Polk State collegiate high schools celebrate 2019 graduates

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

More than 400 students are receiving their high school diplomas from Polk State College’s three collegiate high schools this month, although many already have their college degrees in hand.

Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School will graduate its 12th class Friday, May 17, at 5:30 p.m. in the Polk State Winter Haven Health Center, 999 Ave. H, N.E.

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School will graduate its 15th class Tuesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the Polk State Winter Haven Health Center.

And Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High School will graduate its sixth class on Wednesday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m., also in the Polk State Winter Haven Health Center.

Polk State’s charter high schools allow students to simultaneously complete requirements for their high school diplomas while earning college credits. In many cases, students graduate with both their high school diplomas and Associate in Arts degrees.

The majority of students graduating from the collegiate high schools received their college degrees during Polk State’s 120th commencement ceremony May 2.

Here is a detailed look at the 2019 graduating classes:

Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School

  • 158 graduates
  • 85 graduates received Polk State Associate in Arts degrees
  • The average student earned 58 college credits
  • 82 graduates have a high school grade-point average (GPA) of 4.0 or greater
  • The class completed more than 30,000 community service hours
  • The class earned nearly $2 million in scholarships
  • Graduates will continue their education at all State University System institutions, Florida Southern College, Florida Polytechnic University, Stetson University, Flagler College, and more
  • Gabrielle McLaren is valedictorian with a 4.742 GPA
  • Jessica Luongo is salutatorian with a 4.705 GPA

Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School

  • 157 graduates
  • 110 graduates received Polk State Associate in Arts degrees
  • The average student earned 59 college credits
  • 97 graduates have a high school GPA of 4.0 or greater
  • The class completed 26,660 community service hours
  • The class earned more than $3.5 million in scholarships
  • Graduates will continue their education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, West Point Military Academy, Lousiana State University, Baylor University, University of Alabama, Appalachian State University, University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and more
  • Rylan Taylor is valedictorian with a 4.703 GPA
  • Katherine Cossin is salutatorian with a 4.692 GPA

Polk State Lakeland Gateway to College Collegiate High School

  • 116 graduates
  • 44 graduates received Polk State Associate in Arts degrees
  • The average student earned 42 college credits
  • 15 graduates have a high school GPA of 4.0 or greater
  • The class completed 13,136  community service hours
  • The class earned more than $2 million in scholarships
  • Graduates will continue their education at Polk State College, all State University System institutions, Louisiana State University, University of Alabama, Stetson University, Howard University, Alabama State University, Valdosta State University, Florida Southern College, Southeastern University, Florida Memorial University, North Carolina A & T University, FAMU, George Southern University, Lynn University, and more
  • Mareli Perez is valedictorian with a 4.5 GPA
  • Molly Mines is salutatorian with a 4.475 GPA

The collegiate high schools have had a successful year. Polk State Chain of Lakes and Polk State Lakeland Collegiate received A grades for the 2017-2018 school year and retained their designations as high-performing charter schools for the fourth consecutive year. They also ranked No. 1 out of 448 public high schools in Florida for their 100 percent four-year graduation rates and were designated as Schools of Excellence by the State Board of Education.

And while Polk State Lakeland Gateway to Collegiate does not receive a school grade from the Florida Department of Education per its charter, it does receive a school improvement rating, which was “commendable” for 2017-2018. This is the highest rating achievable and Lakeland Gateway to Collegiate was the only school in Polk County to achieve this status for this academic year.

For more information about Polk State’s collegiate high schools, visit www.polk.edu/charter-high-schools.