Hunter's Creek Middle School: Dual Language, Project Lead the Way, and What Families Need to Know
Inside the standout STEM and bilingual programs at one of southwest Orlando's top-performing middle schools
Hunter's Creek Middle School (HCMS) is a public middle school in Orange County Public Schools, located at 13400 Town Loop Blvd, Orlando, FL 32837, serving grades 6–8 with approximately 1,057 students. The school operates as an OCPS magnet school offering a Two-Way Dual Language program in Spanish and English and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Gateway STEM curriculum. It is designated a Florida School of Excellence and an "A" school by the Florida Department of Education. School hours are 9:28 a.m. to 4:04 p.m., and the main phone number is 407-858-4620.
If you're relocating to the southwest Orlando area and you have a middle schooler in tow, Hunter's Creek Middle School is one name that's going to come up fast — and for good reason. This isn't just your average neighborhood school. HCMS brings two genuinely rare program offerings to the table: a Two-Way Dual Language magnet and Project Lead The Way STEM curriculum. In a metro area packed with school choices, those are differentiators worth paying attention to.
Here's the thing — families moving to communities like Hunter's Creek, Kissimmee, or nearby Celebration often have a lot of school options to sort through. So let's break down exactly what makes HCMS stand out, what the programs actually involve, and what the school experience looks like day-to-day.
The Quick Stats
Hunter's Creek Middle sits in the Hunter's Creek community of southwest Orange County, just off Town Loop Boulevard. Dr. Phillips is to the northwest. For the 2024–2025 school year, HCMS enrolled approximately 1,057 students in grades 6–8 with a student-to-teacher ratio of around 15:1. The school carries Florida "A" school and School of Excellence designations — clear indicators that academics here are taken seriously.
The student body is notably diverse: roughly 67% Hispanic or Latino, 17% White, 6% Asian, and 5% Black. That linguistic and cultural mix is the engine that makes the dual language program particularly vibrant.
The Two-Way Dual Language Magnet Program
This is the headline program at HCMS, and it's one that draws students from well beyond the immediate neighborhood. The Two-Way Dual Language magnet is a designated OCPS magnet program — meaning families anywhere in Orange County can apply through the district's School Choice process during the annual application window.
Here's what makes it "two-way": the program is designed for students who already have strong Spanish literacy skills. The goal isn't to teach Spanish from scratch — it's to develop full biliteracy in both Spanish and English by teaching academic content in both languages simultaneously. Students don't just get conversational fluency; they get academic subject mastery in two languages, which is a more rigorous and career-relevant achievement.
The school's program coordinator, Mrs. Dominguez Lozada, oversees the program. Admission requires a School Choice application through OCPS — there's no test-in requirement, but demonstrated Spanish background is needed to succeed in content-heavy Spanish-medium instruction.
For families with heritage Spanish speakers, this program is especially compelling. Instead of a student's home language becoming a secondary skill that fades over time, HCMS actively builds on it — creating graduates who are academically credentialed in both languages. That's a real-world economic and professional advantage, particularly in Central Florida's bilingual workforce. For more on schools across the area, check out our Kissimmee schools guide.
Project Lead The Way: STEM That Actually Sticks
Project Lead The Way — or PLTW, as most educators call it — is a nationally recognized STEM curriculum that operates in thousands of schools across the country. At the middle school level, the program goes by PLTW Gateway, and it's structured around nine-week project-based units that cover engineering, computer science, and biomedical concepts.
What sets PLTW apart from a standard "intro to computers" class is the depth of the projects. Students aren't just watching videos or filling out worksheets. In the Design and Modeling unit, students use Autodesk 3D CAD software — the same type used by professional engineers — to design solutions to real-world problems. In Automation and Robotics, they build and program functioning robotic systems. The medical detectives unit has students analyzing data to diagnose simulated disease outbreaks. These are serious, career-adjacent experiences happening at the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade level.
The practical upshot: students who complete PLTW Gateway arrive in high school with genuine exposure to engineering workflows, computational thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. That's a meaningful head start for those who continue into PLTW Engineering, Computer Science, or Biomedical Science sequences in high school — all offered at various OCPS high schools and eligible for college credit through articulation agreements.
Other Academic Highlights
Beyond the two signature programs, HCMS offers a solid core experience. Math placements range from 6th grade standards through Honors Geometry — a high-school-credit course — for advanced learners. Science covers Earth, Space, Life, and Physical Science across the three grade levels. World Languages offers tiered Spanish instruction from beginner through "Spanish for Spanish Speakers" high-school-credit courses. Social Studies moves through World History (6th), Civics (7th), and U.S. History (8th).
The arts program includes both performing and visual arts, and the school holds a Florida Power Library designation. HCMS also maintains a strong ELL program that aligns naturally with the dual language mission. The active PTSA and ADDitions volunteer program reflect the level of family engagement you'd hope to find at a school like this.
Location, Commute, and Enrollment Logistics
The school sits at 13400 Town Loop Blvd in the heart of the Hunter's Creek community, which places it conveniently for families throughout southwestern Orange County. The Hunters Creek Town Center is just around the corner, making after-school pickup and errands genuinely convenient.
For families in nearby communities — including parts of Kissimmee or Celebration — the magnet programs are open via OCPS School Choice, though transportation to magnet placements outside your home school zone is typically not provided. Families should confirm arrangements during the application process.
School hours run from 9:28 a.m. to 4:04 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with an earlier 2:30 p.m. dismissal on Wednesdays. Office hours extend from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The main number is 407-858-4620, and the school's principal is Mrs. Joumana Moukaddam. For those browsing the broader southwestern Orange County real estate market, our Kissimmee schools guide and Celebration schools guide offer additional context on OCPS and Osceola County schools nearby.
What the Locals Know
Hunter's Creek Middle isn't the loudest name in the Orlando school conversation, but families who land here tend to be happy about it. The dual language program is a genuine rarity at the middle school level in Orange County — most bilingual program options phase out by this grade band, so HCMS offers real continuity for students from dual language elementary programs. And PLTW Gateway gives STEM-curious kids real tools and real projects, not just a certificate of participation.
If you're a family with heritage Spanish speakers, or a kid who can't stop asking how things work, this school deserves a serious look. The "A" school rating and School of Excellence designation reflect consistent academic performance across a diverse student body — the kind of culture that tends to serve relocating families well.
For more information about programs, enrollment, and magnet application windows, visit the official Hunter's Creek Middle School website.
Exploring southwestern Orange County communities? Browse our Hunter's Creek homes for sale and Kissimmee homes for sale pages, or check out our Kissimmee schools guide for a broader look at education options in Osceola County. Questions? Contact us for personalized relocation guidance.
