Tom Dowling
(863) 297-1051

Collegiate College Starts on WH Campus

08/04/2006: High School will be conducted on Polk Community College’s Winter Haven campus for the first time on Aug. 7 when the Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School begins operating for the first time. Some 65 junior and senior high school students will be attending both high school and college classes on PCC’s Winter Haven campus. (PCC’s academic year begins Aug. 21.)

CHS represents the next level in PCC’s dual enrollment, which allows students to take college-level courses while completing their high school curriculum program.

The goal of some CHS students will be to earn an Associate in Arts degree (transferable to a state university) while others will be pursuing an Associate in Science degree in various technology and health care fields.

Collegiate High School has been operating for the past four years on the Lakeland campus. The success stories are numerous. CHS, Lakeland was recognized by the state this past year as one of the top ten schools in the division for advancing student learning and services through technology. PCC’s Collegiate High School eleventh graders scored the second highest marks among Polk County Schools on the FCAT and much higher that the state average. CHS, Lakeland students received a total of over $955,000 in scholarship monies.

There’s one difference between Lakeland and Chain of Lakes CHS. At the Winter Haven campus, students will be able to take introduction AS courses in Criminal Justice. A retired Tampa Policeman, Doug Bingle, will be one of the CHS teachers. The normal age requirements for these criminal justice courses have been waived.

“Sheriff Grady Judd has a strong commitment to providing internships and future employment to our students,” said Bridget Fetter, new Director of the Chain of Lakes CHS.

CHS is still taking applications for a limited number of spots. For further information call 298-6800.