George W. Jenkins Senior High: Top High School in Lakeland (2026 List)

About George W. Jenkins Senior High

George W. Jenkins Senior High is a well-known public high school in Lakeland, Florida. It has about 2,330 students in grades 9 through 12. As one of the best schools in the Polk County Public Schools district, it has a challenging academic environment where students can take Advanced Placement classes. The school has a great AP participation rate of 41%. The school has a lot of different kinds of students. 53% of them are minorities, and 46% of them are low-income. The performance data shows that they have a strong academic foundation, with a Reading Proficiency of 47% and a Mathematics Proficiency of 30%. George W. Jenkins Senior High is a top-performing school with a student-to-teacher ratio of 22:1 and a district spending of $10,883 per student. People say it's one of the best schools in the area because it has high academic standards, competitive sports, and a wide range of extracurricular activities, and it is one of the best high schools in Florida.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 30%

Reading 47%

State average proficiency is 30% in Math and 47% in Reading.

112

Full-time Teachers

22 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

5

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

2517

Total Students

$66972

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 47.2%

Asian 3.22%

Hispanic 30%

Black 15.73%

Two+ Races 3.38%

Native Am. 0.24%

White

47.2%

Asian

3.22%

Hispanic

30%

Black

15.73%

Two+ Races

3.38%

Native Am.

0.24%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 2517

51.53%

1297 Female

48.47%

1220 Male

Student Population

2517 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 22 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

419 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

George W. Jenkins Senior High Contact Information

Address

6000 LAKELAND HIGHLANDS RD, LAKELAND, FL, 33813

View on Map

Phone

(863) 648-3566

Call Now

Website

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

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: 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 6:45 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 Eagles won both the boys' and girls' team titles at the 2026 Polk County Track and Field Championships this spring. This was a big goal for the school's athletic department. Several students have also won Silver Garland awards for doing great work in fields like aerospace and cybersecurity. The campus has also started a "Competition BBQ Team," which lets students cook and learn useful business skills by taking part in events in the community.

FAQ

Q1. Are students able to look into STEM options?

Ans. Yes, there are science, technology, engineering, and math programs that let students learn through practical activities.

Q2. Are there programs that help kids stay fit?

Ans. Of course! George W. Jenkins Senior High helps students' mental, emotional, and social health by giving them counseling and wellness programs.

Q3. Do students have lockers in George W. Jenkins Senior High?

Ans. Yes, students are given lockers in the hallways at the start of the school year.

Q4. Can students take the SAT and ACT?

Ans. Yes, George W. Jenkins Senior High lets students who want to go to college take both the SAT and the ACT.

Q5. Does George W. Jenkins Senior High encourage people to get involved in their community?

Ans. Yes, students can help out with community programs and volunteer projects to learn about civic duty.

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.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say