Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse, 1124 N. Lake Parker Ave.: a charter school for age 3 to grade 8, an A in Florida's 2026 grades. 863-413-0003.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse and its admissions page, Polk County Public Schools, the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 school grades and the federal NCES school directory.
Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse is a public charter school on North Lake Parker Avenue, inside the Lakeland city limits. Lakeland Montessori’s schools “are approved Polk County Charter Schools serving children age 3 through 8th Grade,” according to its about page: the Schoolhouse for age 3 through sixth grade and Lakeland Montessori Middle School for grades 7 and 8, both listed at 1124 N. Lake Parker Ave. Charter schools are sponsored by the Polk County School Board, run by their own boards and have no attendance zones.
Who to call
- Front office: 863-413-0003, 1124 N. Lake Parker Ave., Lakeland, FL 33805
- School website: lakelandmontessori.com
- Applications: the school’s admissions page and application forms
- District charter office: Polk County Public Schools Office of Charter Schools, 863-534-0625
| Address | 1124 N. Lake Parker Ave., Lakeland, FL 33805 |
| Phone | 863-413-0003 |
| Grades | Age 3 to grade 8 (tuition-free for K-8) |
| Type | Public charter school, Montessori |
| 2026 state grade | A (77% of points) |
| Zone | None; apply to the school |
The school’s website lists its board of directors but does not name a principal.
The school’s home page says it has offered “22 Years of Authentic Montessori in Lakeland” and calls itself “the first-ever Montessori accredited public school in the nation for ages 3-15.”
Enrollment and teachers
- Federal count: 129 students in kindergarten through grade 8 in the 2024-25 school year, with nine full-time-equivalent classroom teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 14 students per teacher. The federal directory’s separate record for Lakeland Montessori Middle School is marked closed for 2024-25.
State report card
Florida gave Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse an A in its 2026 school grades, its third A in a row, with 77% of the points possible, according to the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 school grades file, which lists it as a combination school. Its state report card has results by student group; it is an interactive dashboard that could not be read for this page.
| 2026 school grade measure | Result |
|---|---|
| School grade | A (77% of points) |
| English language arts achievement | 89% |
| English language arts learning gains | 73% |
| Math achievement | 82% |
| Math learning gains | 71% |
| Science achievement | 63% |
Florida grades schools A to F on the share of possible points earned across these measures. Achievement is the share of tested students on grade level; learning gains is the share who improved from the year before. For a combination school, A is 65% of points or more, the state’s file says.
How admission works
From the school’s admissions page:
- Kindergarten to grade 8. There is no tuition or application fee. Applications for students in kindergarten through eighth grade are accepted year-round; K-6 applicants go on a waiting list, and there is a separate application for grades 7 and 8.
- From preschool. Students who attended Lakeland Montessori for preschool are admitted to kindergarten automatically. Children must be 5 by Sept. 1 to start kindergarten.
- Ages 3 and 4. Preschool applications are accepted first-come, first-served, and decisions are “based on maintaining a balanced classroom environment.” Preschool charges tuition; the school offers a 50% discount for PreK3 families that qualify for School Readiness.
- Other schools. Applying to Lakeland Montessori does not remove a child from waiting lists at other schools, the page says.
Florida charter schools are open to all students in the state, pending seats; when applications exceed capacity, “all applicants shall have an equal chance of admittance through a random selection process or lottery,” according to Polk County Public Schools’ charter schools page.
Calendar and hours
The full day for kindergarten through eighth grade runs from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., the admissions page says. Preschool offers a half day (8:15 a.m. to noon), a full day (8:15 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.) and an all-day option until 5 p.m. at extra cost. For the school’s 2026-27 calendar, call 863-413-0003.
More on Lakeland schools
- The district’s charter schools page, with how charter schools are run and the charter office’s contacts
- Magnolia Montessori Academy, another Montessori charter school in Lakeland
- Every public school in Lakeland, with zones and report cards
- Our Lakeland schools guide for the full calendar, enrollment steps and School Board meetings
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakeland Montessori free?
There is no tuition or application fee for kindergarten through eighth grade, according to the school. Its preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds charges tuition, with discounts for families that qualify for School Readiness.
How do I apply to Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse?
Applications for kindergarten through eighth grade are accepted year-round, and K-6 applicants join a waiting list, the school says. Children who attended its preschool are admitted to kindergarten automatically.
What is Lakeland Montessori’s school grade?
Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse earned an A in Florida’s 2026 school grades, with 77% of possible points, its third A in a row.
What are Lakeland Montessori’s school hours?
The full day for kindergarten through eighth grade runs from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the school’s admissions page.
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