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Polk Academies

Polk County School District Workforce Education Career & Technical Programs

The Polk County School District is a leader in the quality and diversity of education offered to students. The Workforce Education Division offers unique educational opportunities for in-depth experiences and study in specific career and technical areas of interest. Each program emphasizes a specific career theme. Secondary career education prepares students for success in a four-year university, a community college, or a technical center. Career education is divided into nine disciplines: agriscience, public service, business, diversified career, marketing, family and consumer sciences, health science, technology, and industrial education.

Career academies are small, personalized learning communities within a high school that select a subset of students and teachers for a three- or four-year span. Students enter the academy through a voluntary process. Students apply and are accepted with parental knowledge and support. Staff teams, who often share common planning time, work together to implement the key features of the model and provide students with exposure to the career field. Students are grouped together for several periods every day with a core group of teachers. This promotes a family-like atmosphere and results in close student-teacher ties.

A career academy includes the following essential elements:

  • Small learning community
  • College-prep curriculum with a career theme
  • Partnerships with employers, the community, and higher education

By design, these three central elements of a career academy lead to a curriculum that is rigorous, relevant, and relational.

Please click on any of the following logos to find out more about Polk County’s Career Academies or click here for a full brochure about Polk County’s Career & Technical Programs.

Auburndale High School

Polk Medical AcademiesAuburndale HS Medical Academy

Bartow High School

Polk Medical AcademiesBartow HS Medical Academy

Frostproof High School

Bulldog Construction Academy

FHS Bulldog Construction

George W. Jenkins High School

Academy of Design and Technology

GJHS Academy of Design and Technology

Academy of Legal Studies

GJHS Academy of Legal Studies

Polk Medical AcademiesGeorge Jenkins HS Medical Academy

Haines City High School

Academy of Children’s and Educational Studies

HCHS Academy of Children's and Educational Studies (ACES)

Academy of Criminology

HCHS Academy of Criminology

Kathleen High School

Central Florida Aerospace Academy

KHS Central Florida Aerospace Academy

Criminal Justice, Law and Career Academy

KHS Criminal Justice, Law and Career Academy

Distrotek

KHS Distrotek

Lake Gibson High School

Academy of Finance

LGHS Academy of Finance

Polk Academy of Business and Technology

Lake Gibson HS Academy of Business and Technology

Polk Medical AcademiesLake Gibson HS Medical Academy

Lake Region High School

Imagination, Inc.

LRHS Imagination, Inc.

Polk Medical AcademiesLake Region HS Medical Academy

Lake Wales High School

Early Childhood and Teacher Education Academy

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Lakeland High School

Academy of Arts, Design, and TechnologyLHS Academy of Art, Design and TechnologyAcademy of Veterinary Science

LHS Academy of Veterinary Science

IT Academy

LHS IT Academy

McKeel Academy

McKeel Academy of Web Design

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Mulberry High School

Panther Automotive Academy

MHS Panther Automotive Academy

Ridge Community High School

Engineering Technology Career Academy

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Polk Medical AcademiesRidge Community HS Medical Academy

Tenoroc High School

Lakeland Electric Power Academy

THS Lakeland Electric Power Academy

Winter Haven High School

Academy of Hospitality and Tourism

WHHS Academy of Hospitality and Tourism

Global Goods Academy

WHHS Global Goods

Polk Medical AcademiesWinter Haven HS Medical Academy

Testimonials
"The county's business environment and the ongoing support of the CFDC have helped us achieve [our] goal for many years and we look forward to our continued partnership."
- Charles Matthews, VP Operations, Florida's Natural Growers
"We initially targeted Polk County because of its obvious logistical advantages, but we were immediately impressed by the tremendous support and cooperation we received from the CFDC. A building can be built anywhere, but what makes a project...successful is a cooperative relationship with community leaders and the availability of a dedicated and reliable workforce."
- David Behm, VP, Aldi Inc.
"From a personal and business perspective, being new to Polk County has been a very positive experience. We are excited to live and work in Polk County and look forward to what the future has to bring in terms of growth and opportunities."
- Stacy Hackworth, Facility Manager, Ferguson
"We found the economic development atmosphere and support from Polk County to be a true asset in our decision to locate our new, state-of-the-art facility in Lakeland. When you are building the most advanced manufacturing facility your industry has ever seen, you have to have confidence in the long-term commitment of the community. We found just that in Polk County and are pleased to be one of their newest business neighbors and partners."
- Ross Dalton, President, GTECH Printing Corporation
"In 1962, State Farm opened its doors in Winter Haven, which is now our Florida headquarters. We are so proud to be a part of this great Polk County community. Polk County provides State Farm with a workforce that brings diverse talents and experiences to provide the quality service our State Farm customers expect and deserve."
- Jim Thompson, Sr. Vice President, State Farm Insurance