Lake Nona's second public high school opened in 2024, not 2021, and it isn't next to Innovation Middle. Here is what's actually true about it, including a 7:15 a.m. start.

Innovation High School building on Dowden Road in the Meridian Parks area of Lake Nona

By David Myers, Broker Associate · NonaOrlandoProperties.com · Last updated September 2026

Innovation High School is an Orange County Public Schools 9-12 high school at 12401 Dowden Road, Orlando, FL 32832, in the Meridian Parks area. It opened in August 2024 to relieve crowding at Lake Nona High School, and it was OCPS's 23rd traditional high school. It earned an A in 2024-25 and a B in 2025-26. Federal data lists 1,753 students in its first year. School hours are 7:15 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. The mascot is the Bull.

Innovation High is the newest high school in Lake Nona and the third school to carry the "Innovation" name on this side of town. It was built for one reason: Lake Nona High School had grown far beyond what one campus could comfortably hold.

A lot of what's written about it is wrong, including its opening year and its location. Here is what's on the record, and the step every buyer should take before counting on it.

Where is Innovation High School?

Innovation High School is at 12401 Dowden Road, Orlando, FL 32832, in the Meridian Parks area on Lake Nona's northeast side.

The neighborhoods closest to it are Meridian Parks, Storey Park, Randal Park, Randal Walk, East Park, Belle Vie and the Moss Park neighborhoods. Despite the shared name, it is not next to Innovation Middle School, which is on Storey Park Boulevard, or Innovation Elementary, which sits on its own parcel between phases of Storey Park. The three share a part of town, not a campus. Being near a school and being zoned for it are also two different things. See the zoning section below.

Innovation High School at a glance
District Orange County Public Schools (OCPS)
Grades 9th through 12th grade
Opened August 2024
Address 12401 Dowden Road, Orlando, FL 32832
Enrollment 1,753 students (2024-25)
State school grade A (2024-25), B (2025-26)
School hours 7:15 a.m.–2:20 p.m., per the school
Mascot and colors Bulls; crimson and black

When did Innovation High School open, and why?

Innovation High opened in August 2024 as a relief school for Lake Nona High. Descriptions that say 2021, including an earlier version of this post, are wrong.

It opened as OCPS's 23rd traditional high school, located in the Innovation Way corridor east of Orlando International Airport. Its job was to take pressure off Lake Nona High, which had grown into one of the largest high schools in the district. In its first year, federal data lists 1,753 students at Innovation High.

What is Innovation High School's school grade?

Innovation High earned an A in its first year, 2024-25, and a B in 2025-26.

An A in year one was a strong start, and the B that followed is worth knowing about before you buy. Two years is too short a record to call a trend in either direction; next summer's grade will say more. Grades are released every summer and can change. For the current year, check the school's Florida Department of Education report card rather than a listing, a third-party ranking site or this post.

What are the school hours?

Classes run 7:15 a.m. to 2:20 p.m., according to the school.

That is an hour and a half before OCPS elementary schools start at 8:45 a.m., and more than two hours before OCPS middle schools start at 9:30 a.m. A family with a child at each level could be making drop-offs at 7:15, 8:45 and 9:30 on the same morning. Check the district's bell schedule for the current year, including the weekly early-release day, before you plan the routine.

What is the school like day to day?

The school lists athletics, clubs and a range of extracurricular activities, and publishes a curriculum guide each year for course planning.

Families can get involved through the PTSA, the School Advisory Council and ADDitions, the OCPS volunteer program. For course offerings, including advanced and career-focused options, the school's annual curriculum guide is the best source; ask about specific programs when you tour, since a school this new is still adding them.

Is my home zoned for Innovation High School?

Check the exact address on the OCPS Find My School tool. High school zones are drawn separately from elementary and middle school zones.

Innovation High's zone was carved out of Lake Nona High's, and OCPS continues to adjust high school boundaries as the area grows. A home near Innovation High is not automatically zoned for it, and an Innovation Middle student is not automatically assigned to Innovation High. Check all three levels, elementary, middle and high, for any address you are considering.

Before you buy: look up the exact address on OCPS Find My School, save a dated screenshot, and look it up again close to closing. If a particular school is a deal-breaker, tell your agent at the start so it shapes the search.

What other high schools are in Lake Nona?

Lake Nona has two public high schools: Innovation High and Lake Nona High.

If you are comparing, look at Lake Nona High School, the older and larger of the two. The full list of public, private and charter options is on our Lake Nona schools hub.

The Honest Version: Pros, Cons and Our Take

Pros

  • An A in its first year, 2024-25.
  • The newest high school campus in Lake Nona, opened in 2024.
  • Close to Meridian Parks, Storey Park and the Randal Park area.

Cons

  • A B in 2025-26, down from an A the year before.
  • Only two years of history. Traditions, alumni networks and some programs are still being built.
  • A 7:15 a.m. start, which is early for teenagers and doesn't line up with elementary or middle school schedules.
  • A large school from day one: 1,753 students in its first year.
  • Its zone was drawn from Lake Nona High's and may change again as the area grows.

Our Take: Innovation High started with an A and followed it with a B, which is too short a record to judge either way. Judge it on a tour and the curriculum guide, confirm the address on Find My School for all three levels, and plan your mornings around three different start times if you have kids in more than one school.

What the Neighbors Know

On Lake Nona's northeast side, "Innovation" is three schools on three sites, each with its own zone and its own bell.

Families in Meridian Parks, Storey Park and the Randal Park area now have an elementary, a middle and a high school with the same name nearby, but not on the same campus and not in the same zone automatically. The neighbors who handle it well check every level for the exact address and plan around three start times. If you are looking at homes near the school, start with our Meridian Parks, Storey Park, Randal Park and Belle Vie pages.

Official Sources

Looking at homes near Innovation High School, or anywhere else in Lake Nona? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form. I'll check the school assignments for every address on your list before you fall for one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Innovation High School?

Innovation High School is at 12401 Dowden Road, Orlando, FL 32832, in the Meridian Parks area on Lake Nona's northeast side. The nearest neighborhoods are Meridian Parks, Storey Park, Randal Park, Randal Walk, East Park, Belle Vie and the Moss Park neighborhoods.

When did Innovation High School open?

It opened in August 2024 to relieve crowding at Lake Nona High School. Some older descriptions, including an earlier version of this post, say 2021, which is wrong.

What is Innovation High School's school grade?

Innovation High earned an A in its first year, 2024-25, and a B in 2025-26. Grades are released each summer; the school's Florida Department of Education report card shows the current one.

Is Innovation High next to Innovation Middle School?

No. Innovation High is on Dowden Road and Innovation Middle is on Storey Park Boulevard. They share a name and a part of town, not a campus.

What are the school hours at Innovation High?

7:15 a.m. to 2:20 p.m., per the school. That is an hour and a half earlier than OCPS elementary schools and more than two hours earlier than OCPS middle schools.

How many students attend Innovation High School?

Federal data lists 1,753 students in its first year, 2024-25.

Is my home zoned for Innovation High School?

Check the exact address on the OCPS Find My School tool. High school zones are drawn separately from elementary and middle school zones, and OCPS redraws them as new schools open.