Polk School District provides an excellent educational program for ALL students to be successful and graduate.  The district implements the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) for English Language Arts and Mathematics, as well as the Georgia Performance Standards Science, Social Studies, CTAE, electives, and connection classes.  These standards are the basis of the curriculum that will be implemented throughout district. The standards and frameworks for each specific core content area and grade level can be found by clicking on the appropriate section of the chart below.

Instruction throughout all grade levels and schools is supported and developed through the access and use of the following traditional and digital resources:  GSE/GPS standards, Classworks, iTunes U, Edugenuity, Georgia Virtual Schools Resources, Lesson Planet, myON Reader, Study Island, USA Test Prep, and other research-based programs.

Polk School District Gifted Program

Polk School District provides educational programs that recognize and make provisions for the needs of exceptional students.  Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade who demonstrate a combination of a high degree of intelligence, academic performance, creative thinking, and motivation are provided with specialized instruction through our gifted programs.

Polk School District Library/Media Program

The media program supports and strengthens the curriculum for Polk School District schools, assists in connecting digital to teaching and learning, and puts standards into action. The media program encourages students to read for learning, read for pleasure, and to read throughout their lives.

In July of 2012, Senate Bill 289 was passed requiring districts to provide students in grades 3 through 12 the option of taking an online course. This legislation does not require an online course to graduate, but provides students the options should the student choose.  This option is provided with the understanding that requests are approved based upon the available infrastructure, either physically or technologically, that a school might have. Students may choose to take online courses during the day or outside of the school day.  Approval will be based upon available access to computers and supervision when the course is requested to be taken during the school day.

Online courses can be accessed through Georgia Virtual School or other vendors and local virtual schools. If the online course is taken during any of the regular periods of the school day, there is no cost to the student for the course. However, if an online course is chosen in addition to the regular schedule, the student may be charged for the course.

To facilitate the process of registration, request will be taken by the office of each school throughout May of each year, beginning in the 2013-2014 school year.  If parents and students choose to take advantage of this option, parents are asked to submit a written request for their child to take a specific online course. This request should be taken to the office for consideration and approval of the local school. Approval for the online course(s) is made by the administration based on availability of equipment, supervision, and technology capabilities.

Online Clearinghouse

There is an online clearinghouse of online courses and online course providers available for parents and students.  The clearinghouse assists in the select process for available courses, online course providers, and guidelines for what constitutes high quality online courses.  The clearinghouse may be accessed by logging onto:  HTTPS://WWW.GADOE.ORG/TECHNOLOGY-SERVICES/PAGES/CLEARINGHOUSEPROVIDERS.ASPX

HB 91 – Student Graduation Tests – Petition for High School Diploma

On Monday, March 30, 2015, Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 91 to create a new code section to O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1, that provides that students shall no longer be required to earn a passing score on any graduation test(s) to earn a high school diploma. It allows students who are no longer enrolled in school to petition the local board of education for a diploma if they meet the following criteria;

1. Student was denied a diploma solely on not achieving a passing score on any of the graduation tests (English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Writing); and

2. Student met all other local and state requirements based upon the graduation requirements in effect when the student first entered ninth grade.

If a previously enrolled student would like to submit a petition for a high school diploma, the student must complete the High School Diploma Petition Form located below.  Once completed, the form can be mailed to:

Polk School District
612 S. College Street
Cedartown, GA  30125

Or submit the form in person at Polk School District Board of Education, located at the above address.  All petitioners must provide a copy of a government issued photo identification such as a valid driver’s license.  If submitting by mail, please include a copy of the photo identification.  Any incomplete information on the petition will delay processing.

DIPLOMA PETITION FORM