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Lakeland Senior High School

Q: Is Lakeland Senior High School a good school?

Lakeland Senior High School ranks 413 th of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

413^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 838 Florida High Schools

Better than 51% of Florida high schools

Summary

Lakeland Senior High School is a large, traditional public high school in Lakeland, FL, serving nearly 2,000 students in grades 9-12 within the Polk County School District.

This school presents a fascinating mix of strengths and challenges. Its biggest success is a strong graduation rate of 94.8%, which significantly outpaces the district average of 87.7% and even the state average. This is a clear differentiator from nearby schools like Kathleen Senior High School (86.8%). However, this positive outcome is paired with a critical weakness: a very high chronic absenteeism rate of 43%. This is much higher than the state average and stands in stark contrast to high-performing nearby schools like McKeel Academy Of Technology, which has a near-zero absenteeism rate. This paradox suggests the school may have effective programs to help students finish their requirements, even if attendance is inconsistent.

Academically, the school is a strong performer in English Language Arts and U.S. History, consistently matching or exceeding state averages. However, math is a notable area of weakness, with Algebra 1 proficiency at just 34%, far below the state average of 63%. This math deficit is a key difference from top-performing peers like Polk State College Collegiate High School. The school serves a moderately high-needs population, with over 56% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The data suggests that the most impactful step for improvement would be to aggressively address chronic absenteeism, which could have a positive effect on math scores and overall performance.

1,985

Students ?

19.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,937

Per pupil spending ?

56.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

726 Hollingsworth Rd
Lakeland, FL 33801

(863) 499-2900

District: Polk

Feeder schools for Lakeland Senior High School:

Elementary:	Carlton Palmore Elementary School
	Cleveland Court Elementary School
	Dixieland Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

38.8%

Hispanic:

29.9%

African American:

25.5%

See top rated Florida high schools

Compare Lakeland Senior High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 56th percentile in 2016 → 51st in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Florida median (51st percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (58% vs 64% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (43% vs 31% Florida)

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg53%

Florida avg64%

413^th of 838

Florida public high schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From top 44% (2016) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 25High Schools in the Polk

61^st of 70Polk among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	44.8	413 of 838	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.4	406 of 844	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.2	360 of 807	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.7	381 of 792	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.1	267 of 774	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	48.7	279 of 746	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.7	202 of 734	72.5%	★★★★☆
2018	55.3	227 of 716	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.0	321 of 714	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	47.2	305 of 693	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.4	296 of 687	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	57.1	228 of 648	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.7	175 of 606	71.1%	★★★★☆
2011	65.3	221 of 622	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	67.9	186 of 620	70.0%	★★★★☆
2009	66.8	181 of 587	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	57.0	257 of 577	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	48.2	303 of 563	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	45.2	279 of 477	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	53.3	243 of 487	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	43.8	296 of 484	38.8%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

US History72%~ state avg

Biology 170%-4 vs state

English Language Arts62%~ state avg

Geometry38%-18 vs state

Algebra 134%-29 vs state

★

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Schools Near Lakeland Senior High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)					FAST Math (2026)			Statewide Science Science (2026)	EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Lakeland Senior High School	Public	9-12	726 Hollingsworth Rd	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 499-2900	1,985	103	19.2	56.8%	770 (38.8%)	506 (25.5%)	594 (29.9%)	35 (1.8%)	5 (0.3%)	5 (0.3%)	70 (3.5%)	44.8	413^th of 838 public high schools	50.7%		44.4	406^th of 844 public high schools	51.9%	7				62.0	63.0					34.0	38.0	70.0	72.0		$9,937	$1,447	$8,490
Pace Center For Girls	Public	6-12	213 Tyler Ave	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 688-5596	59	6	9.8	83.1%	22 (37.3%)	10 (16.9%)	19 (32.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (11.9%)								(n/a)															$8,066	$54	$8,011
Polk Grad Academy	Public	9-12	910 Lowry Ave	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 413-2948	14	0		85.7%	6 (42.9%)	5 (35.7%)	3 (21.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Fresh Start Community School	Public	10-12	910 Lowry Ave	Lakeland	33801	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 419-3486	105	5	21.0	67.6%	18 (17.1%)	30 (28.6%)	55 (52.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)								(n/a)
Polk Virtual Franchise	Public, Virtual	6-12	604 S Central Ave	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	No	No	Yes	No	(863) 354-3999	0	23	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
McKeel Academy Of Technology	Public, Charter	7-12	1810 Parker St W	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 499-2818	1,750	74	23.6	36.2%	1,099 (62.8%)	141 (8.1%)	394 (22.5%)	70 (4.0%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	41 (2.3%)	76.3	92^nd of 838 public high schools	89.0%		77	97^th of 844 public high schools	88.5%	5		79.0	70.0	77.0	74.0		90.0	76.0	70.0	86.0	74.0	88.0	88.0	95.0	$6,682	$231	$6,451
Maynard A Traviss Technical Academy	Public	6-12	3225 Winter Lake Rd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2700	151	7	21.5	62.9%	75 (49.7%)	23 (15.2%)	46 (30.5%)	3 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.6%)								(n/a)													71.0		$7,824	$742	$7,082
Kathleen Senior High School	Public	9-12	1100 Red Devil Way	Lakeland	33815	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 499-2655	1,861	76	24.4	69.8%	592 (31.8%)	417 (22.4%)	783 (42.1%)	18 (1.0%)	6 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (2.4%)	26.9	613^th of 838 public high schools	26.8%		27.8	607^th of 844 public high schools	28.1%	6				43.0	49.0					24.0	24.0	65.0	64.0		$10,142	$1,510	$8,632
Bill Duncan Opportunity Center	Public	6-12	3333 Winter Lake Rd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	No	(863) 499-2860	87	12	7.2	87.4%	21 (24.1%)	34 (39.1%)	30 (34.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.3%)	3.6	759^th of 838 public high schools	9.4%		2.9	778^th of 844 public high schools	7.8%	19	12.0	18.0	5.0	21.0	13.0	9.0	7.0	8.0	3.0	14.0	5.0	36.0	19.0		$36,884	$2,110	$34,775
Polk State College Collegiate High School	Public, Charter	10-12	3425 Winter Lake Rd	Lakeland	33803	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 669-2322	343	5	68.6		220 (64.1%)	24 (7.0%)	74 (21.6%)	18 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.0%)	92.7	7^th of 838 public high schools	99.2%		95	2^nd of 844 public high schools	99.8%	5					100.0						96.0	100.0	100.0		$7,367	$00	$7,367

Frequently Asked Questions about Lakeland Senior High School

What is the racial makeup of Lakeland Senior High School?

Students at Lakeland Senior High School are 39% White, 30% Hispanic, 25% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools feed into Lakeland Senior High School?

Lakeland Senior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Carlton Palmore Elementary School
Elementary : Cleveland Court Elementary School
Elementary : Dixieland Elementary School

Is Lakeland Senior High School a good school?

Lakeland Senior High School ranks 413^th of 838 Florida high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Lakeland Senior High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,985 students attended Lakeland Senior High School.

What district is Lakeland Senior High School in?

Polk

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.