Best Schools in Lake City, Florida
27 schools · 11 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 11 Other
Choosing a school in Lake City?
Use this page to compare every school in Lake City by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Melrose Park Elementary School
Elementary · Columbia. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Belmont Academy
Other · Columbia. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Pinemount Elementary School
Elementary · Columbia. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lake City for 2026 are Melrose Park Elementary School (7.4/10), Belmont Academy (6.9/10), and Pinemount Elementary School (6.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
27
15 public · 12 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$182,600
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
27
15 public · 12 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$182,600
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.4/10 despite 85% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Lake City schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Lake City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 13 rated schools; 27 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melrose Park Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Belmont Academy | 6.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Pinemount Elementary School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Pathways Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Lake City Middle School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Westside Elementary School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Columbia High School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Summers Elementary School | 5.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Columbia City Elementary School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Niblack Elementary School | 4.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $55,489
- Median home value
- $182,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 17%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 68%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lake City compares
Florida rank
#205 of 286
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Florida avg (6.3)
Median household income
$55k
74% of Florida median
Schools in this city
20
Columbia runs Lake City's public schools
15 public schools. Columbia is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Lake City is a Columbia school (15 of 15).
Among 13 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.0 to 7.4 — the spread is inside Lake City, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Lake City, Florida
Lake City, Florida is home to 27 schools, including 15 public schools and 12 private schools. The city's schools span 11 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Lake City show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Lake City is Epiphany Catholic School with a composite score of 8.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Lake City is served by 1 school district: COLUMBIA. These districts collectively serve 9,785 students.
Lake City's community shows 17% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $55,489. The poverty rate in the area is 17.5%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 388 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 2 | 471 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 | ||
| 3 | 714 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 531 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 | ||
| 5 | 586 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 6 | 307 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 7 | 664 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.1 | ||
| 8 | 359 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.1 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Epiphany Catholic SchoolPrivate 128 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Kingdom Culture AcademyPrivate 69 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 elementary schools in Lake City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 941 students · 7th–8th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 420 students · 6th–6th | 4.0 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58 students · 6th–12th | 6.0 |
| 2 | 1,727 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
| 3 | 18 students · 5th–12th | — |
Other Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 823 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 15 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
Private Schools9 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Lake City Christian AcademyPrivate 231 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | New Generation SchoolPrivate 358 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 55 students · Pre-K–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Cambridge Prep AcademyPrivate 185 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | 190 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | Behavioral Learning AcademyPrivate 24 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | Faith AcademyPrivate 7 students · Kindergarten–11th | Not Rated | ||
| 8 | First AcademyPrivate 19 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 other schools in Lake City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Lake City
Lake City, Florida · 27 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$55,489
Median Home Value
$182,600
Median Rent
$932/mo
Population
60,704
College Educated
17%
Homeownership
68%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
17.5%
Community Profile
Lake City has a median household income of $55,489. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $182,600, with a median rent of $932/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.5%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Florida
- Elementary
- 11
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 11
Resources
School District
Other Major Cities in Florida
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Lake City, Florida
How many schools are in Lake City, Florida?
Lake City has 27 schools, including 15 public and 12 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lake City, Florida?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lake City is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Lake City, Florida?
The top-ranked school in Lake City on MySchoolScout is Melrose Park Elementary School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lake City, Florida?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lake City on MySchoolScout is Melrose Park Elementary School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Lake City, Florida?
The top-ranked middle school in Lake City on MySchoolScout is Lake City Middle School with a composite score of 5.8/10.
What is the best high school in Lake City, Florida?
The top-ranked high school in Lake City on MySchoolScout is Pathways Academy with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve Lake City, Florida?
Lake City is served by 1 school district: Columbia.
What is the education level in Lake City, Florida?
According to Census data, 17% of adults in Lake City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lake City, Florida?
The median household income in Lake City is approximately $55,489 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lake City, Florida?
Yes, Lake City has 12 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Epiphany Catholic School with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lake City, Florida?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lake City is 12.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lake City, Florida?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Florida Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.