In spring 2026, 52% of Polk County students in grades 3 to 10 read on grade level. That is 9 points below the state (61%) and up 4 points from 48% in 2025. The district serves about 134,219 students.
Open Polk on the interactive mapPolk County's reading rate rose 4 points this year; the state as a whole rose 4 points. The district spent $10,415 per student in 2024-25 from state, local and federal funds, $1,116 less than the state average of $11,531. Across Florida, spending per student shows no clear link to reading rates, because higher spending often reflects higher need or a small district.
| Children under 18 below the poverty line, 2020-2024 | 21.3% | State 16.5% |
| Children who started kindergarten ready, fall 2024 | 36% | State 43% |
| Advertised teacher vacancies per 1,000 students, January 2026 | 3.1 | State 0.9 |
| English learners, approximate share of students | ≈8.8% | State ≈10.2% |
Kindergarten readiness and child poverty track reading rates more closely than anything else measured across Florida's 67 districts.
On November 3, 2026, Polk County voters approved a new school funding measure: 1 mill property tax. It passed with 60% of the vote. First voter-approved school millage in Polk. About $65.6 million a year, roughly 80% for employee pay.
Pledged for: Employee pay (about 80%), plus arts and safety. Expected to raise: About $65.6 million a year. No spending report has been published yet.
Source: WUSF; Central Florida Public Media
A homesteaded home assessed at $350,000 pays an estimated $2,049 a year in school property taxes in Polk County, at about 6.305 mills, including 1 voter-approved mill. This uses the statewide average for the state-required rate and leaves out debt levies, so your tax bill will differ. Try your own home value.
The five Florida districts most similar in size, child poverty and kindergarten readiness. A fairer comparison than the state average.
| District | Reading 2026 | Change | Ready for kindergarten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk | 52% | +4 | 36% |
| Osceola | 56% | +5 | 38% |
| Escambia | 55% | +4 | 36% |
| Duval | 54% | +4 | 39% |
| Lee | 54% | +5 | 37% |
| Marion | 51% | +3 | 36% |
Reading: Florida Department of Education, spring 2026 FAST English Language Arts results. Spending: FLDOE per-pupil expenditure report, 2024-25. Poverty: Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 via FLHealthCHARTS. Kindergarten readiness: FLDOE, fall 2024. Vacancies: Florida Education Association count, January 8, 2026. English learners: FLDOE, spring 2024. Enrollment: 2026-27 state funding calculation. Full sources and limits.