Bartow
Florida
Polk County Public Schools
Our Mission
The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high quality education for all 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.
Recent News
Polk County Public Schools and AFSCME Union Reach Tentative Agreement
Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) and the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2227 union reached a tentative agreement on Dec. 14 for the 2023-2024 salary and benefits package totaling an increase of $4…
Read More »PCPS and Bezos Academy Working Together to Bring Tuition-Free Preschool to Lakeland
Polk County Public Schools announced on Dec. 13th, that a tuition-free, full-day preschool will soon be coming to Lakeland. Bezos Academy Lakeland will be housed in a section of Oscar J. Pope Elementary, at 2730 Maine Ave. in Lakeland. The…
Read More »Polk County Public Schools Announces Principals Of The Year
Polk County Public Schools has announced our district’s principals of the year! Congratulations to Principal Wanda Aponte from Lake Marion Creek Middle, and Assistant Principal Gian Monacelli from Mulberry High. Aponte and Monacelli were…
Read More »Polk County Public Schools And Educators Union Reach Tentative Agreement
Polk County Public Schools and the Polk Education Association have reached a tentative agreement regarding salaries and benefits for the 2023-24 fiscal year. PCPS has more than 13,000 employees. PEA represents approximately 9,000 of these…
Read More »Polk County Public Schools Announces District 6 Finalists For Teacherand School-Related Employee Of The Year
Today was the final stop for the PCPS surprise patrol. Congratulations to the District 6 finalists for the 2023-24 Polk County Teacher and School Related Employee of the Year: - Kelsea Matthews, Teacher of the Year finalist, second-grade and ELA…
Read More »Pcps Announces District 3 Finalists For Teacher And School-Related Employee Of The Year
Guess what day it is! Hump Day. But also, the day we announce the District 3 finalists for the 2023-24 Polk County Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year. Congratulations to: – Kelly Larrow, Teacher of the Year finalist, gifted…
Read More »PCPS Announces District 5 Finalists for Teacher and School-RelatedEmployee of the Year
Congratulations to our District 5 finalists for the 2023-24 Polk County Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year: - Kara Holt, Teacher of the Year finalist, ESE facilitator, Sleepy Hill Middle - Debra Glisson, School-Related Employee of…
Read More »PCPS Announces District 7 Finalists For Teacher And School-Related Employee Of The Year
PCPS announced the District 7 finalists for the 2023-24 Polk County Teacher and School-Related Employee of the Year: – Elizabeth Ashmore, Teacher of the Year finalist, third-grade teacher, Padgett Elementary – Laura Kovachy,…
Read More »Polk County Public Schools News - Lake Region High To Name Stadium In Honor Of Former Principal
Lake Region High’s football stadium will receive a new name on Friday night (Sept. 15). The stadium is being named in honor of Stephen White, LRHS’ first principal, who will be in attendance. The name will be officially announced…
Read More »Polk County Public Schools News - McLaughlin Academy Of Excellence Hosts Celebration For Students Enrolled Within Its Newest Career-Readiness Program
McLaughlin Academy of Excellence will host a celebration on Tuesday (Sept. 12) to recognize students enrolled within its newest career-readiness program. More than 100 students are currently enrolled within the Duke Energy Academy. Through this…
Read More »Event to Celebrate Crystal Lake Elementary Becoming a UCF-Certified Partnership School
May 25 Event to Celebrate Crystal Lake Elementary Becoming a UCF-Certified Community Partnership School A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at Crystal Lake Elementary to celebrate the school becoming a Community Partnership School certified…
Read More »Polk County Public Schools Updates: April 24, 2023
Good morning, - The Polk County School Board will have a work session at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, followed by a regular board meeting at 5 p.m. Please see our website for details:…
Read More »Polk County Public Schools Updates : March 21, 2023
Rick Runion has joined the media relations team here at Polk County Public Schools. He is a veteran photojournalist and has spent the past several years as a teacher with PCPS. For all media inquiries to PCPS, please contact…
Read More »Polk County Public Schools: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Central Florida Aerospace Academy – Winter Haven Senior High
Polk County Public Schools will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, March 9, for Central Florida Aerospace Academy – Winter Haven Senior High. The event will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 9, at the Winter Haven Regional…
Read More »