‘Outdated’ state formula has made Polk County one of the lowest-funded school districts, ranking 63rd out of 67 counties.
Category: Schools
Posted inInsight Polk
Falling Behind: Pay Gap Between Polk and Hillsborough Teachers Is About to Get Wider
Teachers’ union warns of possible ‘staffing crisis’ without a property tax referendum next year.
Posted inInsight Polk
Falling Behind: Polk Drops to 60th Among Florida Counties for Education. Why?
Both Hillsborough and Orange counties’ standings improved in the 2025 Child Well-Being Index.
Posted inSchools
Applications Are Open for Summer Trades Camp
High school students can learn how to build a home from the ground up.
Posted inInsight Polk
Polk County Opens Applications for Free Preschool Programs
The school district’s programs for 3- and 4-year-olds include Head Start and VPK.
Posted inSchools
George Jenkins BBQ Team Releases New Line of Dry Rubs
George Jenkins barbecue team are competitors — and now, entrepreneurs
Posted inSchools
Florida Poly President Says No to a $100,000 Inauguration
Devin Stephenson wants the funds used for student scholarships.
Posted inPeople
Student from Lakeland Earns Full Scholarship to Duke University
Alexander Andrade, who attends the Bartow IB School, is also a Presidential Scholar and a National Merit semifinalist.
Posted inDowntown
Downtown Squeeze Shuttle Adds a Florida Southern College Stop
The weekend service from the Citrus Connection uses eight-passenger golf carts to ferry passengers through downtown Lakeland.
Posted inSchools
IDEA Lakeland Charter School Works Out Growth Details With City
The school, which opened off Kathleen Road in August, is planning road improvements as it expects to quadruple enrollment.