Orange County Public Schools · 32801 / 32803 / 32806 · Urban Core
Downtown Orlando
Schools by District
Downtown Orlando spans three ZIP codes with distinct OCPS zones. SoDo's Boone High (A-rated, Law/Justice magnet) is the strongest pipeline. Thornton Park and Lake Eola Heights offer Lake Como K-8 arts integration. Always verify by address.
3
ZIP zones, different OCPS
A
Boone High (32806)
K-8
Lake Como arts · Blankner
Charter
Lake Eola K-8 lottery
Downtown Orlando buyers are primarily adults without school-age children — the urban lifestyle drives the purchase
High-rise condos, Thornton Park bungalows, and SoDo townhomes attract young professionals, couples, and investors rather than school-focused families. For those who are buying with children, the SoDo (32806) zone offers Boone High's A rating and magnet program — the strongest individual OCPS option in the downtown core. Families who prioritize OCPS's top schools typically target Baldwin Park, Winter Park, or Dr. Phillips once they need that level of school performance.
School profile by sub-neighborhood
SoDo / 32806 · High School
A-rated MagnetBoone High School
A-rated OCPS campus with Law, Criminal Justice, and Finance magnet programming. The strongest urban OCPS high school pipeline in the downtown core. SoDo and Delaney Park addresses zone directly to Boone. Blankner K-8 feeds this pipeline. The best school story in downtown's 32806 corridor.
Thornton Park / Lake Eola Hts · K-8
Lake Como K-8 School
Serves many 32803 addresses. Arts integration curriculum — visual arts, music, and performance woven into core subjects. The K-8 model means students stay on one campus through 8th grade. High school is either Edgewater or Boone depending on the specific street address in 32803.
CBD / Lake Eola Core · K-8
Charter · LotteryLake Eola Charter School
A K-8 charter school within OCPS serving the downtown high-rise corridor. Charter model means publicly funded but admission via lottery — not guaranteed even for in-zone residents. A referenced option for CBD buyers with families, but the lottery constraint is a real practical limitation.
Zone lookup by sub-neighborhood
School zone varies significantly by ZIP within downtown. Always verify at OCPS Find My School before closing.
| Sub-Neighborhood | K-8 School | Middle (if not K-8) | High School |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD / Lake Eola high-rises (32801) | Lake Eola Charter K-8 (lottery) | Lake Eola Charter K-8 | Edgewater / Boone / verify |
| Thornton Park (32803) | Lake Como K-8 / verify | Lake Como K-8 | Edgewater / Boone / verify |
| Lake Eola Heights (32803) | Lake Como K-8 / verify | Lake Como K-8 | Edgewater / Boone / verify |
| SoDo / Delaney Park (32806) | Blankner K-8 | Blankner K-8 | Boone High School (A) |
| Milk District / Hourglass (32806) | Blankner K-8 / verify | Blankner K-8 / verify | Boone High / verify |
School FAQs — Downtown Orlando
What schools serve downtown Orlando FL?
Downtown Orlando spans several OCPS zones across ZIP codes 32801, 32803, and 32806. Lake Eola Charter School (K-8) serves the downtown core. Thornton Park and Lake Eola Heights (32803) fall under Lake Como K-8 (arts integration) and feed Edgewater High or Boone High. SoDo (32806) is served by Blankner K-8 and feeds Boone High School (A-rated, Law/Criminal Justice/Finance magnet). The Milk District (32806) also feeds Boone High. Each sub-neighborhood has a different OCPS assignment — always verify at OCPS Find My School for any specific address.
Are downtown Orlando schools good?
Downtown Orlando is primarily purchased by young professionals, singles, and couples without school-age children — high-rise condo buyers, urban lifestyle buyers, and investors. For families, the school zone varies meaningfully by sub-district: SoDo's Boone High zone (A-rated, magnet) is the strongest urban OCPS pipeline in the downtown core. Thornton Park and Lake Eola Heights offer Lake Como K-8 arts integration. The CBD high-rise core (32801) feeds Lake Eola Charter K-8 and various assignments. None of these zones match the southwest OCPS corridor (Dr. Phillips, Windermere) — families who prioritize school ratings typically move to Baldwin Park, Winter Park, or the southwest corridor when children arrive.
What is Lake Eola Charter School?
Lake Eola Charter School is a K-8 charter school within OCPS serving the downtown Orlando core, specifically the CBD and Lake Eola Heights corridor. It is a charter campus — meaning it operates with more autonomy than traditional OCPS schools but is publicly funded. Charter school admission involves a lottery process, which means downtown residents are not guaranteed a seat even if they live in the zone. Lake Eola Charter K-8 is a widely referenced option for downtown buyers with families, but the lottery process is a practical limitation to factor into purchasing decisions.
What is Boone High School's magnet program?
Boone High School serves the SoDo (32806) and Delaney Park corridor south of downtown. It is an A-rated OCPS campus with a magnet program in Criminal Justice, Law, and Finance. The magnet is competitive for out-of-zone students but SoDo/Delaney Park residents are zoned directly. Boone is consistently one of OCPS's stronger urban high schools — a meaningful differentiator for buyers specifically in the 32806 ZIP code.
Are there private school options near downtown Orlando FL?
Downtown Orlando's central location puts it within 15-20 minutes of several private options. Trinity Preparatory School (Winter Park, ~15 minutes) is the flagship K-12 private option from this corridor. The First Academy (PK-12, Dr. Phillips, ~20 minutes) is the largest faith-based option. The Christ School operates K-8 near the downtown corridor. Orangewood Christian School (Maitland, ~20 minutes) is another established K-12 option. Given that most downtown buyers don't have school-age children, private school demand in the core is lower than in suburban family markets — but the options are accessible from downtown's central location.
School zone expertise
Downtown Orlando's school zone depends entirely on which sub-neighborhood — and which specific address.
The difference between 32801, 32803, and 32806 is a real school zone difference. Ryan verifies the exact OCPS assignment for any downtown address and can explain what Boone's magnet means vs Lake Como K-8 arts for your specific priorities.