POLK

Florida · Public School District

162

Schools

113,461

Students

$12,028

Per-Pupil Spend

-16% nat'l

52.1%

Free Lunch Rate

≈ nat'l avg

86.7%

Graduation Rate

≈ nat'l avg

District Overview

POLK is a public school district in Florida serving 113,461 students across 162 schools. It includes 83 elementary, 26 middle, 38 high schools, among them 31 charter schools. Its graduation rate of 86.7% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,028 is below the national average for a US public school district. 52% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 37/100.

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All Schools (162)

Elementary Schools83 schools

School	Grades	Students
ALTA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	769
ALTURAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	350
AUBURNDALE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	383
BARTOW ELEMENTARY ACADEMY	KG–05	518
BELLA CITTA	PK–06	940
BERKLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCharter	PK–05	696
BETHUNE ACADEMY	PK–05	428
CARLTON PALMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	465
CHAIN OF LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	1,130
CITRUS RIDGE A CIVICS ACADEMY	PK–08	1,457
CLARENCE BOSWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	636
CLEVELAND COURT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KG–05	393
COMBEE ACADEMY OF DESIGN AND ENGINEERING	PK–05	551
CRYSTAL LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	409
CYPRESS JUNCTION MONTESSORICharter	PK–08	196
DALE R FAIR BABSON PARK ELEMENTARYCharter	KG–05	472
DAVENPORT ELEMENTARY	PK–05	786
DAVENPORT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS	PK–08	1,168
DIXIELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	KG–05	330
DR. NE ROBERTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	691
DUNDEE ELEMENTARY ACADEMY	PK–05	653
EAGLE LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	697
EASTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	615
EDGAR L. PADGETT ELEMENTARY	PK–05	529
ELBERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	601
FLORAL AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	611
FRANK E. BRIGHAM ACADEMY	PK–05	564
FRED G. GARNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	901
FROSTPROOF BEN HILL GRIFFIN JR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	917
GARDEN GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	723
GRIFFIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	379
HARTRIDGE ACADEMYCharter	KG–05	201
HIGHLAND CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	425
HIGHLANDS GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	731
HILLCREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCharter	PK–05	662
HORIZONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	1,468
INWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	298
JAMES E. STEPHENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	356
JAMES W. SIKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	563
JANIE HOWARD WILSON SCHOOLCharter	PK–05	448
JESSE KEEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	649
JEWETT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS	PK–08	679
JOHN SNIVELY ELEMENTARY	PK–05	399
KATHLEEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	489
LAKE ALFRED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	821
LAKE SHIPP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	628
LAKELAND MONTESSORI SCHOOL HOUSECharter	KG–06	110
LAUREL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	1,058
LENA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	975
LEWIS ANNA WOODBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	525
LINCOLN AVENUE ACADEMY	KG–05	526
LOUGHMAN OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	1,052
MAGNOLIA MONTESSORI ACADEMYCharter	KG–08	171
MCKEEL ACADEMY CENTRALCharter	PK–06	610
MEDULLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	515
MI ESCUELA MONTESSORICharter	PK–05	202
NAVIGATOR ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP DAVENPORTCharter	KG–08	874
NORTH LAKELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF CHOICE	PK–05	644
OSCAR J. POPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	410
PALMETTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	513
PHILIP O'BRIEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	627
PINEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	709
POLK AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCharter	PK–05	531
POLK CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	606
PURCELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	516
R. BRUCE WAGNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	946
R. CLEM CHURCHWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	708
ROCHELLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS	PK–08	803
ROSABELLE W. BLAKE ACADEMY	PK–08	642
SANDHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	991
SCOTT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	727
SLEEPY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	739
SOCRUM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	546
SOUTH MCKEEL ACADEMYCharter	PK–06	1,200
SOUTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	382
SPESSARD L HOLLAND ELEMENTARY	PK–05	766
SPOOK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	584
VALLEYVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	861
WAHNETA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	507
WALTER CALDWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	895
WENDELL WATSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	PK–05	875
WILLOW OAK SCHOOL	PK–05	905
WINSTON ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING	PK–05	506

Middle Schools26 schools

School	Grades	Students
BARTOW MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	1,046
BERKLEY ACCELERATED MIDDLE SCHOOLCharter	06–10	623
BOK ACADEMYCharter	06–08	611
COMPASS MIDDLE CHARTER SCHOOLCharter	05–08	153
CRYSTAL LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	949
DANIEL JENKINS ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	516
DENISON MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	738
DISCOVERY ACADEMY OF LAKE ALFREDCharter	06–08	911
DUNDEE RIDGE MIDDLE ACADEMY	06–08	773
EDWARD W BOK ACADEMY NORTHCharter	06–08	615
JERE L. STAMBAUGH MIDDLE	06–08	1,127
JEWETT MIDDLE ACADEMY MAGNET	06–08	584
KATHLEEN MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	821
LAKE ALFRED POLYTECH ACADEMY	06–08	645
LAKE GIBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	1,218
LAKE MARION CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	1,044
LAKELAND HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	1,265
LAKELAND MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOLCharter	06–08	30
LAWTON CHILES MIDDLE ACADEMY	06–08	649
MCLAUGHLIN ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE	06–10	542
MULBERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	1,200
SHELLEY S. BOONE MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	1,403
SLEEPY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	1,090
SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	801
UNION ACADEMY	06–08	396
WESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL	06–08	878

High Schools38 schools

School	Grades	Students
AUBURNDALE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	1,716
BARTOW SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	2,125
BILL DUNCAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER	06–12	62
CHAIN OF LAKES COLLEGIATE HIGHCharter	11–12	328
DAVENPORT HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	2,333
DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOLCharter	09–12	911
DON E WOODS OPPORTUNITY CENTER	06–12	56
ECKERD CONNECTS	06–12	25
FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	06–12	786
FRESH START COMMUNITY SCHOOL	10–12	154
FROSTPROOF MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH	06–12	1,150
GAUSE ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP	06–12	96
GEORGE W. JENKINS SENIOR HIGH	09–12	2,451
HAINES CITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	2,700
KATHLEEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	2,051
LAKE GIBSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	2,080
LAKE REGION HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	1,545
LAKE WALES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLCharter	09–12	1,586
LAKELAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	2,043
MAYNARD A TRAVISS TECHNICAL ACADEMY	06–12	140
MCKEEL ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGYCharter	07–12	1,727
MULBERRY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	1,315
NEW BEGINNINGS HIGH SCHOOLCharter	06–12	753
PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS	06–12	49
POLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S CENTRAL CENTER	06–12	29
POLK COUNTY SHERIFFS REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER	05–12	39
POLK GRAD ACADEMY	09–12	34
POLK HALFWAY HOUSE	05–12	23
POLK STATE COLLEGE COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOLCharter	11–12	353
POLK STATE LAKELAND GATEWAY TO COLLEGE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLCharter	11–12	255
POLK VIRTUAL FRANCHISE	06–12	0
RIDGE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	2,711
RIDGE TECHNICAL ACADEMY	06–12	84
RIDGE TEEN PARENT PROGRAM	06–12	8
ROOSEVELT ACADEMY	06–12	283
TENOROC HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	1,127
TRANSITION SCHOOL	12–12	48
WINTER HAVEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	09–12	2,467

Other Schools15 schools

School	Grades	Students
ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMYCharter	PK–PK	157
DORIS A. SANDERS LEARNING CENTER	PK–12	87
GIBBONS STREET PK CENTER	PK–PK	0
HAINES CITY HEADSTART CENTER	PK–PK	0
HOSPITAL HOMEBOUND	PK–12	118
JEAN O'DELL LEARNING CENTER	PK–12	73
KAREN M. SIEGEL ACADEMY	PK–12	161
LANGUAGE & LITERACY ACADEMY FOR LEARNINGCharter	PK–12	282
POLK FULL TIME ESCHOOL	KG–12	604
POLK PRE-COLLEGIATE ACADEMYCharter	09–10	16
POLK VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM	KG–12	42
REAL ACADEMY (REACHING EVERY ADOLESCENT LEARNER)	04–12	269
RIDGEVIEW GLOBAL STUDIES ACADEMYCharter	KG–12	1,551
VICTORY RIDGE ACADEMYCharter	PK–12	298
WINTER HAVEN HEAD START	PK–PK	0

District Finances

Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,028-16% nat'l avg

National avg $14,347

Revenue Sources

44%

35%

State

43.8%

Local (property tax)

35.2%

Federal

21.0%

Funding is shared between state (44%) and local sources (35%), with notable federal support (21%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.

District Snapshot

162

Schools

113,461

Students

52%

Free Lunch

$12K

Per-Pupil

Graduation Rate86.7%

Opportunity Score37/100

StateFlorida →

School Rankings

Best Elementary Schools Best Middle Schools Best High Schools

Strengths & Considerations

Range of school options

With 162 schools including 31 charter schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.

Below-average per-pupil spending

At $12,028, spending is 16% below the national average — which can limit staffing and resources.

Heavy reliance on federal aid

21% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.

Location

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in POLK?

POLK has 162 public schools, serving a total of 113,461 students.

What is the graduation rate for POLK?

The graduation rate is 86.7%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.

How much does POLK spend per student?

POLK spends $12,028 per pupil — 16% below the national average of $14,347.

What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in POLK?

52% of students in POLK qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.

Are there charter schools in POLK?

Yes — 31 of the 162 schools in POLK are charter schools.

What grade levels does POLK serve?

POLK serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the opportunity score for POLK?

The median opportunity score across schools in POLK is 37/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.