It’s no secret that Polk County is a growing community, with some areas experiencing significant population shifts over the last decade.
As a result, some schools may be crowded, while others have available classroom space because enrollment has decreased.
PCPS is taking an important step — called comprehensive rezoning — to balance enrollment in our schools and maximize available resources to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education — regardless of where they live.
Rezoning is the process of adjusting school attendance boundaries. Comprehensive rezoning takes a complete look at all school boundaries to determine how to adjust for the most efficient use of available resources, and balance enrollment.
The school district is now exploring various options for adjusting the attendance boundaries of high schools.
IMPORTANT NOTE: No decision has been made yet on how high school boundaries will be adjusted. The 2025-26 school year will continue with the current boundaries in place. The entire community will be invited to share feedback on possible options to change attendance boundaries. PCPS will provide families the opportunity to respond to surveys and attend one of five regional public meetings before anything is presented to the Polk County School Board for final consideration.
The anticipated timeline is outlined below:
- Aug. 12, 2025 – The School Board will review the final versions of any recommendations to be shared with the public for feedback The board will vote on the proposal only — and this is not a vote to formally approve the changes. The vote only serves to direct the district to begin its community meetings and gather feedback for the board to consider.
- Sept. 23, 2025 – The district will share the results of the community meetings and all survey data collected from parents.
- Oct. 28, 2025 – The School Board will vote to approve the proposed changes, or may direct the superintendent to gather additional input or revise the proposal further.
The School Board could make a final decision and approve new high school boundaries by October — depending on community feedback received and the direction given by board members.
The goal is to complete the comprehensive rezoning of high schools and implement new boundaries by the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Comprehensive rezoning is more than just changing lines on a map. These boundaries can have significant impact on our families. That’s why PCPS is committed to supporting every student and family through this process.
PCPS will implement new boundaries for high schools responsibly, and take steps to limit the disruption to our families.
The school district will NOT require students currently enrolled in one of our high schools to switch to a different school site. Those students can remain where they have already started their high school academic career.
We are also developing a policy to address siblings, aiming to keep families together where feasible and practical.
A similar “grandfathering” policy will be applied to high school students currently enrolled in specific districtwide magnet programs or specialized academies. They also can remain where they have started their high school career.
These policies are still being developed, and more information will be shared soon.
PCPS will be hosting virtual and in-person information sessions over the coming months to walk through the new boundaries, answer specific questions, and gather feedback on the implementation process. Dates and times for these sessions will be posted on our website and social media.