controlled open enrollment
Magnet/Choice
Charter
Accelerated Learning programs (IB/AICE)
Career Academies

There are also options for students with special needs, home school students, virtual school, and other alternatives. Learn more about all options.

Students interested in magnet and choice schools are still subject to certain zoning rules. You are eligible for magnet schools that are in the zoned area for your residential address. Enter your address and click the "Other" tab to see which one you're zoned for.

Controlled open enrollment (COE) was established by the Florida legislature and allows students to request a transfer to another school besides their zoned school if that school has available seats.

COE does not include requests to get into magnet schools, choice schools, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge AICE, and career academies. That process is different. COE usually begins in spring, after the schools get a better idea of what their enrollment will be through the traditional registration process. You can apply through the PCPS Parent Portal.

What are magnet and choice schools?

Magnet/choice schools offer a rigorous academic program focused on specific areas of student interest, such as the arts, International Baccalaureate, or STEM, in addition to the standard required curriculum of general education. Admittance to a magnet school is achieved through an application.

There are two types of choice schools. Partial choice schools include kids from the zoned area, as well as a percentage of students admitted through an application process. Full-choice schools have a population entirely made up of students who applied to the school. The nuanced difference in these is only because of historical desegregation orders, but the process is the same nonetheless.

You’ll sometimes hear people explain the application process as a"lottery." That is because students are randomly selected from the applicant pool through a computer system. Once the student is selected, the school district will notify you via either the Parent Portal or email. You then have 10 working days to accept the admittance and go to the school with two proofs of address for registration during the designated time.

The open enrollment period for the next school year is typically open early in the second semester (around January to February).

There is one particular choice school that has a slightly different process due to its audition requirement. Harrison School of the Arts is a performing and visual arts magnet program in which students have their own campus embedded into the Lakeland High School campus. Students attending Harrison attend general education as a part of the Lakeland High School student body.

The Harrison enrollment process is different in that you must apply. Then students are selected to audition and do so during the second semester. Auditions will take place early in the semester, and students will be notified of their admission status in the spring.

What about charter schools?

A charter school is still considered to be a tuition-free public school. Made possible through state statute, they are governed by a local independent board that applies for a performance contract or “charter” through the Polk County School Board, which is considered to be their sponsor.

The charter allows the school to operate under defined rules and regulations and the charter school is held accountable for academic and financial results. As they are independent, however, they are exempt from the district and most state statutes. The schools receive funding from the state on a per-pupil basis and receive 95% of those funds, with the sponsoring district receiving an administrative fee.

The freedom from the district and state statutes is intended to allow charter schools to be more innovative, offering alternative methods of instruction (like Montessori, for example), demonstrate better student performance, and make the local school the agent of change for the students the school serves.

In Lakeland, the schools of McKeel Academy are the most popular charter schools. This includes:

South McKeel Academy (grades Pre-K-6)
McKeel Academy Central (grades Pre-K-6)
McKeel Academy of Technology (grades 7-12)

Any student entering grades Pre-K-12 may apply to attend during the 13-day open enrollment period, which typically takes place in late fall for the following school year. Learn more about enrolling at McKeel.

IDEA Public Schools will also open its first Lakeland location in the 2024-2025 school year. IDEA Lakeland aims to serve historically underserved populations, and it will start with kindergarten through sixth grade classes.

Other popular charter schools in Lakeland include:

What about accelerated learning programs (IB/AICE)?

Cambridge AICE (or Advanced International Certificate of Education) is an accelerated method of academic study offered solely through the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), a division of the University of Cambridge. AICE provides a flexible, broad-based curriculum that is offered at schools and colleges in more than 161 countries and is recognized by the Florida Department of Education as a rigorous curriculum.

For schools that offer AICE courses, eligible students may take specific AICE courses in isolation, or work to earn an AICE diploma. To earn this diploma, students must earn seven credits of college-level examinations that are given at the end of their courses, beginning in the ninth grade. The AICE Diploma is recognized by the state of Florida as a more rigorous diploma than a regular Florida high school diploma.

Right now, two Polk County high schools offer Cambridge AICE: Tenoroc High School and Winter Haven High School. Students zoned for Lakeland, Mulberry, and Auburndale schools would attend the program at Tenoroc.

International Baccalaureate (IB) high schools use a specific rigorous curriculum that aims to develop and challenge inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who are motivated to succeed.

IB programs are different from other curricula because they:

Encourage students of all ages to think critically and challenge assumptions
Develop independently or through government and national systems, incorporating quality practice from research and a global community of schools
Encourage students of all ages to consider both local and global context
Develop multilingual students

Students who meet high school graduation requirements and successfully complete the IB Diploma Programme will earn an IB Diploma.

There are currently two high schools in Polk County that offer IB programs: Bartow High School and Haines City High School. Lakeland students zoned for George Jenkins, Kathleen, and Lakeland High Schools seeking IB would attend Bartow High School. Lakeland students zoned for Lake Gibson or Tenoroc High Schools would attend Haines City High School's IB program.

The open application priority period for AICE and IB programs for the following school year usually opens around January.

Students who earn AICE or IB diplomas would also earn Florida High School diplomas as part of these programs.

What about career academies?

PCPS is widely recognized as having the second largest number of career academies in the country. Based on the innovative strategies of Nashville’s school system, the career academies offer small, personalized learning communities based on a career theme.

The academies provide a college-prep curriculum, as well as a path to industry certifications. The ultimate goal is that whether students are college-bound or not, they leave PCPS with the tools to find employment.

Career academies align with local industry needs and ensure that students are prepared to become skilled employees in high-demand occupations.

You can apply for a career academy through the Parent Portal during the open enrollment period at the start of the spring semester.

If the career academy of your student’s choice is already at their zoned school, the application process is not necessary — just speak with your child’s school guidance counselor.

View all of the career academy offerings. Learn more about enrollment online or call 863-519-8438, ext. 1.

How can I learn more before choosing a magnet or choice school?

Last year, PCPS hosted several School Choice Showcases before the end of the application window closed, so expect something similar in the future. If you have questions about the application process, read the FAQs for magnet/choice schools and career academies.

What if I am enrolling my child mid-school year?

I’m going to be honest here — this is a real challenge. Most of the seats are taken in the open enrollment period in January and February, however, Superintendent Frederick Heid is trying to find ways to make these programs more accessible to students moving mid-year.

Heid has created rolling COE that happens throughout the year that allows for available seats to be allocated through several enrollment periods. This process is subject to change in terms of dates of open enrollment, so be sure to pay attention to the PCPS website.

Unfortunately, magnet, choice, and accelerated education programs are no longer available during the extended enrollment periods, but if for some reason seats are not filled in these programs, you may still want to contact the Office of Acceleration and Innovation to learn more.