Polk County Public Schools


Polk County Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Bartow, Florida, United States. The district serves Polk County.

Controversies

Intelligent design controversy

In November 2007, four Polk County School Board members interviewed by The Ledger daily newspaper said they would support a resolution advising the Florida Board of Education to revise proposed science standards to include alternative theories to evolution.

Expulsion of student for science experiment

In 2013 the district expelled a 16-year-old girl after her experiment mixing household materials resulted in a small explosion. The student was arrested and charged with possession/discharge of a weapon on school property and discharging a destructive device. Scientists posted tweets condemning the district's response. Tiffany Madison of the Washington Times argued that the district's punishment reflected American schools becoming "mindless, bureaucratic prisons".

School uniforms

The district requires all students in Kindergarten through 8th grade to wear school uniforms.

High schools