BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER

Located at 3333 WINTER LAKE RD, in LAKELAND, Florida, BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER is a micro-enrollment senior high that serves 87 students (grades 6 through 12), overseen by POLK. By comparison, Florida's public schools average about 1,035 students each, so BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER sits 92% leaner than that benchmark.

Across the 163 schools in POLK (116,552 students total), BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On the student-mix side, BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER shows that the largest single group is Black at 39%, but no single group is in the majority. Other groups include 34% Hispanic, 24% White, 2% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 15% Black, putting the school's mix noticeably more Black than the area baseline.

On the income-and-resources front, The school currently runs with 12 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 7.3:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 23.5:1, putting BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 87% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. By comparison, Polk County runs at roughly 65%, so the school's eligibility rate is meaningfully above the surrounding baseline.

In the surrounding community, Polk County reports that the typical household earns roughly $65,978 per year, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. In all, Polk County runs 172 public schools (combined enrollment of about 117,004 students), of which BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER is one.

The closest other public school is MAYNARD A TRAVISS TECHNICAL ACADEMY, roughly 0.2 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The school occupies an outlying site.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER has edged up 135%, going from 37 students in 2018 to 87 in 2025. Over the same period, the Hispanic share edged up from 27% to 34%. The student-to-teacher ratio widened from 2.3:1 in 2018 to 7.3:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.