The school district is the eighth-largest in Florida among the largest 40 nationally. Polk has 160 school sites and centers including 65 elementary schools, 19 middle schools and 18 high schools. Also included are charter schools, career centers, adult schools and alternative schools. More than 90,000 students are enrolled. The district is the largest employer in Polk County with nearly 13,000 employees. More than half of those are employed as teachers. The mission of Polk County School Board is to ensure rigorous, relevant learning experiences that result in high achievement.

Our Mission

The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to ensure rigorous, relevant learning experiences that result in high achievement for our students.

In accomplishing this mission, we envision that students in the Polk County Public Schools will effectively:

read, write, compute, speak, listen, and use complex thinking skills to solve problems;
be self-directed in creating personal purpose and vision, setting priorities, choosing ethical action, and creating their own knowledge;
cooperate and collaborate with others in working with and leading groups; interact positively in diverse settings; recognize the value and contributions of all individuals; and make positive contributions to their communities;
understand and use social, organizational, and technological systems; design, monitor, improve and correct performance within a system; and create viable products.

These desired student outcomes and practices will be fostered and nurtured in schools and classrooms with an environment in which:

adults assume instructional and ethical leadership to create efficient, effective environments perceived as safe, healthy, and equitable, where students are recognized as unique individuals capable of learning and independent thinking;
adults use varied and reliable teaching and evaluating procedures through relevant curricula;
adults enable students, families, and communities to work cooperatively to assume responsibility for the total educational experience;
adults engage in professional growth and training activities to effect continuous improvement in the system;
students are guided in their total physical, mental, and emotional development through activities which are student-centered and which focus on positive expectations and encourage intrinsic motivation.