June 3, 2011 – One of Polk County’s best high schools celebrated its “best and brightest” at a recognition ceremony last night at Polk State College, in Winter Haven. The event celebrated the honors and achievements of the largest graduating class ever at Polk State’s Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School, one of two charter schools run by the college.

According to the school’s founding director, Bridget Fetter, the highlights of the 131-member class included:

• 100% graduation rate
• 85% graduating with honors
• Over a third of the class graduated with an Associate’s degree from Polk State College (in addition to a high school diploma from Chain of Lakes)
• Over 40% will have earned an Associate’s degree by the end of this summer
• Over 6,000 college credits earned, prior to high school graduation
• Over 22,000 community service hours earned
• 100% qualified as “college-ready” for mathematics (compared to national average of 57% for high school graduates)
• Over $2,000,000 in scholarships earned

According to Fetter, even those statistics fail to tell “the whole story” of this class: “We are even more proud of the sorts of young men and women these students have become. They are a credit to our school, to their families, and to themselves.”

Over one-third of the school's graduating seniors have earned Associate's degrees from Polk State College, as well as their high school diplomas.

Polk State College’s President, Dr. Eileen Holden, praised the work that Fetter and the faculty and staff at the high school have done. “These students are such an excellent example of what Polk County wants for its future. I would put these students up against the best that anyone has to offer, anywhere in the country.”

“Polk State is proud that so many are already alumni of the College,” said Holden, ”And we look forward to welcoming all of them back, either as alumni or as students, continuing their pursuit of excellence.”

Dr. Sharon Miller, Provost of Polk State’s Winter Haven campus, notes that the high school recently received permission from the Polk County School Board to expand the number of student slots available, and that the high school’s new facility will be completed later this summer, in time for the coming school year: “It’s a relatively new school with a brand-new facility, but already the tradition they are building is impressive.”

As Fetter says, “This year’s graduates understand the idea of legacy — and they’ve certainly left one!” 

For more information on the Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School at Polk State College, visit http://www.colpsc.com.