News & Events

A message from @polkcountypublicschools:

When School Buses Stop, You Stop; No ExcusesMore than 45,000 children in Polk County begin and end their school day with a trip on a bus. Every bus stop is a moment that could end tragically if motorists pass illegally.Two years ago, the school district and Polk County Sheriff’s Office launched Safe Stop, a campaign to stop people from illegally passing school buses. We installed video cameras to catch and fine people for this dangerous act.The Sheriff’s Office even posts weekly "Stop Arm Saturday" videos on social media, highlighting outrageous examples of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses… and people STILL aren’t getting the hint!Sadly, more than 22,000 violations have been racked up so far, and we continue to see motorists endangering our children’s lives.Please watch and share this video to help get the word out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8umWq7_dg7sEvery motorist must pay attention, follow the law, and drive responsibly.Remember to always stop when a school bus extends its stop sign.Read More: www.polkschoolsfl.com/community/safestop ... See MoreSee Less

The income guidelines have changed for Polk HealthCare Plan (PHP) eligibility. At the July 21 public hearing, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners approved a change to the Indigent Health Care Plan Extension Ordinance (No. 2015-076) which increases the maximum income eligibility for PHP to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Previously, the maximum income limit for PHP eligibility was set at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Learn more: www.polkfl.gov/news/income-limit-increase-for-polk-healthcare-plan-eligibility/#PolkHealthCarePlan #affordablehealthcare #PolkCountyFL ... See MoreSee Less

We're excited to share that the Class of 2026 has set a new national FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion rate record, with 59.1% of students completing the FAFSA by June 30th!

47.9% of Polk County students completed their FAFSA by June 30th, which is an increase of 6.5% over last year. Completing the FAFSA makes it easier for students to pay for their post-secondary education. For more information, check out this article from the National College Attainment Network: www.ncan.org/Web/News/Class-of-2026-Sets-New-June-30-FAFSA-Completion-Record.Polk County Public Schools @ncanetwork_ Florida College Access Network ... See MoreSee Less

Congratulations to Polk County Public Schools on maintaining and improving its B grade for the 2025-2026 school year! Read all about it belowPolk County Public Schools had another momentous year in 2025-26, and it showed up on our report card.

PCPS maintained and improved its B grade, as many schools throughout the district earned higher marks, according to data released today by the Florida Department of Education.“Two years ago we recaptured our B grade, and we’ve continued to build upon that success,” said PCPS Superintendent Fred Heid. “It’s especially notable because the state’s academic criteria has only become more rigorous. Today’s results are clear: PCPS is on a hot streak.”PCPS students saw widespread achievement gains in state assessment data for 2025-26, improving in math, science and English language arts. In addition, the district’s latest graduation rate climbed to a historic 87.7%. The grad rate for traditional PCPS high schools (excluding charter and alternative schools) was even better, rising to 92.7%.A total 29 traditional PCPS schools improved their own grades in 2025-26, which more than doubled the count from the year prior.- Ten schools increased to an A, with two improving from a C to an A: Garden Grove Elementary and Scott Lake Elementary. Combee Academy earned its first-ever A, and Snively Elementary received an A for the first time in 20 years! In addition, Bethune Academy and Daniel Jenkins Academy earned their first As in well over a decade.- Sixteen increased to a B, one of which saw an amazing jump from a D to a B: Dixieland Elementary. Griffin Elementary and Kathleen Elementary also reclaimed their B grades after many years of hard work, and Willow Oak School earned its first B! - Three increased from a D to a C: Crystal Lake Middle, Kathleen Middle, and North Lakeland Elementary.Once again, there were no traditional PCPS schools earning an F grade.PCPS uses an intensive progress monitoring system to track students’ academics, providing support based on each child’s learning style. The district’s formula has been highly successful, and Heid said PCPS will intensify its efforts to keep moving forward.“I’m tremendously proud of our students, teachers, staff and community. So many people have worked incredibly hard for these results,” he said. “It’s rewarding to know that we’re on the right track, but we won’t stop here. The future is bright for Polk County Public Schools.”Individual school grades are available on the FLDOE’s website: www.fldoe.org/file/18534/SchoolGrades26.xlsx.#lovePolkschools (Photo via Lincoln Avenue Academy)@topfans ... See MoreSee Less

Thank you, Ms. Amy, with Polk Vision for inspiring our girls to make a difference in our community. ... See MoreSee Less