PCPS School Choice Application Window Opens Monday, Jan. 8
Posted on 01/03/2024
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Polk County Public Schools will begin accepting school choice applications on Monday, Jan. 8, for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

This is an opportunity for families to apply for their students to attend a variety of PCPS programs, including:

  • Magnet/choice schools
  • Career academies
  • International Baccalaureate and Cambridge

Families must submit their applications online via Parent Portal during the application window from Jan. 8 to Feb. 16. All applications are chosen based on a lottery system (with the exception of IB/Cambridge, which have academic requirements).

PCPS is hosting a series of School Choice Showcases in January and February to give families a chance to explore their school options. Each showcase will highlight the options available at PCPS schools in the surrounding community. The showcases will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Tuesday, Jan. 30 – AdventHealth Fieldhouse (Winter Haven)
  • Thursday, Feb. 1 – Bartow Civic Center (Bartow)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 6 – Lake Eva Event Center (Haines City), McLaughlin Academy of Excellence (Lake Wales)
  • Thursday, Feb. 8 – Lakeland Square Mall (Lakeland)

For more information about PCPS magnet/choice schools, please call 863-534-0631 ext. 788. For questions about career academies, please call 863-519-8438 ext. 1. IB and Cambridge questions should be directed to 863-534-0631 ext. 794.

Please see PCPS School Options for more info.

School Choice Priority Window Instructions - https://www.polkschoolsfl.com/quicklinks/applicationinstructions

Open Enrollment Application Tutorial Video

 

FAQs are available for PCPS Magnet Schools and Career Academies; please see the bottom of the linked pages.


Additional details:

  • The application window is only for magnet schools, career academies and programs such as IB and Cambridge. In April we will begin taking applications for Controlled Open Enrollment (COE), which allows you to apply to any school (excluding magnet schools) that still has seats open for next year. We'll have more info once COE begins.
  • Registration for Head Start and VPK is not part of the current window. You'll be able to apply online for Head Start/VPK beginning in March. More details will be provided as we get closer.
  • If you're new to the area or have a child who will be starting school next year, you don't need to do anything special to attend your zoned school. Just follow the instructions at https://www.polkschoolsfl.com/studentsandparents/enroll.
  • School choice and COE applications are selected via lottery system. If your child is already enrolled in a magnet school/career academy you don't need to reapply every year -- they can remain at that school until it's time to move on to middle or high school.