Lakeland

Lakeland is located in northeastern Shelby County along Interstate 40, between Memphis and Arlington. The community has grown significantly in recent years; Lakeland’s estimated population of 12,430 is up from 6,862 in 2000. The current population has a median age of 37.7 with 2.79 people per household. Lakeland’s median household income is $75,974, well above Shelby County’s median income of $44,176. Lakeland is a new community when compared to other Memphis suburbs; the 1980 population stood at just over 600 for the community that once was home to the Lakeland Amusement Park.

Lakeland has received numerous accolades in recent years. It was one of only four communities to receive a perfect 10 from GreatSchools, ranking in the top three cities for young families in Tennessee. In 2015 the Lakeland School System was named an exemplary district by the Tennessee Department of Education, one of only 12 of 142 school systems in the state to receive the designation that year. SmartAsset ranked Lakeland among the top 10 most affordable places to live in Tennessee. Career and lifestyle website Zippia.com named Lakeland among the top 10 most successful cities in Tennessee based on median household income, unemployment and other factors. And Movoto.com named Lakeland the top Memphis suburb for families in 2015 and among the top 10 most affordable cities in Tennessee in 2014.

The Lakeland School System was established in December 2013 to serve students who live in the city of Lakeland. Lakeland students also attend schools in the nearby community of Arlington, thanks to an agreement with Arlington Community Schools. Schools in the Lakeland School System include Lakeland Elementary School and Lakeland Middle Preparatory School, which opens in fall 2017. Students who live in Lakeland are zoned to Arlington’s Donelson Elementary, Arlington Middle and Arlington High schools.