About the Program

The Florida Opportunity Scholarship Program is open for any eligible student who is assigned to attend a school that received a performance grade of F in the prior year or three (3) consecutive grades of D.  The program does not provide monetary assistance but rather provides an opportunity for the student to attend a designated school that is graded C or better.

Applications for Polk school transfers will be processed within 48 hours of submission, and acceptance will be sent via email. Parents must take a copy of the email acceptance letter to the school to enroll your child. Transportation services arrangements will take a minimum of 10 days. All students accepting an Opportunity Scholarship transfer must be enrolled at the new school by Monday, July 25, 2022 at 4 PM. Please contact the transfer school for additional information.

If you have not received a Parent Notification Letter by July 18, 2022 , and your student is assigned to attend one of the eligible schools below for the 2022-2023 school year, you may complete an Opportunity Scholarship application. A review of your application will be completed in order to determine the school your student is eligible to attend through the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Eligibility

The Opportunity Scholarship transfer is only available to students who meet the eligibility criteria as defined by the Florida Department of Education.  A public school student’s parent may request and receive an Opportunity Scholarship transfer for the student to enroll in and attend a higher performing public school if:

  • The student spent the prior school year in attendance at a public school that has earned a grade F or three consecutive grades of D;
  • The student has been in attendance elsewhere in the public school system and has been assigned to a public school that has earned a grade F or three consecutive grades of D for the next school year; OR
  • The student has been assigned to a public school that has earned a grade F or three consecutive grades of D for the next school year.

Know Your Options

As an Opportunity Scholarship beneficiary, you have the following options for your child.

  • Remain enrolled at your zoned school; If you wish to remain at your currently zoned school, you do not need to take any action. The school, the school district, and the Florida Department of Education are working together to implement innovative approaches at your existing, zoned school to increase performance and help all students succeed.
  • Transfer your student to a designated “C” or better graded Polk district public school; this option includes district-provided transportation services.
  • Transfer your student to a “C” or better graded public school in another district, as long as space is available; this option does not offer transportation services. Please contact the transfer district for information on your options.

Impacted Schools

For the 2022-2023 school year, Polk County Public Schools has received notification from the Florida Department of Education that the following schools will offer Opportunity Scholarship transfers. This determination is based on the 2021-2022 school grade. If you choose to transfer your student to a higher-performing public school within our district, the designated school is available and transportation will be provided for the 2022-2023 school year.

Elementary Schools

  • Elbert Elementary School
Current grade Transfer School Location Serving Grades
Kindergarten – 5 Garden Grove Elementary 4599 Cypress Garden Rd.
Winter Haven, Fl 33884		 Kindergarten – 5

Learn More

For more information about the Opportunity Scholarship Program, please visit the FL Department of Education’s Opportunity Scholarship Program webpage.

FLDOE Website
FLDOE FAQ's