Polk County board unanimously approves comprehensive high‑school rezoning after months of planning
Summary
The Polk County School Board unanimously approved a comprehensive high‑school rezoning plan Jan. 27, 2026, after trustees and staff described years of community engagement and a phased implementation that superintendent said will phase in roughly 600 students over four years.
The Polk County School Board voted unanimously Jan. 27 to adopt a comprehensive high‑school rezoning plan aimed at addressing rapid enrollment growth and reducing reliance on portable classrooms. Board members and staff framed the plan as the result of extensive data work, community feedback and attendance‑boundary deliberations.
Board member Dr. Allen cited Polk County’s recent growth — describing roughly 14.6% growth over five years — and said rezoning is necessary to ‘‘right‑size’’ facilities and improve program and safety outcomes. Board members from multiple districts praised the planning staff for outreach and said they were persuaded the numbers and timing were appropriate.
The superintendent clarified how the plan will be implemented: students who are currently ninth through eleventh graders will be allowed to remain at their current schools unless they choose to move; ninth graders starting next year will attend the newly zoned schools. Hyde said the roughly 600‑plus students referenced in board discussion will be phased in over a four‑year period, and that school choice options and staggered implementation were factored into transportation and traffic planning.
Trustees acknowledged specific concerns raised during prior meetings and town halls, including traffic near Lakeland High on Hollingsworth Road, the need to protect specialized programs (for example, magnet or career‑technical offerings shared across campuses) and the district’s portable‑classroom footprint. Board members said staff addressed those concerns in outreach documents and that additional transportation routing work would continue as rezoning is implemented.
The board’s vote followed remarks from members who said the process was unusually transparent and well‑publicized. With no formal amendments on the floor, the motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: the district will begin messaging families and outlining opt‑in/opt‑out procedures for affected students, and staff said they will continue community engagement as middle‑ and elementary‑school boundary work proceeds.
