General Information

School Information:

Lawton Chiles Middle Academy
400 N. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: 863-499-2742

School Hours:

8:00am -3:00pm

THE HISTORY OF LAWTON CHILES

Lawton Chiles Middle Academy is housed in one of Lakeland's most iconic buildings.

The building was built in 1927 as Lakeland High School. LCMA's namesake, Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, graduated from LHS in 1948.

The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. In the mid-1990s, it housed Lakeland Middle Academy. In 1999, following Chiles' death, the name of the school was changed to Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in response to the community's desire to honor Gov. Chiles.

In 2012, LCMA became the first middle school in Polk County to earn the International Baccalaureate designation.

Old Lakeland High School PlaqueOld School International Baccalaureate

Mission Statement:

We are an internationally-minded community committed to fostering curious minds in an educational environment that produces resilient, respectful and empathetic students, empowering them to exemplify academic integrity and exhibit responsiveness to our ever-changing global community.

Vision Statement:2023 Student Group Picture

The Lawton Chiles Middle Academy family, consisting of students, faculty, staff, parents, and the community are partners in guiding our students' education by:

  • Developing a high interest in all academic areas with an emphasis on math, science, and technology;
  • Enabling students to maximize the development of their talents in music and the arts;
  • Providing a safe and orderly environment that is student-centered;
  • Promoting high expectations academically, socially and technologically;
  • Equipping students to work at their highest capability;
  • Stressing verbal and written communication;
  • Focusing on the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills;
  • Integrating real-world situations into the classrooms;
  • Encouraging an acceptance of cultural differences, ideas, feelings and talents through cooperative learning and social skills development;
  • Linking technology to learning in the classroom and developing proficiency in computer usage; and
  • Demonstrating strong parent support and commitment for the education of their child.