Can I use Polk County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Polk County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Polk County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Polk County?

Start with the 164 listed public schools and 1 district entry, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Polk County Schools & Education

Name: Polk County, Florida Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Polk County, Florida

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

34/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 89.8%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,845

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,118

School Score

34/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 36/100

State Score Position

#42

of 67 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Polk County

Measured School Summary

Polk County faces educational challenges with a school score of 34/100 and a graduation rate of 87.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,845 per pupil, Polk County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 6% below the Florida average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Polk County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

164 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

34/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #42 of 67 Florida counties with school score data.

Completion

87.0%

2.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,845

$727 above the state average

School coverage

164

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Polk County has 164 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Polk County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

POLK carries most of the listed public-school system, with 164 of 164 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#42

of 67 Florida counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

POLK

Elementary to high school visible

114,483 students

Elementary 85Middle 26High 38Other 15

164 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

POLK is the largest listed district slice, with 164 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Polk County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Polk County, Florida

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Growing County with Diverse Schools

Polk County hosts 164 public schools serving a large population of 114,483 students. The infrastructure includes 85 elementary, 26 middle, and 38 high schools spread across the region.

Meeting National Standards for Graduation

Polk's 87.0% graduation rate perfectly matches the national average. The county invests $6,845 per pupil, which is higher than the Florida state average of $6,118.

The Expanding Polk District Network

The Polk District manages all 164 schools, featuring a significant charter presence with 33 schools (20% of the total). The district also provides specialized support through 18 alternative and 8 special education campuses.

Suburban Life with Large High Schools

The majority of schools are in suburban settings, though 22 rural schools remain. Ridge Community High School is the county's largest, with a student body of 2,711.

School Overview

Total Schools

164

in Polk County

Reported Enrollment

114,483

164 schools reporting

School Districts

district

Charter Schools

20% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary85

Middle26

High38

Other15

1 School District in Polk County

POLK

Guide

164 schools

114,483 students enrolled

Open district guide

164 Public Schools in Polk County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 37 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 164 matching schools

Public schools in Polk County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
RIDGE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	DAVENPORT, 33837Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	2,711
HAINES CITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	HAINES CITY, 33844Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	2,700
WINTER HAVEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	WINTER HAVEN, 33880City: Small	9–12	High	2,467
GEORGE W. JENKINS SENIOR HIGH	Profile	POLK	LAKELAND, 33813Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,451
DAVENPORT HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	BARTOW, 33831Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,333
BARTOW SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	BARTOW, 33830Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,125
LAKE GIBSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	LAKELAND, 33809Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,080
KATHLEEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	LAKELAND, 33815Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,051
LAKELAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	LAKELAND, 33801City: Midsize	9–12	High	2,043
MCKEEL ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY	Profile	POLK	LAKELAND, 33815Suburb: Large	7–12	Charter	1,727
AUBURNDALE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	AUBURNDALE, 33823Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,716
LAKE WALES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	LAKE WALES, 33853Suburb: Midsize	9–12	Charter	1,586
RIDGEVIEW GLOBAL STUDIES ACADEMY	Profile	POLK	DAVENPORT, 33896Town: Fringe	KG–12	Charter	1,551
LAKE REGION HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	EAGLE LAKE, 33839Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	1,545
HORIZONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	DAVENPORT, 33837Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	1,468
CITRUS RIDGE A CIVICS ACADEMY	Profile	POLK	DAVENPORT, 33897Town: Fringe	PK–8	Primary	1,457
SHELLEY S. BOONE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	HAINES CITY, 33844Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	1,403
MULBERRY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	MULBERRY, 33860Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,315
LAKELAND HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	LAKELAND, 33813City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	1,265
LAKE GIBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	POLK	LAKELAND, 33809Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	1,218

RIDGE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

DAVENPORT, 33837 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,711 students

HAINES CITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

HAINES CITY, 33844 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,700 students

WINTER HAVEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

WINTER HAVEN, 33880 / City: Small

Profile9–12High2,467 students

GEORGE W. JENKINS SENIOR HIGH

POLK

LAKELAND, 33813 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,451 students

DAVENPORT HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

BARTOW, 33831 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,333 students

BARTOW SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

BARTOW, 33830 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,125 students

LAKE GIBSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

LAKELAND, 33809 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,080 students

KATHLEEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

LAKELAND, 33815 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,051 students

LAKELAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

LAKELAND, 33801 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,043 students

MCKEEL ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGY

POLK

LAKELAND, 33815 / Suburb: Large

Profile7–12Charter1,727 students

AUBURNDALE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

AUBURNDALE, 33823 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,716 students

LAKE WALES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

LAKE WALES, 33853 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12Charter1,586 students

RIDGEVIEW GLOBAL STUDIES ACADEMY

POLK

DAVENPORT, 33896 / Town: Fringe

ProfileKG–12Charter1,551 students

LAKE REGION HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

EAGLE LAKE, 33839 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,545 students

HORIZONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

POLK

DAVENPORT, 33837 / Suburb: Midsize

ProfilePK–5Primary1,468 students

CITRUS RIDGE A CIVICS ACADEMY

POLK

DAVENPORT, 33897 / Town: Fringe

ProfilePK–8Primary1,457 students

SHELLEY S. BOONE MIDDLE SCHOOL

POLK

HAINES CITY, 33844 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,403 students

MULBERRY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

POLK

MULBERRY, 33860 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,315 students

LAKELAND HIGHLANDS MIDDLE SCHOOL

POLK

LAKELAND, 33813 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,265 students

LAKE GIBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

POLK

LAKELAND, 33809 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle1,218 students

Additional School Profiles

Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.

17 more profiles

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,845

State avg $6,118

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Polk County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Florida counties have the highest graduation rates?

Lafayette County (97.0%), Columbia County (96.0%), and Seminole County (95.0%) currently lead Florida among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Florida?

Across Florida counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,118. The highest current county values are Monroe County ($9,238), Jefferson County ($9,157), and Franklin County ($7,953). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Polk County?

Polk County has a school score of 34/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Polk County?

The high school graduation rate in Polk County is 87.0%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Polk County spend per student?

Polk County spends $6,845 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Polk County, Florida — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Polk County, Florida?

Polk County hosts 164 public schools serving a large population of 114,483 students. The infrastructure includes 85 elementary, 26 middle, and 38 high schools spread across the region.

How do schools in Polk County perform academically?

Polk's 87.0% graduation rate perfectly matches the national average. The county invests $6,845 per pupil, which is higher than the Florida state average of $6,118.

What are the major school districts in Polk County, Florida?

What is the school experience like in Polk County?

The majority of schools are in suburban settings, though 22 rural schools remain. Ridge Community High School is the county's largest, with a student body of 2,711.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Hillsborough County

Florida

+0 pts

34/100

School score

Gulf County

Florida

-0 pts

34/100

School score

Osceola County

Florida

+0 pts

34/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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