McKeel Academy Central, 411 N. Florida Ave.: a charter school for pre-K to 6, 610 students (2024-25), an A in Florida's 2026 grades. 863-499-1287.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Sources: The Schools of McKeel Academy and its online enrollment page, Polk County Public Schools, the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 school grades and the federal NCES school directory.
McKeel Academy Central is a public charter school on North Florida Avenue in downtown Lakeland, inside the city limits. It is one of The Schools of McKeel Academy and is sponsored by the Polk County School Board but run by its own nonprofit board. It opened in August 2003 as McKeel Elementary Academy, “a school of technology,” according to its about page. Charter schools have no attendance zones.
Who to call
- Front office: 863-499-1287, 411 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801
- School website: mckeelcentral.com
- Enrollment questions: openenrollment@mckeelschools.com; online enrollment page
- District charter office: Polk County Public Schools Office of Charter Schools, 863-534-0625
| Address | 411 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801 |
| Phone | 863-499-1287 |
| Grades | Pre-K to 6 |
| Type | Public charter school |
| 2026 state grade | A (79% of points) |
| Zone | None; apply to the school |
The school’s staff directory does not list a principal. Michele Spurgeon is director of The Schools of McKeel Academy, its about page says.
Enrollment and teachers
- Federal count: 610 students in the 2024-25 school year, with 37 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 16 students per teacher.
State report card
Florida gave McKeel Academy Central an A in its 2026 school grades, its third A in a row, with 79% of the points possible, according to the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 school grades file. 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 (79% of points) |
| Grade 3 English language arts achievement | 92% |
| English language arts achievement | 83% |
| English language arts learning gains | 65% |
| Math achievement | 92% |
| Math learning gains | 81% |
| Science achievement | 86% |
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. The state’s file lists the school as an elementary school, where A is 62% of points or more.
How admission works
From The Schools of McKeel Academy:
- When. Any student entering pre-K through grade 12 may apply to any McKeel campus during a 14-day open enrollment period. For 2027-28, it runs from 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, to 11:59 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026.
- How. Applications are made online through McKeel Online Office, in one sitting. To apply to more than one McKeel school, families fill out one application and select every school at the end.
- Now. McKeel is not accepting applications outside the open enrollment period, its page says. The school’s site also links a controlled open enrollment page.
- Next step. Students who finish sixth grade at McKeel Academy Central are admitted to McKeel Academy of Technology for grades 7 to 12, the school 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
The school’s website links its schedule from a Contact & Hours page; call the front office at 863-499-1287 for the 2026-27 calendar and bell times. Polk County Public Schools’ 2026-27 calendar (PDF) covers district-run schools.
More on Lakeland schools
- The district’s charter schools page, with how charter schools are run and the charter office’s contacts
- 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
How do I apply to McKeel Academy Central?
Apply online through McKeel Online Office during open enrollment. For the 2027-28 school year, open enrollment runs from 7 a.m. Dec. 1, 2026, to 11:59 a.m. Dec. 15, 2026, according to The Schools of McKeel Academy.
What is McKeel Academy Central’s school grade?
McKeel Academy Central earned an A in Florida’s 2026 school grades, with 79% of possible points, its third A in a row.
What grades does McKeel Academy Central serve?
Pre-K through sixth grade, according to the school’s website. Students who complete sixth grade there are admitted to McKeel Academy of Technology for middle and high school, the school says.
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