LAKELAND HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL

1,118 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Lakeland Highlands Middle School (LHMS), located in the southern part of Lakeland, Florida, is a public middle school serving students in grades 6–8 within the Polk County Public Schools district. The school is known for its commitment to academic excellence and maintaining a structured learning environment, often drawing from the surrounding residential communities near Lake Miriam. As part of its identity, the school emphasizes a comprehensive approach to education that balances rigorous core curriculum requirements with a variety of extracurricular opportunities.

Beyond the classroom, Lakeland Highlands Middle School places a strong focus on student development through elective offerings, athletics, and clubs. The school’s administration and faculty work to foster a supportive culture that prioritizes student engagement and preparation for high school success. By integrating technology and collaborative learning practices, LHMS aims to provide a well-rounded experience that addresses both the social and academic needs of the middle school student population.

1,118

Total Students

61.0

Full-Time Teachers

18.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

52.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for LAKELAND HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	543
Hispanic	331
Black	170
Asian	39
Two or More	32
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	2

White
543 (48.6%)
Hispanic
331 (29.6%)
Black
170 (15.2%)
Asian
39 (3.5%)
Two or More
32 (2.9%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.2%)
American Indian
1 (0.1%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	POLK
Phone:	(863)648-3500
Website:	http://schools.polk-fl.net/LHMS
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	1,118
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	61.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	586
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 342

Grade 7 367

Grade 8 409