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Polk School District

Item: Polk School District
Rating: 2
Author: Public School Review

1915 S Floral Ave
Bartow, FL 33830-7124

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (863) 534-0500

www.polk-fl.net

Top Rankings

Polk School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Florida for:

Overview

This School District

This State (FL)

# Schools

166 Schools

4,211 Schools

# Students

116,440 Students

2,856,324 Students

# Teachers

6,031 Teachers

155,065 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

19:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Polk School District	Florida
Pre-K	2,727	773
Kind	8,170	2,418
1	8,280	2,546
2	8,464	2,613
3	9,439	2,830
4	8,495	2,623
5	8,808	2,740
6	7,782	2,619
7	8,595	2,697
8	9,286	2,847
9	9,868	2,887
10	9,522	2,934
11	8,885	2,870
12	8,119	2,761

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District Rank

Polk School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 73 school districts in Florida (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 78% has decreased from 80% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (FL)

#62 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Polk School District
2023	#62
2022	#62
2021	#62
2019	#60
2018	#54
2017	#59
2016	#60
2015	#61
2014	#62
2013	#61
2012	#63

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41%

52%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2023	41%	52%
2022	42%	52%
2021	39%	48%
2019	50%	59%
2018	50%	58%
2017	46%	57%
2016	43%	54%
2015	43%	53%
2014	48%	59%
2013	49%	58%
2012	48%	57%

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43%

52%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2022	43%	52%
2021	43%	52%
2019	47%	56%
2018	50%	55%
2017	46%	54%
2016	45%	52%
2015	45%	53%
2014	49%	58%
2013	50%	58%
2012	48%	57%
2011	55%	62%

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42%

52%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2022	42%	52%
2021	43%	51%

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78%

87%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2023	78%	87%
2022	78%	87%
2021	85%	89%
2020	87%	89%
2019	81%	87%
2018	80%	86%
2017	75%	83%
2016	72%	82%
2015	69%	79%
2014	69%	78%
2013	69%	78%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.68

0.70

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2024	0.68	0.70
2023	0.68	0.70
2022	0.68	0.70
2021	0.68	0.70
2020	0.68	0.70
2019	0.68	0.70
2018	0.68	0.70
2017	0.68	0.70
2016	0.67	0.70
2015	0.67	0.70
2014	0.68	0.69
2013	0.68	0.69
2012	0.67	0.69
2011	0.67	0.69
2010	0.64	0.69
2009	0.63	0.69
2008	0.63	0.68
2007	0.62	0.67
2006	0.59	0.64
2005	0.58	0.65
2004	0.56	0.64
2003	0.55	0.63
2002	0.54	0.63
2001	0.53	0.62
2000	0.52	0.62
1999	0.51	0.61
1998	0.50	0.60
1997	0.49	0.60
1996	0.48	0.59
1995	0.46	0.58
1994	0.46	0.57
1993	0.45	0.57
1992	0.44	0.56
1991	0.43	0.55
1990	0.42	0.54
1989	0.42	0.53
1988	0.41	0.51

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2024	2%	3%
2023	2%	3%
2022	2%	3%
2021	2%	3%
2020	2%	3%
2019	2%	3%
2018	2%	4%
2017	2%	4%
2016	1%	3%
2015	1%	3%
2014	2%	3%
2013	2%	3%
2012	2%	3%
2011	2%	3%
2010	3%	4%
2009	3%	4%
2008	3%	3%
2007	3%	3%
2006	1%	2%
2005	2%	3%
2004	1%	3%
2003	1%	3%
2002	2%	3%
2001	2%	2%
2000	1%	2%
1999	1%	2%
1998	1%	2%
1997	1%	2%
1996	1%	2%
1995	1%	2%
1994	1%	2%
1993	1%	2%
1992	1%	2%
1991	1%	2%
1990	1%	1%
1989	1%	1%
1988	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

43%

38%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2024	42%	37%
2023	41%	37%
2022	39%	36%
2021	38%	35%
2020	35%	34%
2019	35%	34%
2018	33%	32%
2017	33%	32%
2016	32%	32%
2015	30%	31%
2014	29%	30%
2013	28%	29%
2012	27%	29%
2011	27%	28%
2010	25%	27%
2009	23%	26%
2008	23%	26%
2007	22%	25%
2006	20%	24%
2005	17%	23%
2004	16%	22%
2003	14%	21%
2002	13%	20%
2001	12%	19%
2000	11%	18%
1999	10%	17%
1998	9%	16%
1997	8%	16%
1996	8%	15%
1995	7%	15%
1994	6%	14%
1993	6%	14%
1992	5%	13%
1991	5%	13%
1990	4%	12%
1989	4%	11%
1988	3%	10%

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% Black

21%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2024	21%	21%
2023	21%	21%
2022	20%	21%
2021	21%	22%
2020	21%	22%
2019	21%	22%
2018	21%	22%
2017	21%	22%
2016	22%	23%
2015	22%	23%
2014	21%	23%
2013	21%	23%
2012	21%	23%
2011	21%	23%
2010	22%	24%
2009	23%	24%
2008	22%	24%
2007	22%	24%
2006	22%	24%
2005	22%	24%
2004	22%	24%
2003	23%	24%
2002	23%	25%
2001	23%	25%
2000	23%	25%
1999	24%	25%
1998	24%	25%
1997	24%	25%
1996	23%	25%
1995	23%	24%
1994	23%	24%
1993	22%	24%
1992	22%	24%
1991	22%	23%
1990	22%	24%
1989	22%	24%
1988	22%	24%

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% White

31%

34%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2024	33%	35%
2023	34%	35%
2022	36%	36%
2021	37%	36%
2020	39%	37%
2019	39%	37%
2018	42%	39%
2017	42%	39%
2016	43%	39%
2015	44%	40%
2014	44%	41%
2013	45%	42%
2012	46%	42%
2011	47%	43%
2010	50%	45%
2009	51%	46%
2008	52%	47%
2007	53%	48%
2006	57%	50%
2005	59%	50%
2004	61%	51%
2003	62%	52%
2002	62%	52%
2001	63%	54%
2000	65%	55%
1999	65%	56%
1998	66%	57%
1997	67%	57%
1996	68%	58%
1995	69%	59%
1994	70%	60%
1993	71%	60%
1992	72%	61%
1991	72%	62%
1990	73%	63%
1989	73%	64%
1988	74%	65%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2024	2%	4%
2023	2%	4%
2022	3%	4%
2021	2%	4%
2020	3%	4%
2019	3%	4%
2018	2%	3%
2017	2%	3%
2016	2%	3%
2015	3%	3%
2014	3%	3%
2013	3%	3%
2012	3%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,186 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,026. The school district revenue/student has declined by 9% over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $11,124 is less than the state median of $11,677. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

This School District

This State (FL)

Total Revenue

$1,186 MM

$34,349 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2023	$1,186 MM	$166 MM
2022	$1,215 MM	$154 MM
2021	$1,186 MM	$166 MM
2020	$1,215 MM	$154 MM
2019	$1,119 MM	$151 MM
2018	$1,028 MM	$143 MM
2017	$1,010 MM	$136 MM
2016	$962 MM	$130 MM
2015	$915 MM	$132 MM
2014	$893 MM	$122 MM
2012	$891 MM	$118 MM
2011	$936 MM	$128 MM
2010	$915 MM	$132 MM
2009	$915 MM	$138 MM
2008	$1,251 MM	$179 MM
2007	$982 MM	$165 MM
2006	$837 MM	$125 MM
2005	$755 MM	$111 MM
2004	$645 MM	$105 MM
2003	$599 MM	$95 MM
2002	$564 MM	$96 MM
2001	$529 MM	$96 MM
2000	$515 MM	$91 MM
1999	$511 MM	$89 MM
1998	$467 MM	$81 MM
1997	$427 MM	$79 MM
1996	$403 MM	$73 MM
1995	$380 MM	$70 MM

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Spending

$1,295 MM

$33,354 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2023	$1,295 MM	$163 MM
2022	$1,183 MM	$164 MM
2021	$1,295 MM	$163 MM
2020	$1,183 MM	$164 MM
2019	$1,063 MM	$155 MM
2018	$1,002 MM	$153 MM
2017	$983 MM	$132 MM
2016	$949 MM	$123 MM
2015	$942 MM	$140 MM
2014	$882 MM	$125 MM
2012	$925 MM	$121 MM
2011	$997 MM	$128 MM
2010	$942 MM	$140 MM
2009	$972 MM	$159 MM
2008	$1,198 MM	$169 MM
2007	$977 MM	$162 MM
2006	$883 MM	$146 MM
2005	$744 MM	$112 MM
2004	$635 MM	$112 MM
2003	$601 MM	$106 MM
2002	$562 MM	$102 MM
2001	$546 MM	$91 MM
2000	$549 MM	$88 MM
1999	$535 MM	$84 MM
1998	$448 MM	$79 MM
1997	$422 MM	$72 MM
1996	$408 MM	$72 MM
1995	$398 MM	$66 MM

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Revenue / Student

$10,186

$12,026

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2023	$10,360	$13,452
2022	$11,281	$14,203
2021	$11,257	$13,731
2020	$11,281	$14,203
2019	$10,594	$13,737
2018	$9,876	$14,011
2017	$9,872	$14,826
2016	$9,470	$12,788
2015	$9,172	$11,888
2014	$9,120	$12,077
2012	$9,277	$12,051
2011	$9,838	$13,076
2010	$9,676	$11,888
2009	$9,668	$13,793
2008	$13,308	$17,784
2007	$10,584	$16,236
2006	$9,361	$12,292
2005	$8,752	$11,428
2004	$7,661	$11,474
2003	$7,284	$10,268
2002	$6,951	$10,355
2001	$6,661	$10,248
2000	$6,548	$9,668
1999	$6,615	$9,409
1998	$6,099	$7,880
1997	$5,704	$8,424
1995	$5,325	$6,715
1992	$5,315	$7,231

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Spending / Student

$11,124

$11,677

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Polk School District	Florida
2023	$11,314	$13,212
2022	$10,984	$15,154
2021	$12,293	$13,486
2020	$10,984	$15,154
2019	$10,061	$14,111
2018	$9,621	$14,989
2017	$9,612	$14,369
2016	$9,333	$12,045
2015	$9,448	$12,571
2014	$9,001	$12,287
2012	$9,624	$12,385
2011	$10,471	$13,005
2010	$9,967	$12,571
2009	$10,270	$15,882
2008	$12,751	$16,773
2007	$10,530	$15,907
2006	$9,872	$14,358
2005	$8,626	$11,593
2004	$7,547	$12,298
2003	$7,310	$11,532
2002	$6,922	$11,007
2001	$6,869	$9,672
2000	$6,978	$9,341
1999	$6,921	$8,851
1998	$5,853	$7,639
1997	$5,642	$7,635
1995	$5,582	$6,277
1992	$5,123	$6,693

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Polk School District?

Polk School District manages 166 public schools serving 116,440 students.

What is the rank of Polk School District?

Polk School District is ranked #62 out of 73 school districts in Florida (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Florida school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)

What is the racial composition of students in Polk School District?

43% of Polk School District students are Hispanic, 31% of students are White, 21% of students are Black, 3% of students are Two or more races, and 2% of students are Asian.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Polk School District?

Polk School District has a student/teacher ratio of 19:1, which is higher than the Florida state average of 18:1.

What is Polk School District's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $11,124 is less than the state median of $11,677. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 166 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 116,440 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Minority Enrollment: 69%
: 78% (Btm 50% in FL)
: Bottom 50%
: 41% (Btm 50%)
: 43% (Btm 50%)
: 42% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education