Palm Lake Elementary continued its strong academic performance through the current school year, with math proficiency of 66% and reading proficiency of 62%, both well above the Florida state average. The school participated in the OCPS Let's Read reading challenge and Black History Month showcase. Palm Lake's 14:1 student-teacher ratio and Gifted and Talented program remain core features of the campus that families in the Dr. Phillips area specifically seek out. The school's 42 teachers serve 604 students at 8000 Pin Oak Drive in one of Orlando's more established southwest residential communities.

Q1. Does Palm Lake Elementary have a GATE program?

Ans. Palm Lake Elementary does offer a Gifted and Talented program through Orange County Public Schools. The school's math proficiency of 66% and reading proficiency of 62%, both well above the Florida state average, indicate a strong overall academic environment that supports gifted learners. Families should speak with the classroom teacher to begin the referral in the fall.

Q2. What makes Palm Lake Elementary's academic profile distinctive?

Ans. Palm Lake Elementary's proficiency scores significantly exceed both the OCPS district average and the statewide average in both math and reading. The school's student-teacher ratio, among the lowest in OCPS, means students receive more individualized instruction than at many larger campuses in the district. That combination of smaller class sizes and strong academic results makes Palm Lake Elementary a destination school for many families in the Dr. Phillips and southwest Orlando area.

Q3. What after-school programs does Palm Lake Elementary offer?

Ans. Palm Lake Elementary participates in OCPS after-school extended learning programs.

Q4. How does Palm Lake Elementary communicate with families?

Ans. Palm Lake Elementary uses ParentSquare for school-wide communications and the official school website through the OCPS directory for news and resources. The school participates in OCPS's Let's Read challenge and district-wide family engagement programming throughout the school year.

Q5. What middle school do Palm Lake Elementary students attend?

Ans. Palm Lake Elementary students typically continue to Southwest Middle School or another OCPS middle school serving the Dr. Phillips and Pin Oak Drive corridor, then on to Dr. Phillips High School. Families should confirm the current feeder assignment with OCPS enrollment, as zone boundaries in the southwest Orlando area can shift.