Communities · New to Polk County
Polk County School & Family Guide
Everything a new family needs in one place: how to enroll in school, where to find libraries, parks, pediatricians and child care, and how to get around.
A note from Desiree
Welcome, New Neighbors
"Schools are one of the first things families ask me about. I put this guide together so you can settle in faster."
Polk County Public Schools serves the whole county, from Lakeland and Winter Haven to Haines City, Davenport and Lake Wales. Before you go under contract, I'll help you confirm the zoned schools for any home you're considering.
Desiree Pelletier
Jump to
What's in This Guide
School Enrollment
Zoned schools, documents and school choice.
Go →Libraries
Free cards for every Polk County resident.
Go →Parks & Recreation
Playgrounds, nature centers and the Y.
Go →Pediatric Care
Children's ER, hospitals and specialists.
Go →Child Care & VPK
Free Pre-K and child care help.
Go →Getting Around
School buses and public transit.
Go →Polk County Public Schools
How to Enroll Your Child
Polk County Public Schools is based in Bartow (863-534-0500). New students enroll in person at their zoned school.
Find your zoned school
Look up your address with the district's school zone tools, or ask Pupil Accounting at 863-519-7600.
Gather documents
See the checklist below. Missing shot records can keep a child out of class, so start early.
Fill out the forms
Complete the Student Entry Form and Medical Information Form, available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
Visit the school
Make an appointment at your zoned school and bring a government-issued ID.
Documents for first-time Florida students
- Birth certificate showing the parents' names
- Physical exam done within 12 months before registering
- Florida Certificate of Immunization (form DH 680), from a Florida doctor or the health department
- Two proofs of residency, such as a lease or closing statement and a utility bill
Kindergarten
Your child must turn 5 on or before September 1 to start kindergarten that school year. There is no early entry.
School choice
Magnet and choice schools, career academies, IB and Cambridge programs, Summerlin Academy and Harrison School of the Arts accept applications during the School Choice window, usually in January and February. Seats are filled by lottery.
Charter schools
Apply directly to each charter school. If a school has more applicants than seats, it holds a lottery. The district's Office of Charter Schools can help: 863-534-0625.
Colleges and universities
Polk State College (Winter Haven and Lakeland), Florida Southern College, Florida Polytechnic University and Southeastern University (all in Lakeland), and Webber International University (Babson Park).
Requirements can change. Always confirm with polkschoolsfl.com before you enroll.
Polk County Library Cooperative
Libraries & Activities
Library cards are free for Polk County residents and work at any public library in the county. Story times, homework help and summer reading programs keep kids busy all year.
Lakeland
Lakeland Public Library, near Lake Morton downtown.
Winter Haven
Winter Haven Public Library, near the Chain of Lakes.
Bartow & Auburndale
Bartow Public Library and Auburndale Public Library.
And 10 more cities
Davenport, Dundee, Eagle Lake, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Mulberry and Polk City.
Get outside
Parks & Recreation
Bonnet Springs Park · Lakeland
Free entry, open daily. A big playground, the Kiwanis treehouse, trails and the Florida Children's Museum (separate admission).
Circle B Bar Reserve · Lakeland
Boardwalks, alligators and birds, plus Polk's Nature Discovery Center and its free Camp Discovery summer camp for ages 5 to 13.
Downtown Trailhead Park · Winter Haven
A large playground, splash pad and the start of the Chain of Lakes Trail.
Simpson Park Community Center · Lakeland
Gym, youth programs, tennis and pickleball.
YMCA of West Central Florida
Bob Adams Family Community YMCA and Fontaine Gills YMCA in Lakeland, plus the Lake Wales YMCA Early Learning Center.
Lakes everywhere
Fishing, paddling and lakeside walks, from Lake Mirror and Lake Morton in Lakeland to the Chain of Lakes in Winter Haven.
Pediatricians & hospitals
Health Care for Kids
Lakeland Regional Health
The Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children has a 24/7 children's emergency department, a pediatric ICU, a pediatric inpatient unit and a Level III NICU, with Nemours specialty care.
Johns Hopkins All Children's · Lakeland
Outpatient care on Lakeland Hills Blvd with therapy services (speech, occupational, physical and audiology) and pediatric specialists.
BayCare · Winter Haven
Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven Women's Hospital (with a NICU) and Bartow Regional Medical Center.
AdventHealth · Lake Wales & Davenport
AdventHealth Lake Wales and AdventHealth Heart of Florida, both with child-friendly ER rooms.
Little ones
Child Care & Free Pre-K
Florida VPK
Free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten for Florida children who turn 4 on or before September 1. Choose a school-year program (540 hours) or summer (300 hours).
Early Learning Coalition of Polk County
Help finding child care, School Readiness financial help and VPK certificates. Call 863-648-1500.
Transportation
Getting Around
School buses
Under Florida rules, students who live more than 2 miles from their zoned school can ride the bus. Parents can track buses with the free MyReaXium app.
Citrus Connection
Polk's public transit runs bus routes across the county plus on-demand rides. Visit ridecitrus.com or call 855-POLKBUS.
Commutes
I-4 connects Lakeland west to Tampa and east through Davenport toward Orlando. See drive times in my Polk County guide.
Questions
School Questions Families Ask
Can you tell me which schools a home is zoned for?
Yes. Before you make an offer, I'll help you check the zoned elementary, middle and high schools with the district's school zone tool. Zones can change, so always confirm with the district.
Can my child go to a school outside our zone?
Possibly. Magnet and choice schools accept applications during the School Choice window each winter, and Controlled Open Enrollment opens in the spring. Charter schools take applications directly.
We're moving mid-year. Is that a problem?
No. You can enroll any time of year once you live in Polk County. Gather your documents ahead of time so the switch is quick.
Ready when you are
Moving to Polk County With Kids?
Let's find a home near the schools, parks and lakes that fit your family.
Local photos via Wikimedia Commons: Lake Morton swan by Butter142 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Lake Mirror, Lakeland by Kiran891 (CC BY-SA 4.0).