Empowering Minds: Education and Schools in Our Community
Where Academic Excellence Meets Innovative Opportunity
The educational landscape in Orlando offers physician families an extraordinary array of choices that rival the nation's premier education markets—from nationally recognized public magnet programs to elite private institutions whose graduates regularly attend Ivy League universities. Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), the eighth-largest district in the U.S. with 208 schools, has invested over $1.8 billion in upgrades since 2020, including a $125 million STEM Center of Excellence at Lake Nona High School. With graduation rates above the state average and robust AP & dual enrollment programs, Orlando’s schools provide rigorous academics with modern infrastructure.
Public School Excellence: Magnet Programs and Specialized Learning
Orlando’s top public high schools provide world-class opportunities through magnet programs, AP courses, and specialized partnerships:
- Dr. Phillips High School: Top-ranked IB program, 15% above global average on exams, $95M renovation including VR anatomy labs
- Winter Park High School: 39 AP courses, 95% IB diploma pass rate, strong arts & athletics
- Lake Nona High School: Medical partnerships with UCF & Nemours; students shadow physicians & conduct research
- Windermere High School: 96% graduation rate, performing arts magnet
- Timber Creek High School: National Blue Ribbon School, championship robotics
- Olympia High School: Cambridge AICE program with 89% college credit rate
- Edgewater High School: Arts magnet producing Juilliard & RISD grads
- William R. Boone High School: Engineering program in partnership with Lockheed Martin
Elementary and Middle School Foundations
Orlando’s elementary and middle schools lay strong academic foundations:
- Windermere Elementary: Gifted & talented programs for 96th percentile+ students with early coding & robotics
- Audubon Park K–8: Spanish immersion through FLES program
- Dr. Phillips Elementary: $45M STEAM upgrades, makerspaces with 3D printers & engineering tools
- Chain of Lakes Middle School: Accelerated math track completing Algebra II by eighth grade
Elite Private Schools: Where Physician Families Congregate
Central Florida’s elite private schools offer rigorous academics, exceptional college placement, and whole-child development:
- Trinity Preparatory School: 100% college acceptance, SAT avg. 1380, January term for internships & research
- Lake Highland Preparatory School: SAT avg. 1310, aquatic complex, arts center, strong digital media programs
- The First Academy: Christian values, exceptional special needs resources
- Windermere Preparatory School: IB World School with boarding options
- Bishop Moore Catholic High School: 96% college placement, strong in both STEM & humanities
- The Geneva School: Classical education with logic & rhetoric curriculum
- Park Maitland School: Project-based learning, creative early childhood education
Specialized Private School Options
Families seeking alternative or specialized education will find unique options:
- The Christ School: Socratic learning & critical thinking for liberal arts-bound students
- Orlando Science Schools: Tuition-free charter with STEM focus; Intel Science Fair winners
- Circle Christian School: Montessori K–8 approach promoting independence
- Waldorf School of Central Florida: Arts-integrated & screen-free early childhood education
Higher Education Opportunities
High schoolers benefit from proximity to excellent higher ed institutions:
- University of Central Florida: Largest public university in U.S., robust dual enrollment
- Rollins College: Top liberal arts college with early admission tracks
- Valencia College: Nation’s top community college, career & technical pathways
- Full Sail University: Media, entertainment, & digital arts, partners with high schools
- AdventHealth University: Health sciences and nursing with early exposure programs
- Seminole State College & Orlando Tech: CNA, EMT, & healthcare certifications
Special Education and Support Services
Orange County’s ESE program serves over 27,000 students with IEPs and innovative support systems. Private options like The Howard School and The Galileo School serve students with learning differences and twice-exceptional learners through tailored programming and advanced therapies.
Extracurricular Excellence
From STEM to arts to athletics, Orlando schools offer elite extracurricular programs:
- Science Olympiad, Robotics, Mock Trial: Nationally ranked teams
- Debate League: Produces national champions annually
- Performing Arts: Students admitted to Juilliard, RISD, Berklee
- Athletics: Division I talent in swimming, crew, lacrosse, and more
- Youth Orchestras, STEM Camps, Museum Enrichment: Beyond the classroom learning
The Bottom Line for Physician Families
Orlando’s education system delivers what matters most to physician families—academic rigor, personalized attention, and real-world preparation for future leaders. Whether your child aspires to medicine, the arts, engineering, or entrepreneurship, Orlando offers a launchpad of opportunity within supportive and future-focused learning environments.
