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Excellent

#24 of 1,462 private schools in FL

Top 2% of private schools

Academy Prep Center of Lakeland

Middle School

1021 LAKELAND HILLS BLVD, Lakeland, FL 33805

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on FL statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

117

Student-Teacher

9.8:1

Score

8.5

Grades

5th – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Lakeland

#1 of 18

public schools

Florida middle schools

#1 of 27

About Academy Prep Center of Lakeland

Academy Prep Center of Lakeland serves 117 students in grades 5 through 8, offering a focused middle school experience with an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 9.8:1. With just 12 full-time equivalent teachers, this regular public school provides an intimate learning environment where students can receive more individualized attention during these crucial transitional years. The school has earned strong recognition with a MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #616 out of 1,462 schools statewide, placing it in the 58th percentile among Florida schools.

This performance reflects the school's commitment to supporting students during the important middle school years when academic foundations are solidified and study habits are formed. Located on Lakeland Hills Boulevard, the school sits in the heart of Lakeland, a mid-size city in Polk County. The surrounding 33805 zip code area is home to over 26,000 residents, with a median household income of $51,006 and median home values around $150,600.

The community shows economic diversity, with about 16% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a poverty rate of 21.4%. This setting provides Academy Prep Center students with exposure to a varied socioeconomic environment while benefiting from the resources and opportunities that come with being part of Lakeland's established educational landscape.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 117 students, Academy Prep Center of Lakeland is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.8:1, Academy Prep Center of Lakeland offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Academy Prep Center of Lakeland operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$25,793
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$29,117
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.13x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
23%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$1.2M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 117 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Academy Prep Center of Lakeland compares to 49 public schools serving similar grades in Lakeland, FL

Student-Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
This School
vs
16:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
117
This School
vs
576
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.5
This School
vs
6.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

Black 40.2% vs 0%
White 29.1% vs 0%
Hispanic 25.6% vs 0%
Academy Prep Center of Lakeland Lakeland Public Avg

Nearby Middle Schools

School Rating
Academy Prep Center of Lakeland (this school) 8.5
MCKEEL ACADEMY CENTRAL 8.3
LAWTON CHILES MIDDLE ACADEMY 5.9
ROCHELLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 8.1
LAKELAND MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL 7.8
LAKELAND MONTESSORI SCHOOL HOUSE 7.6
LINCOLN AVENUE ACADEMY 7.8
PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS 5.9
PHILIP O'BRIEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 5.1
ROSABELLE W. BLAKE ACADEMY 4.8
POLK FULL TIME ESCHOOL 4.9
POLK VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM
NORTH LAKELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF CHOICE 5.4
MCKEEL ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY 6.0
MAGNOLIA MONTESSORI ACADEMY 8.3
DIXIELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7.8
JESSE KEEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 6.9
SOUTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 8.0
CRYSTAL LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 6.3
CLEVELAND COURT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 8.3
SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL 5.1

Showing 20 of 49 schools. View all schools in Lakeland

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in FL.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B+ 7.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 9.8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.7 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 9.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,643.5
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 68%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 117
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in FL

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Black 40.2%
White 29.1%
Hispanic 25.6%
Two or More 4.3%
Native American 0.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1021 LAKELAND HILLS BLVD, Lakeland, FL 33805

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Academy Prep Center of Lakeland may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. LAKELAND MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 7.8/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is ROBERTS ACADEMY AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE (rated 7.6/10, 1.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, LAWTON CHILES MIDDLE ACADEMY (rated 5.9/10, 0.6 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lakeland, see our Lakeland schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
HADLEYS EARLY EDUCATION DBA INSPIRE ACADEM Lakeland 0.1 mi
MCKEEL ACADEMY CENTRAL Lakeland 0.6 mi 8.3
LAWTON CHILES MIDDLE ACADEMY Lakeland 0.6 mi 5.9
ROCHELLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Lakeland 0.7 mi 8.1
POLK PRE-COLLEGIATE ACADEMY Lakeland 0.8 mi 6.5
LAKELAND MONTESSORI SCHOOL HOUSE Lakeland 0.8 mi 7.6
LAKELAND MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOL Lakeland 0.8 mi 7.8
LINCOLN AVENUE ACADEMY Lakeland 0.8 mi 7.8
ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY Lakeland 1.0 mi 7.3
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH ACADEMY Lakeland 1.1 mi 6.2
PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS Lakeland 1.3 mi 5.9
ROSABELLE W. BLAKE ACADEMY Lakeland 1.4 mi 4.8
PHILIP O'BRIEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lakeland 1.4 mi 5.1
PREPARING THE WAY ACADEMY Lakeland 1.6 mi
LAKELAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Lakeland 1.7 mi 5.2
ROBERTS ACADEMY AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE Lakeland 1.8 mi 7.6
POLK VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM Lakeland 1.8 mi
POLK FULL TIME ESCHOOL Lakeland 1.8 mi 4.9
NORTH LAKELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF CHOICE Lakeland 1.9 mi 5.4
MAGNOLIA MONTESSORI ACADEMY Lakeland 1.9 mi 8.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 33805 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$55,565

Median Home Value

$173,800

Median Rent

$1,179/mo

Population

27,391

College Educated

16.8%

Homeownership

48%

Avg Commute

24 min

Poverty Rate

20.3%

Median Age

36.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Academy Prep Center of Lakeland has a median household income of $55,565. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $173,800, with a median rent of $1,179/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL Plantation, FL 8.3
SOMERSET ACADEMY BOCA MIDDLE SCHOOL Boca Raton, FL 8.2
ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF TAMPA Tampa, FL 8.1
SPORTS LEADERSHIP ARTS MANAGEMENT (SLAM) Kissimmee, FL 8.0
TAMPA DAY SCHOOL Tampa, FL 7.7
ROBERTS ACADEMY AT FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE Lakeland, FL 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Academy Prep Center of Lakeland

What grades does Academy Prep Center of Lakeland serve?

Academy Prep Center of Lakeland serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend Academy Prep Center of Lakeland?

Academy Prep Center of Lakeland has an enrollment of approximately 117 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Academy Prep Center of Lakeland?

The student-teacher ratio at Academy Prep Center of Lakeland is 9.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Academy Prep Center of Lakeland rank in FL?

Academy Prep Center of Lakeland is ranked #24 out of 1,462 private schools in FL.

What is Academy Prep Center of Lakeland's MySchoolScout rating?

Academy Prep Center of Lakeland has a composite rating of 8.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Academy Prep Center of Lakeland a private school?

Yes, Academy Prep Center of Lakeland is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Academy Prep Center of Lakeland a religious school?

No, Academy Prep Center of Lakeland is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
79 Very Walkable
Bike Score
68 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
117
Gender Split
51% M / 49% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
9.5 hours
Days Per Year
173 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
POLK
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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