For families moving to the U.S.—especially to Orlando—selecting the right school is just as important as finding the right home. At Mila Realty, a leader in Orlando property management, we often help families navigate school zoning while settling into a new home.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to understanding the U.S. public school system and evaluating school options based on your address:
Understanding the U.S. School System
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Elementary School (Grades K–5): Ages 5–11
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Middle School (Grades 6–8): Ages 11–14
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High School (Grades 9–12): Ages 14–18
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Some areas have K–8 schools, combining both elementary and middle levels.
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Charter and Magnet schools offer alternatives, but admission is limited and not guaranteed based on address.
Step-by-Step School Research Process
1. Start with Zillow
Use Zillow to get an idea of school ratings in neighborhoods you’re considering. However, school boundaries shown on Zillow may not be accurate.
2. Identify Your County
In Orlando, properties may fall into Orange County, Seminole County, or Osceola County. Use getzips.com to determine your ZIP code and its corresponding county
3. Use the County’s School Locator Tool
Each county has its zoning map or address-based school assignment tool. Search “[County] school zone locator” to find the correct schools for a given address. We used Google to search. For example,
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Orange County: https://www.ocps.net/departments/student_enrollment/find_my_school
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Osceola County: https://www.osceolaschools.net/
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Seminole County: https://www.scps.k12.fl.us/82588_3
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Lake County: https://www.lake.k12.fl.us/page/school-locator
4. Check the Quality of Assigned Schools
There are several platforms worth using for researching schools:
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Niche.com offers general ratings and diversity scores. However, be cautious, as an A+ rating may reflect diversity more than academic performance.
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GreatSchools.org focuses on academics and parent reviews. When looking for highly rated schools, it’s important to read reviews carefully, as some parents mention high pressure on students and even bullying
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SchoolDigger.com emphasizes test scores and state rankings.
I like this website because it is the most convenient way to view academic results. It also shows the school’s position in the overall ranking across the entire state: 1451st place out of all 2118 elementary schools in Florida. That’s bad.
As you can see, the realtor in this case tried to mislead.
Indeed, at the address “4540 Messina Dr, Lake Mary, FL 32746,” there is a small chance of getting into the decent Lake Mary Elementary School, but the much higher probability is of ending up in the poor Wicklow Elementary.
School Digger is also interesting because it allows you to compare different counties and neighborhoods by sorting them according to school ratings. You can find the best schools across various categories, etc.
With its help, you can select several ZIP codes for which you can then look for rentals or sales on Zillow or Craigslist.
For example, you can look at the ranking of school districts across Florida
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when moving with children, but with research and support from local experts like Mila Realty, you can make informed decisions that meet your family’s needs.
Need help with school zones and home rentals in Orlando? Contact Mila Realty—your trusted partner in Orlando property management.
Alex Kimen
