Charter schools in Lakeland, FL
10 schools in Lakeland, 12 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.
Public charter schools (tuition-free)
Lakeland charter schools at a glance
10 public charter schools give Lakeland as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 12 more are within 15 miles. The 10 in town had about 5,394 students in 2024-25. 6 teach elementary grades and 3 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.
Charter schools in Lakeland (10)
Largest first. Enrollment and teachers are from 2024-25; schools new in 2025-26 have no count yet.
| Charter school | Grades | Students (2024-25) | Per teacher | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mckeel Academy of Technology | 7-12 | 1,750 | 23.6 | (863) 499-2818 |
| South Mckeel Academy | PK-6 | 1,200 | 17.4 | (863) 510-0044 |
| Mckeel Academy Central | PK-6 | 610 | 16.5 | (863) 499-1287 |
| IDEA Lakeland | K-7 | 452 | 18.8 | (904) 993-1520 |
| Polk State College Collegiate High School | 10-12 | 343 | 68.6 | (863) 669-2322 |
| Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High Scho | 11-12 | 296 | 32.9 | (863) 669-2322 |
| MI Escuela Montessori | PK-8 | 275 | 12.6 | (863) 934-2780 |
| Magnolia Montessori Academy | PK-8 | 182 | 11.4 | (863) 797-4991 |
| Achievement Academy | PK | 157 | 7.5 | (863) 683-6504 |
| Lakeland Montessori School House | K-8 | 129 | 13.6 | (863) 413-0003 |
Nearby, within 15 miles (12)
Charter schools in other towns, nearest first. Online schools are left out here because their address is an office.
| Charter school | Grades | Students (2024-25) | Per teacher | Town | Miles | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkley Elementary School | K-5 | 696 | 17.8 | Auburndale | 10 | (863) 968-5024 |
| Berkley Accelerated | 6-10 | 622 | 20.1 | Auburndale | 10 | (863) 984-2400 |
| Rcma Mulberry Community Academy | K-3 | 107 | 15.3 | Mulberry | 10 | (863) 425-9246 |
| Advantage Academy of Hillsborough | PK-8 | 457 | Plant City | 11 | (813) 567-0801 | |
| Hartridge Academy | K-5 | 200 | 18.2 | Winter Haven | 13 | (863) 956-4434 |
| New Beginnings High School | 6-12 | 997 | 66.5 | Winter Haven | 13 | (863) 268-5666 |
| Cypress Junction Montessori | PK-8 | 317 | 18.3 | Winter Haven | 14 | (863) 259-1490 |
| Compass Middle Charter School | 5-8 | 168 | 18.7 | Bartow | 14 | (863) 519-8701 |
| Discovery Academy of Lake Alfred | 6-8 | 1,039 | 21.6 | Lake Alfred | 14 | (863) 295-5955 |
| Language & Literacy Academy for Learning | PK-12 | 332 | 25.5 | Winter Haven | 14 | (863) 268-2903 |
| Discovery High School | 9-12 | 898 | 20 | Lake Alfred | 15 | (863) 268-7178 |
| Chain of Lakes Collegiate High | 10-12 | 340 | 48.6 | Winter Haven | 15 | (863) 298-6800 |
Charter schools: how they work
- Public and free. NCES describes a public charter school as a publicly funded school, usually run by a group or organization under a contract (the charter) with the state, the district or another body. The federal definition says a charter school does not charge tuition.
- Families choose it. Under the same definition, a charter school is one parents choose to send their children to, and it admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for.
- Its own rules, its own accountability. The charter frees the school from some state or local rules; in return it must meet the standards written in its charter. It is nonsectarian.
- No program badge. ChoiceFunded’s program badges and “schools that accept” lists cover private schools only. Charter schools are listed separately here, with no badge, and are never counted with private schools.
Sources: 20 U.S.C. 7221i (federal Charter Schools Program definitions); NCES, Condition of Education: Public Charter School Enrollment. Each state writes its own charter law, so ask the school how enrollment works there.
Keep looking
- Charter schools in Auburndale (10 mi)
- Charter schools in Plant City (10 mi)
- Charter schools in Winter Haven (14 mi)
- Charter schools in Bartow (14 mi)
- Charter schools in Lake Alfred (16 mi)
- Charter schools in Dover (18 mi)
- Charter schools in Davenport (22 mi)
- Charter schools in Lake Wales (24 mi)
- Charter schools in Wesley Chapel (24 mi)
- Charter schools in Temple Terrace (26 mi)
- All charter schools in Florida
- Private schools in Lakeland (listed separately)
- What Florida pays toward private school
- Charter schools in every state
Questions parents ask
How many charter schools are in Lakeland?
10 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Lakeland, and 12 more are within 15 miles. Mckeel Academy of Technology, South Mckeel Academy, Mckeel Academy Central, IDEA Lakeland, Polk State College Collegiate High School, Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High Scho and others.
Do charter schools in Lakeland charge tuition?
No. Charter schools are public schools, and the federal definition of a charter school says it does not charge tuition. Ask each school about fees for extras.
How do I enroll in a Lakeland charter school?
Apply to each school directly. Under the federal definition, a charter school admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for, so check each school’s application dates. Each state writes its own charter law.
School facts: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data (2025-26 directory, 2024-25 enrollment and staff). Where our data comes from.