Education

PRE K-12 EDUCATION

As a part of Polk County Public Schools, the eighth largest school district in Florida, Winter Haven has a variety of options for your family no matter what stage of life or educational development. Polk County Public Schools also boasts over 100 career academies embedded at their schools, which focus on careers from veterinary medicine to marketing to robotics and more. In addition to the numerous traditional public schools, the Winter Haven area has several magnet, choice, and charter public schools.

We are also privileged to have premier private schools that meet the needs of many of our families, as well as strong homeschooling networks, schools for students with special needs, and two Montessori schools.

The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce launched an Educational Outcomes initiative to determine ways the community can become involved in the public school system and help to improve the educational outcomes of our students. As a direct result, the Winter Haven Public Education Partnership (PEP) was formed, comprising of educators, teachers, business leaders, elected officials, and citizens. This groundbreaking community activism has been an integral part of the successes of our schools. They continue to work on the greatest challenges affecting Winter Haven public schools through community partnerships, collaboration, and listening to the needs of school faculty, staff, and students.

WINTER HAVEN HAS A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR YOUR FAMILY NO MATTER WHAT STAGE OF LIFE OR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. HIGHER EDUCATION

FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

Florida Polytechnic is the state’s only university completely focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. They have established themselves as a university with a rigorous curriculum, advanced research equipment, and a focus on solving industry problems with creative solutions. The curriculum is based on the principle that innovation occurs when research and creativity are applied to real-world challenges. Florida Poly is located just ten minutes from Winter Haven.

SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

Southeastern University, located just 25 minutes from Winter Haven, is a Christian institution that provides college students with a chance to find their divine design through educational courses, sports, and on-campus opportunities. Southeastern offers over 70-degree options to choose from, ranging from business, arts, healthcare, ministry, aviation, and more.

KEISER UNIVERSITY

Keiser University is a private, not-for-profit university in Lakeland offering careerfocused undergraduate and graduate degrees on campus and online.

WARNER UNIVERSITY

Warner University, located 25 minutes from Winter Haven in Lake Wales, is a faith-based university that offers 33 majors, including Agriculture, Church Ministry, Education, Communications, and more. They desire to guide their students toward Christ-like character and intellectual maturity.

WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Webber International University’s mission is to offer students an array of business, liberal arts and sciences and preprofessional programs of study that create life-transforming education opportunity which is practical in its application, global in its scope and multi-disciplinary in its general education core. They attract students from all over the world to their campus just 14 miles from Winter Haven. They also offer an MBA program.

POLK STATE COLLEGE

Polk State College was founded in 1964 to serve the higher education needs of Polk County. Today, the College annually serves more than 20,000 credit and non-credit students and offers both associates degrees as well as fully accredited bachelor’s degrees. Winter Haven is the home of Polk State College’s first permanent campus with 20 buildings on a 99-acre site overlooking beautiful Lake Elbert and includes the College’s district offices. Other locations include Lakeland, Lake Wales, and Bartow.

Polk State ranks second in the Florida State College System institutions in job-placement, well exceeding the statewide job placement average. In fact, 96.9% of Polk State students graduate with a job or with plans for advanced education. The Polk State Corporate College and Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center continue to specialize in the creation and delivery of custom education and training programs.