Kathleen Senior High School: Top High School in Lakeland, FL (2026 List)

About Kathleen Senior High School

In Lakeland, Florida, Kathleen Senior High School is a well-known public high school. It has about 1,940 students in grades 9 through 12. It is a key school in the Polk County Public Schools district and is known for its many academic options, including Advanced Placement classes and career academies. The school has a 33% participation rate in AP classes, which pushes students to take on college-level work. The student body is very diverse. 68% of the students are minorities and 68% come from families with low incomes. Based on performance data, 33% of students are good at reading and 17% are good at math. Kathleen Senior High School is one of the best schools for teaching students how to work and how to be proud of their school. The school gets $10,883 per student from the district and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 19:1. The best things about it are its specialized magnet programs and the fact that the teachers are dedicated and work hard to prepare students for a wide range of college and career options, and it is one of the best high schools in Florida.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 17%

Reading 33%

State average proficiency is 17% in Math and 33% in Reading.

85

Full-time Teachers

23 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

6

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

1951

Total Students

$66972

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 31.78%

Asian 1.13%

Hispanic 41.82%

Black 22.35%

Two+ Races 2.36%

Native Am. 0.46%

White

31.78%

Asian

1.13%

Hispanic

41.82%

Black

22.35%

Two+ Races

2.36%

Native Am.

0.46%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 1951

42.8%

835 Female

57.2%

1116 Male

Student Population

1951 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 23 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

390 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Kathleen Senior High School Contact Information

Address

1100 RED DEVIL WAY, LAKELAND, FL, 33815

View on Map

Phone

(863) 499-2655

Call Now

Website

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

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

Kathleen Senior High School achieved a significant academic milestone this year as its graduation rate increased by 7.8 percentage points, reaching a new high of 86.8% for the 2024–2025 school year. The campus is also currently preparing to celebrate the Class of 2026 with an official graduation ceremony scheduled for May 20 at the R.P. Funding Center. Beyond traditional academics, the school’s theatre department and Improvisation Troupe continue to gain recognition for their live performances at community events, while the Central Florida Aerospace Academy provides students with specialized, hands-on training for high-tech aviation careers.

FAQ

Q1. Are there advanced classes available?

Ans. Yes, of course! Honors and AP classes at Kathleen Senior High School push students to think critically and do their best work.

Q2. 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.

Q3. Are students able to look into more than one career path?

Ans. Yes, Kathleen Senior High School has a lot of different programs that help students find out what they're good at and what they like.

Q4. Does Kathleen Senior High School support professional growth?

Ans. Yes, students learn how to communicate, work as a team, and solve problems, which are all important skills for any job.

Q5. What does Kathleen Senior High School do to help students get ready for life after graduation?

Ans. College planning, mentoring, and skill-building programs help students move on to higher education, vocational paths, or jobs.

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