Local Charter School Announces Expansion at Polk State College

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

This week’s meeting of the Polk State College District Board of Trustees included an encouraging announcement by Bridget Fetter, principal of Polk State’s Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School. According to Fetter, the Polk County School Board has announced an increase to the maximum enrollment for the thriving charter school, located at Polk State College’s Winter Haven campus: enrollment capacity will increase to 270 for the 2011-2012 school year.

Fetter advised the Polk State College board members that demand for slots in the charter school has remained high. The charter high school, one of two operated by the College, will be moving into a new facility in August, with construction scheduled to conclude just prior to the beginning of the Fall term.

The new facility will allow Chain of Lakes Collegiate to accommodate the additional students and to offer enhanced curriculum initiatives, said Fetter. Those initiatives include:

STEM Focus – A cohort of students will be exposed to the content knowledge that promotes the process of scientific research in science, technology, engineering, and math. The student will learn to write a thesis statement and collect and analyze data and present topics in a structured manner using authentic, acceptable scientific methods.

Service Learning Leadership – A cohort of students will take one course per term that will include a substantial service learning component. The student’s service to the community will enhance course content, while honing leadership and communication skills and expanding networking opportunities in the community.

Digital Media Production – Through a combination of high school and college courses, students choosing this program will report and chronicle events at Polk State College and Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School through print, photography, and video production.

Last year Chain of Lakes Collegiate juniors led the county in FCAT Science scores, and the school continues to be described by Polk State College President Eileen Holden as “a true pace-setter in academic excellence.”

For more information about opportunities at Polk State’s Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School, call (863) 298-6800.