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A Child's Life
The public schools of Winter Haven,Lakeland and Davenport are administered by the Polk County School Board. The Mission of Polk County Public Schools is to ensure rigorous, relevant learning experiences that result in high achievement for our students. It's a big job.Polk County is the 8th largest school district in Florida and among the 40 largest nationally. All told, Polk administers 66 elementary, 19 middle, and 17 high schools. Florida's Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) measures student achievement and school accountability. Polk consistently receives an overall grade of B, with over half its schools receiving either an A or B. Polk County far exceeds the state average in this regard.
But for any number of reasons, parents may wish to look outside the public school system when selecting an education for their child. We are lucky to have many private school alternatives. Let's look at just a handful to get a general sense of what is available. In Lakeland, Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse is a charter school which aims to deliver the same reading, writing, and computation skills required in any public school curriculum, while encouraging active, self-directed learning, building a solid foundation in self-direction, interdependence, humanitarianism, and outreach to families and the community. St. Paul Lutheran School has, since 1964, delivered an academically rigorous education integrated with Christian values. It accepts children from 15 months to grade 8, and is one of over 1,000 Lutheran elementary schools associated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the second largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. St. Joseph's Academy, located in downtown Lakeland, has been a part of our landscape for over 70 years, and offers rigorous academic standards in a Catholic environment. The Catholic tradition continues on through high school at Sante Fe Catholic High School. For over 46 years, SFC has been producing future leaders, in an educational tradition based upon respect and achievement.
All Saints Academy in Winter Haven will take your child from PreK-3 right through to grade 12, in a stimulating and nurturing environment that fosters intellectual, physical, social, emotional and spiritual growth. From humble beginnings in 1966, All Saints has come to be recognized as one of Central Florida's better prep schools. For 44 years, Winter Haven Christian School has been educating children in accordance with the highest ideals of the Christian spirit, instilling the values of Christ as revealed by the Holy Bible. One of the more unique institutions in the Lakeland-Winter Haven area is Lois Cowles Harrison School for the Visual and Performing Arts. Embracing creativity in all artistic disciplines, the Harrison School is a nationally recognized center of excellence.
As any kid will tell you, though, there is far more to life than just school, even if you love your school. Lakeland and Winter Haven offer kids of all ages tons of opportunity to play just about sport you can name volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, inline hockey, swimming, soccer the list goes on and on. And the kids don't have to be playing to be recreating ExplorationsV is a terrific children's museum offering hands-on fun that will enrich and stretch young minds. It's the place for birthdays, field trips, family outings it's an adventure in learning every time. And what kid doesn't love airplanes? They can come check out the coolness factor of the Florida Air Museum, whether it's a summer camp, a chance to see Howard Hughes, collection or to begin planning a career as an aviator, the Museum is a must-see!
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