Bill Duncan Opportunity Center: Top High School in Lakeland (2026 List)

About Bill Duncan Opportunity Center

Bill Duncan Opportunity Center is a specialized public high school in Lakeland, Florida, that serves students in grades 6 through 12. It is one of the 44 high schools in the Polk County Public Schools district and has about 157 students. It offers a structured and supportive learning environment. The school has a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, which means that each student gets a lot of one-on-one attention. 62% of the students are minorities, and 74% of the students come from low-income families. The school focuses on core growth in academics, with only 14% of students being good at math and 10% being good at reading. Bill Duncan Opportunity Center is one of the best schools because it is dedicated to helping students improve their behavior and academics. The district spends an average of $10,883 per student. It is known as one of the best schools for giving students a unique environment that helps them build resilience and get ready to go back to regular school, and it is one of the best high schools in Florida.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 14%

Reading 10%

State average proficiency is 14% in Math and 10% in Reading.

10

Full-time Teachers

9 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

85

Total Students

$66972

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 37.65%

Asian 0%

Hispanic 14.12%

Black 43.53%

Two+ Races 4.71%

Native Am. 0%

White

37.65%

Asian

0%

Hispanic

14.12%

Black

43.53%

Two+ Races

4.71%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 85

24.71%

21 Female

75.29%

64 Male

Student Population

85 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 9 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

42 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Bill Duncan Opportunity Center Contact Information

Address

3333 WINTER LAKE RD, LAKELAND, FL, 33803

View on Map

Phone

(863) 499-2860

Call Now

Website

http://schools.polk-fl.net/bdoc/

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:20 AM to 1:27 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:05 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

The center recently held the 32nd annual About-Face Awards to honor students who did a great job of improving their grades and behavior during the 2024–2025 school year. The school will put more focus on Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways as part of its new academic programs. Students will be able to take specialized classes in starting a business, robotics, and making digital videos. The campus is holding regular college planning workshops and giving students extra help with their Florida Bright Futures Scholarship applications to help them get ready for college.

FAQ

Q1. What kinds of programs for careers are there?

Ans. Programs include skilled trades, healthcare, IT, culinary arts, and other paths that lead to jobs.

Q2. How does Bill Duncan Opportunity Center keep things positive?

Ans. A safe and productive learning environment is built on respect, accountability, and inclusion.

Q3. Are there arts and creative programs at Bill Duncan Opportunity Center?

Ans. Yes, students can take part in programs for visual arts, music, and performing arts.

Q4. Do students get help with standardized tests?

Ans. Yes. Yes, of course! The school has resources to help students get ready for the SAT and ACT tests.

Q5. Do they use traditional periods or block scheduling at Bill Duncan Opportunity Center?

Ans. Bill Duncan Opportunity Center has a traditional schedule with the same class rotations every day.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say