Polk County Public Schools
The Polk Public Schools are one of 33 school districts nationally to win a 2010 Magna Award from the Virginia-based American School Board Journal magazine. Polk won the award for its implementation of 31 career academies at 15 high schools. Polk is the only Florida school district to win a 2010 Magna Award. Polk won the award in the 20,000 and over student enrollment category.
According to the magazine, Magna Awards recognize school districts demonstrating innovative programs advancing student learning.
Polk created career academies as part of Florida’s A++ legislation requiring high schools to launch career and professional academies to expose students to careers in high wage, high skill and high demand fields. Polk’s career academies, depending on field of study, include workforce and skills training, job placement, college credit and industry certification.
Representatives from Polk will accept the award at the National School Boards Association Annual Conference being held April 10 to 12 in Chicago.
Polk’s career academies are featured in a March 2010 American School Board Journal magazine supplement titled “2010 Magna Awards, Advancing Student Learning Through School Board Best Practices.”
“Success After High School” is the title of the article about Polk in the magazine supplement. The article describes Polk’s career academies as it relates to solving a local problem and results. The article describes the school district’s involvement with 17 local chambers of commerce, growth of the academies from a total of five to the current number of 31 and financial support for the academies from local businesses.
The article also notes Polk’s career academy success pertaining to employment after graduation, student preparation for high wage jobs, elimination of on-the-job training for employers, industry certifications and college credit acquisition.
Click here for Information on Polk’s career academies. Polk’s academies include instruction in the fields of automotive, aviation, business, construction, early childhood education, hospitality, industrial technology, medical, veterinary science and others. Click here for downloadable photographs of student learning in career academies.
A listing of each high school’s career academies is as follows:
Auburndale: Auburndale Medical Academy, Auburndale Communications Academy sponsored by Bright House
Bartow: Bartow Medical Academy, Future Educators Academy, Summerlin Academy (military)
Frostproof: Innovative Spaces (construction, interior design)
George Jenkins (Lakeland): Academy of Design and Technology, Academy of Legal Studies, George Jenkins Medical Academy
Haines City High: Academy of Children’s and Educational Studies, Criminal Justice Academy
Kathleen High (Lakeland): Central Florida Aerospace Academy, Criminal Justice, Law and Career Academy, Distrotek sponsored by Rooms To Go (distribution management)
Lakeland High: Academy of Veterinary Science, Information Technology Academy of Lakeland, Academy of Arts, Design and Technology
Lake Gibson High (Lakeland): Academy Of Finance, Lake Gibson Medical Academy, Polk Academy of Business and Technology
Lake Region High (Eagle Lake): Imagination, Inc. (graphic design, marketing), Lake Region Medical Academy
Lake Wales: Early Childhood and Teacher Education Academy
McKeel (Lakeland): Interactive Design
Mulberry: Mulberry Auto Garage
Ridge Community (Davenport): Engineering Technology Career Academy, Ridge Community Medical Academy
Tenoroc High (Lakeland): Lakeland Electric Power Academy
Winter Haven: Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, Global Goods (distribution management) Winter Haven Medical Academy
