We’re in the graduation business … and business is booming!
Polk County’s graduation rate increased to 87.7% in 2025, up 5.5 percentage points from the year before. Polk’s latest graduation rate is the highest in recent memory, and likely a new record.
The grad rate for traditional PCPS high schools (excluding charter and alternative schools) was even better, rising to 92.7% last year for an annual gain of 5.2 points.
“These are outstanding results that reflect the hard work of our students, teachers, school administrators and staff,” said PCPS Superintendent Fred Heid. “We’ve used an intensive process to identify the most effective strategies and provide extra support to our students. Our district grade has increased to a B, and we’re now seeing historic success in our graduation rate. This is why we do what we do. Our community should be proud.”
Florida’s statewide graduation rate climbed to 92.2% last year — also a new record.
Within Polk, 13 of 15 traditional PCPS high schools increased their grad rate in 2025. Some highlights:
- Tenoroc High saw the greatest improvement, jumping 13.1 points annually to a graduation rate of 91.2%.
- Haines City High increased to 91.2%, for a yearly gain of 10.5 points.
- Kathleen High improved by 7.8 points to 86.8%.
- Winter Haven High increased to 94.9%, up 7.6 points from the year before.
- Fort Meade High posted an incredible 99% grad rate, an increase of 7.5 points.
- In addition, Roosevelt Academy made tremendous progress, leaping 12.2 points to a grad rate of 91.7%.
| SCHOOL NAME |
GRADUATION RATE 2025 |
GRADUATION RATE 2024 |
CHANGE (PERCENTAGE POINTS) |
| FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOLS |
92.2% |
89.7% |
2.5 |
| POLK COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS |
87.7% |
82.2% |
5.5 |
| TRADITIONAL PCPS HIGH SCHOOLS |
92.7% |
87.5% |
5.2 |
| AUBURNDALE HIGH |
91.6% |
86.9% |
4.7 |
| BARTOW HIGH |
96.0% |
96.3% |
-0.3 |
| DAVENPORT HIGH |
91.5% |
87.2% |
4.3 |
| FORT MEADE MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH |
99.0% |
91.5% |
7.5 |
| FROSTPROOF MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH |
90.8% |
89.8% |
1.0 |
| GEORGE JENKINS HIGH |
98.9% |
98.1% |
0.8 |
| HAINES CITY HIGH |
91.2% |
80.7% |
10.5 |
| KATHLEEN HIGH |
86.8% |
79.0% |
7.8 |
| LAKE GIBSON HIGH |
91.3% |
92.9% |
-1.6 |
| LAKE REGION HIGH |
87.6% |
80.4% |
7.2 |
| LAKELAND HIGH |
94.8% |
90.8% |
4.0 |
| MULBERRY HIGH |
93.7% |
90.6% |
3.1 |
| RIDGE COMMUNITY HIGH |
91.9% |
88.2% |
3.7 |
| TENOROC HIGH |
91.2% |
78.1% |
13.1 |
| WINTER HAVEN HIGH |
94.9% |
87.3% |
7.6 |