The 2026–27 school year for Lake County Schools in Florida begins on Aug. 10 and ends on May 28, 2027.
Parents should note key dates, safety rules in school zones, and digital forms required by the district.
Key calendar dates
School hours and bell schedules
Standard school hours for Lake County Schools vary by grade level. Parents are encouraged to check with their child’s specific campus for any minor variations due to bus routing, but the general schedule is as follows:
Transportation and bus routes
Parents can look up their child’s bus route, stop location, and exact pickup and drop-off times by using the online bus route lookup tool on the district’s website. By entering your home address into the portal at lake.k12.fl.us, you can verify your student’s transportation eligibility and find their designated stops. If you have specific questions or your address doesn’t populate, you can contact the Lake County Schools Transportation Department directly.
Safety and traffic
Drivers must come to a complete stop when approaching a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm.
Texting while driving is strictly banned in all active Lake County school zones.
Starting on the first day of school (Aug. 10), around 220 to 240 Lake County school buses will be equipped with new stop-arm safety cameras. When the stop-arm is extended and warning lights are flashing, the system automatically detects and records vehicles that illegally pass.
From Sept. 9 through Oct. 9, violators caught on bus camera will receive an educational warning notice. After Oct. 9, motorists who illegally pass a stopped school bus will be issued a $225 citation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Costs of school breakfast and lunch
For the upcoming school year, Lake County Schools will provide all students with their first breakfast and lunch at no charge. Students wishing to purchase a second meal will be charged $3.25 for breakfast and $5 for lunch. Adult meals are priced at the same rate as a student’s second meal, costing $3.25 for breakfast and $5 for lunch.
Nutritious breakfasts and lunches are available at all Lake County Schools. Parents can view daily menus, check current meal prices, and load funds onto their student’s lunch account by visiting the district’s Food Services webpage.
Additionally, families who may qualify for the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program are encouraged to apply online before the school year begins. The application is quick, confidential, and can also be found on the Lake County Schools website under the Food Services section and under the Community Eligibility Program tab.
Immunization requirements
Before the school year begins, parents must ensure their child’s immunization records are up to date.
The state requires specific vaccines for students entering school, with additional requirements for students entering the 7th grade (such as the Tdap booster). All vaccines must be documented on the Florida Certification of Immunization (Form DH 680). If you are unsure if your child is up to date, check with your pediatrician or the local Florida Department of Health in Lake County.
Parental rights and digital forms
Parents must complete the digital “Parent Consent for Health Care Services” form via Skyward Family Access to allow school staff to administer minor healthcare services. The district offers parental choice options to restrict specific library media center materials or manage preferred student names via the Focus system.
Before and after-school care
For working parents, Lake County Schools offers an Extended Learning Center (ELC) program at most elementary schools. The ELC provides a safe, supervised environment for students before and after regular school hours. Since spots can fill up quickly and registration is required, parents are encouraged to visit the district’s ELC webpage or contact their child’s school directly for enrollment details and fee schedules.
Dress code guidelines
All students are expected to follow the Lake County Schools dress code policy.
While some schools have specific uniform requirements, the general district policy prohibits clothing that is a safety hazard or a distraction.
Parents can find the full breakdown of acceptable attire, shoe requirements and uniform policies in the Student Code of Conduct or by visiting their specific school’s website.
A list of Lake County Schools and their websites
Elementary
Middle
High
Specialty, Charter and K-8 schools
The information on this page will be updated as needed when and if possible.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: From buses to lunches, info for first day of school in Lake County
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial | USA TODAY Network
