In the summer of 2003, the Chamber of Commerce and a group of business and community leaders began to discuss the need for an improved educational system in Lake Wales. After hours of tireless work and dedication, the Lake Wales Charter School System was formed and parents and teachers from five of the eight area public schools voted to convert to Charter schools. In August 2005, students and teachers arrived at five Conversion Charter Schools:

Hillcrest Elementary
Polk Avenue Elementary
Janie Howard Wilson Elementary
Babson Park Elementary; and
Lake Wales Senior High School

For more information on Lake Wales Charter Schools, please visit:
www.lwcharterschools.com/. Three schools remained under control of the Polk County District:

McLaughlin Middle School
Spook Hill Elementary
Roosevelt Academy

For more information on the Polk County School system, please visit their website at www.polk-fl.net

Charter School Initiative

Questions & Answers for Parents · click here
Questions & Answers for Teachers · click here
Feasibility Study · click here