Orlando Area School Districts: Complete Guide for Families

How School Districts Work in the Orlando Area

Greater Orlando does not have a single school district. Each county operates its own independent school district with its own boundaries, policies, and magnet programs. Your address determines which public schools your children can attend, although many counties offer school choice options, magnet programs, and charter schools that accept students from across the county.

School zoning boundaries may change from year to year due to population growth, new school construction, and boundary adjustments. Always verify address-level assignments directly with the school district before purchasing a home.

School news below was verified in October 2026 against official district pages and local news reports. For the full rundown, see the Central Florida news page.

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS)

Orange County Public Schools is the largest school district in Central Florida. The district covers all of Orange County, including Orlando, Winter Park, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Apopka, Lake Nona, and many other communities, and operates more than 200 schools.

What changed for the 2026-27 school year

• Two new elementary schools opened in August 2026: one in the Horizon West area off Hartzog Road, intended to relieve crowding at nearby elementaries, and Innovation Elementary in Lake Nona.
• Seven campuses closed amid declining district enrollment: Union Park Middle School and the Bonneville, Orlo Vista, Chickasaw, Eccleston, McCoy, and Meadow Woods elementary schools. The School Board's final vote was March 10, 2026. Families in the affected zones were reassigned, and the district said future campus decisions remain subject to board review.
• New campus construction is paused for about four years while enrollment trends are reviewed; the district has said construction could resume around 2031 in areas including Apopka, Horizon West, and Lake Nona.
• Magnet application process changed: the district revised its magnet admissions to a single application with up to three ranked magnet choices, with no advantage for applying early, combining GPA-based criteria with lottery placement. The district publishes suggested application dates through the year and handles summer waitlist updates into August.
• Transfer policy: receiving-school lists are revised on a rolling basis, seats are assigned through waitlists, and parent-provided transportation is required except for state-defined exceptions. Current details are on the district's transfer options page.

2027-28 magnet timeline

OCPS opened its magnet and scholastic academy application window for the 2027-28 school year on October 13, 2026, with applications due December 18, 2026. The district is offering 34 magnet programs and 29 scholastic academies. Published key dates include lottery results notifications on January 19, 2027 (Lottery 1) and February 16, 2027 (Lottery 2), waitlist applications opening March 10, 2027, and August 24, 2027 as the last day seat offers are sent and waitlists are discontinued. See the OCPS magnet programs page for the current timeline.

Magnet programs

OCPS operates dozens of magnet programs across elementary, middle, and high schools. Offerings include:

• Aviation and Aerospace
• Artificial Intelligence
• Medical Careers and Health Sciences
• Digital Media and Gaming
• Fine Arts and Performing Arts
• Cambridge AICE and Advanced Placement
• Criminal Justice and First Responders
• Finance and Entrepreneurship
• Agriscience
• International Baccalaureate (IB) at select schools

School choice options

OCPS allows controlled open enrollment, meaning families may apply to transfer to a school outside their attendance zone if capacity allows. Requests are subject to space availability and district guidelines. The district also authorizes several charter schools that operate within the public school system. See the OCPS magnet home page and transfer options page for current windows and requirements.

Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS)

Seminole County Public Schools serves Lake Mary, Oviedo, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs, Longwood, Casselberry, and nearby communities. The 2026-27 school year began August 10, 2026.

School choice windows for 2026-27

• Elementary magnet and region-zone applications: the on-time window ran January 1 through March 1, 2026. Region zones apply only to specific Sanford and Lake Mary addresses, and a magnet seat placement supersedes a region-zone application.
• Middle and high school magnet programs and program-of-emphasis transfers: the application window opened October 1, 2025 and continues through August 10, 2026, with current students applying for a 2026-27 start by July 15, 2026.
• Transfers and controlled open enrollment: the 2025-26 application deadline was January 15, 2026, and 2026-27 waitlists run through the summer on the district's online application system.
• Zoned schools: students enrolling at their assigned neighborhood school do not need a separate application.

No new school openings or attendance-zone changes for 2026-27 were verified with the district in this update. For 2027-28, the district's on-time application period for middle and high school magnet programs and high school programs of emphasis runs October 1 through December 1, 2026, submitted through the district's online application system. SCPS also held its VPK and K-12 School Choice Expo on October 8, 2026 at Lake Mary High School. Boundaries can still change, so confirm address-level assignments with Seminole County Public Schools and its student assignment office.

Programs

The district offers magnet and specialty programs at the elementary and secondary levels, including an International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Seminole High School, Cambridge AICE programs at several schools, and the Crooms Academy of Information Technology in Sanford. Program schedules and application windows are published on the district's student assignment page.

Osceola County School District

The School District of Osceola County serves Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Celebration, Poinciana's Osceola side, Harmony, and surrounding areas. It is one of the fastest-growing districts in Florida, and the 2026-27 school year brought several verified changes.

What changed for the 2026-27 school year

• Nova Lakes High School opened in August 2026 at 5800 Nova Road in St. Cloud, the county's first new high school in eight years, with capacity for about 2,500 students.
• New attendance zones took effect in fall 2026 for Harmony High School, Tohopekaliga High School, and Nova Lakes High School. The zones were adopted after a public hearing in November 2025 to account for growth in eastern Osceola County, and the 2026-27 attendance zone boundary mapbook was board-approved June 23, 2026. See the district's zoning page for current maps.
• Recent school openings: Kindred K-8 opened in August 2025 on Cross Prairie Parkway, Voyager K-8, the district's Sunbridge-area K-8, opened for 2024-25, and Knightsbridge K-8 (Knights Point K-8) opened in August 2024. Cross Prairie K-8 is an active expansion project.
• School choice windows: the Choice application period for 2026-27 ran November 20, 2025 through January 26, 2026, with lottery notifications in February 2026. The Osceola County School for the Arts (OCSA) magnet application closed separately in mid-January, and a late Choice application period opened in late February. For 2027-28, the published OCSA application window runs November 19, 2026 through January 8, 2027, the general Choice period runs November 19, 2026 through January 25, 2027, and lottery notifications are scheduled for February 12, 2027.

Students enrolling at a school other than their zoned school need Choice approval first. See the district's School Choice page and School Zoning page for current information.

Programs

The district operates magnet programs including the Osceola County School for the Arts, NeoCity Academy, and the Professional and Technical High School (PATHS), plus K-8 options across the county. Applications for Choice and magnet programs run through the district's parent portal during the published windows.

Lake County Schools

Lake County Schools serves Clermont, Mount Dora, Tavares, Leesburg, Eustis, Groveland, Minneola, and surrounding communities. The district has seen enrollment growth in the Clermont, Minneola, and Groveland corridor.

What changed for 2026-27 and beyond

• Wellness Way schools are in the planning phase: the district is advancing a master plan for a high school and an elementary school in the Wellness Way corridor south of Clermont, with projected openings in the early 2030s. The School Board considered the master plan on July 13, 2026; the proposed high school is estimated at roughly $214 million and the elementary school at about $46 to $47 million. The district owns the elementary site and is working with Lake County and the City of Clermont to secure a high school site. Separately, the developer of the 2,241-acre Panther Run master-planned community in Wellness Way dedicated land for a high school and public safety complex in July 2026. These schools are planned, not yet under construction.
• A new K-8 academy opened in 2025 with capacity for about 1,200 students, and the district prepared Minneola Horizon Academy, a K-8 with an engineering and coding focus, to open for the 2025-26 school year.
• Open enrollment window: Lake County runs an open enrollment window from June 1 to June 30 each year, open to families living inside and outside the county.
• Program choice: the district's Program Choice window for the following year typically runs through March 31. Programs include International Baccalaureate and Cambridge AICE at county high schools, and a STEM magnet operates at Cypress Ridge Elementary.
• Superintendent transition: Superintendent Diane Kornegay announced her retirement in July 2026, and the School Board began a superintendent search with a goal of hiring by late October 2026.
• Attendance boundaries: the district approved 2026-27 attendance boundaries, with interactive maps for elementary, middle, and high school zones on its school locator page.

Programs

Lake County offers magnet-style programs, dual enrollment with Lake-Sumter State College, and career and technical education pathways. The district also authorizes charter schools, including options focused on STEM, Montessori, and classical education models. More rural parts of the county can have smaller schools and longer bus routes.

Polk County Public Schools

Polk County Public Schools serves Davenport, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, Lake Wales, Bartow, Auburndale, and surrounding communities.

What changed for the 2026-27 school year

• High school attendance zones were redrawn: the School Board approved new attendance zones for all 16 district high schools in January 2026, the first districtwide high school rezoning in decades, effective for fall 2026. The change responds to population shifts and capacity differences across the county. Students already enrolled are generally allowed to stay at their current high school.
• School choice window: applications for magnet schools, career academies, and high school IB and Cambridge programs ran January 12 through February 20, 2026 (extended to February 25), submitted through the district's Parent Portal. Placement is by lottery except for IB and Cambridge programs, which have academic requirements. For 2027-28, the district has posted a Controlled Open Enrollment window of April 5 through April 30; the main school choice priority window for 2027-28 had not been announced as of October 2026.
• New high school under construction: the board approved a new high school for the Poinciana and Haines City area in May 2026, at 700 Bayberry St. in Poinciana on a 72.3-acre site, with capacity for about 2,500 students. It is a roughly $182 million project and the district's first public-private partnership; the School Board approved the agreement with Fortress Secured LLC on May 7, 2026. A naming contest opened September 23, 2026, and the school is expected to open in August 2028.
• Polk Virtual School closed: the district dissolved its virtual school program in 2025 as part of budget actions.

Middle school boundary adjustments were still being finalized through 2026, and elementary rezoning is planned for 2027 or later. Verify address-level assignments with Polk County Public Schools.

Private and Charter School Options

Beyond the public school districts, the Greater Orlando area offers a wide range of private and charter schools. Private schools include religious-affiliated institutions (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Islamic), Montessori schools, college-preparatory academies, and schools specializing in particular learning approaches. Tuition varies widely, from approximately $8,000 to $25,000 per year for day schools, with some exclusive preparatory schools charging more.

Florida's school choice programs, including the Family Empowerment Scholarship and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, may provide financial assistance for eligible families to attend private schools or cover educational expenses. Eligibility is based on income and other criteria. The Florida Senate passed an overhaul of the private-school voucher program in January 2026 after a state audit found accountability and funding shortfalls. For current program details, visit the Florida Department of Education website.

Charter schools in Florida are public schools that operate under a performance contract with a sponsor (typically the local school district). They are tuition-free and open to all students within the district, with enrollment by lottery when oversubscribed. Charter schools in the Orlando area include both well-established schools and newer options.

Recent charter and private school changes

• Legends Academy Charter School closed: the Orlando charter school closed December 31, 2025, citing financial challenges, leaving more than 200 students to find new schools.
• Seminole Science Charter School added an 11th grade for the first time as part of the Orlando Science Schools network, which opened its 2027-28 application window in October 2026.
• Private school expansions: Trinity Preparatory School, Bishop Moore Catholic High School, and Lake Highland Preparatory School all announced campus expansions in 2026. Private school enrollment in Orange County has grown by roughly 8,000 students since 2022, a factor the district has cited in declining public school enrollment.
• Orange Center Elementary converted to a K-8 public charter STEAM academy and reopened in that form for 2026-27, after a parent vote in January 2026 and School Board approval in April 2026.
• UCP Charter Schools: the Kissimmee-area Osceola campus moved to a new building for 2026-27, and the network launched a K-5 virtual school (UCP Virtual School).

How to Find Which Schools Serve a Specific Address

School zoning boundaries can change. Here is the process to verify which schools serve a specific address:

1. Check the district's school locator tool: Each district has an online "School Locator" or "Boundary Finder" where you can enter an address to see the assigned schools.
2. Contact the district directly: For the most current information, call or email the district's zoning or student assignment office.
3. Ask your real estate agent: A local agent can help you research school assignments for the homes you are considering.
4. Verify every year: Even if you own a home, boundaries can change due to new schools or re-zoning. Check annually, especially if you are planning a move within the area.

School district contact information (verified September 2026):

• Orange County Public Schools: www.ocps.net | (407) 317-3200 | 445 W. Amelia St., Orlando, FL 32801
• Seminole County Public Schools: www.scps.k12.fl.us | (407) 320-0000 | 400 E. Lake Mary Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773
• School District of Osceola County: www.osceolaschools.net | (407) 870-4000 | 801 Bill Beck Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34744
• Lake County Schools: www.lake.k12.fl.us | (352) 253-6500 | 201 W. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778
• Polk County Public Schools: www.polkschoolsfl.com | (863) 534-0500 | 1915 S. Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830

Understanding School Ratings and Performance Data

School performance data comes from several sources. The Florida Department of Education assigns each school a grade from A to F based on student achievement, learning gains, and other factors. Schools also publish standardized test scores, graduation rates, and college readiness metrics. Third-party websites such as GreatSchools.org provide additional ratings based on test scores, equity measures, and parent reviews.

When evaluating schools, consider factors beyond a single letter grade: class sizes, available programs, extracurricular activities, school culture, teacher retention, and how well the school serves all students. Visit schools in person, talk to parents in the community, and ask about the specific programs your children need.

School zoning and assignments are subject to change. The information on this page is for general guidance only. Verify assignments directly with the applicable school district.

Frequently Asked Questions About Orlando Schools

What is the best school district in the Orlando area?

Each county operates its own public school system with different programs and policies. Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties each offer district public schools, magnet programs, school choice options, and charter schools. The right fit depends on your child's specific needs, the programs you value, and where you are looking to live. Always verify address-level school assignments with the district, since zoning can change.

Can my child attend a school outside our assigned zone?

Each district has its own school choice policies. Orange County offers controlled open enrollment with capacity limits. Seminole County has a school choice program with specific application windows. Osceola and Lake counties also have transfer policies. Magnet programs and charter schools offer access to specialized programs regardless of attendance zone.

How do magnet school applications work?

Magnet programs have annual application windows, typically in the spring for the following school year. Applications are submitted through the district's magnet office. Some programs have audition requirements (performing arts) or academic prerequisites. When oversubscribed, spaces are awarded by lottery. Starting in 2026, OCPS magnet programs are open to all Central Florida families, not only Orange County residents.

Do I need to live in a specific neighborhood to attend a certain school?

For traditional public schools assigned by address, yes. For magnet programs, charter schools, and private schools, residence requirements vary. Charter schools are generally open to all students within the district. Private schools do not have geographic attendance boundaries. Always verify assignment policies with the specific school or district.