We believe everyone should be able to be informed about the place they live so we don't charge to read LkldNow. Instead of paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on contributions from readers like you to fund our journalism. Give Monthly, One-time or Once a Year.
Stay in the know
Get the scoop on what’s happening in Lakeland. Sign up to our weekly newsletter to get all your local news in one email!
Thank you for being a LkldNow reader!
An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.
LkldNow is your truly local, independent news. No paywall. No subscription fees. No opinions. Just the local news you need.
Florida’s End-of-Course (EOC) exams are computer-based tests that evaluate whether students have mastered the state’s academic standards for specific school-level courses. These tests are taken after students complete courses like Algebra 1, Biology, U.S. History and Civics. Tests are scored from 1 to 5. Scoring a 3 is considered passing.
More students scoring at Levels 1 and 2 than the state average.
Fewer students scoring at Levels 4 and 5, which reflect higher-level mastery.
Example: In English Language Arts (ELA), 23.7% of Polk students scored at Level 1 vs. 18.2% statewide. Only 9.6% scored at Level 5 compared with 14.1% statewide.
The big picture
In an email from Kyle Kennedy, spokesperson for Polk County Public Schools (PCPS), district officials said student performance is improving across multiple subject areas, reflecting progress toward both raising overall achievement and narrowing gaps.
District officials say the gains are showing up across many student groups, not just in isolated pockets. They note this matters because it means students who have historically fallen behind are also making progress.
They also point out that these improvements reflect years of work by teachers, staff and students as schools continue to recover from pandemic leaning loss.
Where Polk saw gains
Despite scoring behind the state overall, Polk’s scores rose over the last two years:
ELA (English Language Arts): ↑ 8.6%
Math: ↑ 4.3%
Science: ↑ 7.0%
Social Studies: ↑ 10.1%
This year, the district also posted stronger growth than neighboring districts in:
ELA: +4 points
Biology: +4 points
U.S. History: +6 points (vs. +3.7 average for surrounding districts)
Other improving indicators:
AP pass rate: ↑ 5.5%
Industry certifications: ↑ 5%
Dual enrollment pass rate: ↑ 7.8%
Graduation rate: ↑ 3.9%
Support for low performing students
District officials say they review the results immediately each year to identify trends by student group and align with the district’s Strategic Plan goals.
Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) highlighted several supports they’re using to assist students across subject areas and grade levels. Many of these programs focus on rebuilding foundational reading and math skills for students who need extra support.
PCPS launched a district-wide Algebra 1 Support Plan based on research from The New Teacher Project’s “Unlocking Algebra” report.
Algebra 1 is a key course tied to graduation. Students must earn at least a Level 3 on the Algebra 1 EOC to meet Florida’s graduation requirement.
Support for high-need schools
Schools with larger Level 1 and 2 populations receive:
On-site support from senior coordinators
Curriculum-aligned lessons from district specialists
Free at-home tutoring through Varsity Tutors
In-school tutoring blocks for targeted students
Early data from progress monitoring during the first grading period, unit tests and first-quarter benchmarks show encouraging signs, though officials stress these checks are not predictive.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.
