About our School

Who We Are

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School is a Polk State College charter school authorized through a contract with the Polk County School Board. The school’s purpose, which includes the mission, vision, beliefs, and student objectives, is aligned with the charter contract.

Overall Purpose:

Lakeland Collegiate, an accelerated early-college experience

Vision Statement

CHS students will:

  • Engage in a diverse small learning community on Polk State College’s Lakeland campus where they are respected and valued
  • Master rigorous academic expectations and build college readiness skills
  • Determine career pathways that align with their interests and skills
  • Demonstrate civic-minded and service-oriented leadership
  • Develop healthy interpersonal relationships and team-building skills

Mission Statement

The CHS mission is to provide a supportive on-campus early college experience for high school students.

Requirements

You must be a high school junior or senior with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify for Lakeland Collegiate’s AA (Associate of Arts) degree program. In addition, you must have a minimum of 11 high school credits at the end of your tenth-grade year and be on track for earning a standard Florida high school diploma.

Cost

It is free to attend Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School. You can earn college credits at no cost to you. The program even supplies college textbooks at no charge (textbooks are on a loan voucher program and must be returned at the end of each semester).

Location

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School is located at the Polk State Lakeland Campus. However, with the approval of your guidance counselor, you can take college classes at any Polk State location. You can also take classes during the summer and evenings at no additional cost. Lakeland Collegiate has advisors to help you find the schedule and coursework that best fit your special talents, plans, and capabilities. Upon acceptance, an initial academic planning meeting is scheduled to create a study plan for your last two high school years. Your counselor will guide and advise you through the process of registration and choosing classes.

Demographics

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate has had an average enrollment rate of 334 students per year over the past two years, and the current enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is 347 students. The demographic makeup of the student population includes the following:

62% Female

38% Male

65% White

7% Black

21% Hispanic

7% Other (Multiracial, Indian, and Asian)

Approximately 24% of the enrolled students meet the requirements for free or reduced-price lunches.

“Lakeland Collegiate, an accelerated early college experience.”