Polk School District

📌 ⏰ 2025-2026 School Schedules ⏰ 📌

To help you prepare for the upcoming school year, we would like to share our updated school drop-off, start, and end times.

ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS:
🎒 Drop-Off Time - 7:00 AM
🏫 School Start Time - 7:30 AM
🚍 School End Time - 2:30 PM

CMS & RMS SCHOOLS:
🎒 Drop-Off Time - 7:15 AM
🏫 School Start Time - 7:45 AM
🚍 School End Time - 3:20 PM

CHS & RHS SCHOOLS:
🎒 Drop-Off Time - 7:30 AM
🏫 School Start Time - 8:00 AM
🚍 School End Time - 3:25 PM

We’re excited to welcome everyone back on Thursday, August 7, 2025!

✂️✏️2025-2026 Elementary Supply List 📒🖍

Pre-K students will need a regular-sized backpack and one small blanket or towel. Additional information will be given at Pre-K Orientation.

Middle School and High School supply lists will be provided by individual teachers.

‼️SAVE THE DATE ‼️

With the 2025-2026 school year just around the corner, we would like to share the upcoming open house dates! Please check your student's school website/social media pages for further details.

Elementary Schools
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Middle Schools
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

High Schools
Grades 10-12 - Schedule Pick-Up Only
(Refer to the school website/social media for more details)

Freshmen Academy
CHS - Monday, August 4, 2025
RHS - Tuesday, July 29, 2025
(Refer to the school website/social media for more details

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE POLK SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION: The Polk School District Board of Education has conducted extensive interviews for the superintendent’s position over the past few weeks.  The Board has determined that Mark Lumpkin is the best-qualified person for the position.  Pursuant to OCGA 50-18-72(a)(11), records concerning Mr. Lumpkin’s candidacy are subject to inspection and copying.  The Board intends to take a final vote to fill the superintendent’s position at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 17, 2025, at 4:00 P.M. at the Central Office, located at 612 S. College Street, Cedartown, GA 30125.

💛🖤🐝 2025 State Champions 🐝🖤💛 Join us in congratulating Rockmart High School Baseball for their 2-game win over Franklin County to become GHSA AA State Champions! We are #PSDproud!

PRESS RELEASE: POLK SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MOVES FORWARD WITH SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH The Polk County Board of Education continues to work on selecting a new Superintendent of Schools. Planning for the search began in March and the Board engaged Georgia Leadership Associates, a superintendent search firm, to serve as consultants for the search in April. The position was advertised with an application deadline of May 2, 2025, and information about the search has been available on the school system website. The Board also conducted an online survey that was completed by community members and school district staff. On May 12, 2025, the Board began reviewing applications and planning the interview process. After the first round of interviews are completed, the Board will select a small number of candidates for a second round of interviews. The Board received twenty applications for the position. Twelve of the applicants have a doctorate and five of the applicants have superintendent experience. Also, in the search, there are eleven assistant superintendents or system directors, and two principals. The applicants are from five states including Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Maryland, and Virginia. “We are very pleased with the pool of candidates and look forward to continuing the process” stated Mr. Britt Madden, Board Chair. “The Board is committed to selecting an excellent leader for our school system,” he continued.

❗️Community Survey - Deadline May 9th❗️ On behalf of the Polk School District Board of Education, Georgia Leadership Associates is seeking community input from parents, students, and community stakeholders to help determine the most important qualifications of the next Superintendent of Polk School District. This survey only takes a few minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. Your input and support are appreciated. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PolkCountyCommunitySurvey

📢 Georgia Milestones Testing Information 📢 Polk School District students in grades 3-8 and those enrolled in certain high school courses will participate in Georgia Milestones testing. 📝 Grades 3-8: EOG tests in ELA & Math 🧪 Grades 5 & 8: EOG test in Science 🌍 Grade 8: EOG test in Social Studies 🏫 Middle & High School: EOC tests for designated courses Stay informed! An informational presentation and online practice tests are available to help students prepare. Please use the QR Codes on the flyer to access the presentation and the online tests. 📢 Información sobre las Pruebas Georgia Milestones 📢 Los estudiantes del Distrito Escolar de Polk en los grados 3-8, junto con aquellos inscritos en ciertos cursos de nivel secundario, participarán en las pruebas Georgia Milestones. 📝 Grados 3-8: Pruebas EOG en Artes del Lenguaje en Inglés y Matemáticas 🧪 Grados 5 y 8: Prueba EOG en Ciencias 🌍 Grado 8: Prueba EOG en Estudios Sociales 🏫 Escuela Media y Secundaria: Pruebas EOC para cursos designados ¡Manténgase informado! Están disponibles una presentación informativa y pruebas de práctica en línea para ayudar a los estudiantes a prepararse. Por favor, utilice los códigos QR en el folleto para acceder a la presentación y a las pruebas en línea.

🌟 Young Georgia Authors 🌟 Polk School District is proud to announce that two talented students have been selected in the 2024-2025 Young Georgia Authors regional competition, hosted by Northwest Georgia RESA. 🎉 Congratulations to Jud Forsyth and Isaac Reynoso! 🎉 Jud Forsyth is a 5th grade student at Eastside Elementary School. Isaac Reynoso attends Cedartown Middle and is in the 6th grade. The purpose of the Young Georgia Authors (YGA) writing competition is to encourage students to develop an enthusiasm for and expertise in their writing, to provide a context to celebrate their writing successes, and to recognize student achievement in arts and academics. This prestigious competition has been engaging Georgia students for over two decades and is open to any student currently enrolled in Georgia public schools, grades K-12. The competition is sponsored by the Georgia Language Arts Supervisors (GLAS) and the Georgia RESA Network. #psdproud #nwgaresa #younggeorgiaauthors

Happy School Board Appreciation Week to the PSD Board of Education! We appreciate your continued commitment and passion to serve the students and families of Polk County! 💛🖤❤️ #gaschoolboardappreciationweek

📢 Polk School District Proposed Bond Referendum – Early Voting Starts Today! 🗳️ Polk School District is committed to ensuring that our students and teachers have the resources and facilities they need to succeed. As part of that commitment, a bond referendum has been proposed to address critical facility projects across the district. Early voting begins today, and the special election will take place on March 18th. Our goal is to provide accurate, transparent information so that voters can make an informed decision. We encourage our community to review official resources and ask questions. For a full understanding of the proposed bond referendum, we are providing the following materials: 📄 FAQ Sheet – Answers to common questions 📢 Press Release – Overview of the bond referendum 📌 Informational Flyer – Key details at a glance We urge all eligible voters to take the time to learn the facts, ask questions, and participate in this important decision for our schools and community. Your voice matters! 📅 Early Voting: Now through March 14th 🗳 Special Election: Tuesday, March 18th For more information, visit our website: 🌐 https://www.polk.k12.ga.us/page/taxdigest Have questions? 📩 Email us at questions@polk.k12.ga.us Thank you for staying informed and engaged! We are #PSDProud 💛🖤❤️ #YourVoteMatters #InvestingInOurFuture

Join us in congratulating our 2024-2025 STAR students and teachers! The STAR Program is designed to recognize high school seniors who have the highest SAT score in their graduating class and meet all the other program requirements. The STAR Student chooses a STAR Teacher to recognize the educator who has had the biggest influence on their academic career. Congratulations to Maddox Minge (CHS) and Colby Wilson (RHS) for this distinguished achievement! We are #PSDProud 💛🖤❤️ Cedartown High School: Student - Maddox Minge Teacher - Jennifer Cupp Rockmart High School: Student - Colby Wilson Teacher - Nikki Worrell

❄️ Winter Weather Update & Safety Reminder ❄️ As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff, we are closely monitoring updates from state and local emergency management agencies regarding the forecasted winter weather that could impact our area tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19, 2025. We will provide updates if any developments occur. With extremely cold temperatures expected in the coming days, we encourage everyone to dress appropriately for the weather by wearing warm layers, coats, hats, and gloves to stay safe from the cold. Please take precautions to protect yourself and your family from the frigid temperatures. We appreciate your understanding and continued partnership. Stay warm and stay safe! ❄️🧣🧤

📚✨ Sweet Treats & Young Authors Celebration! ✨📚 The Ferst Readers of Polk County is excited to host a Sweet Treats & Young Authors Celebration to recognize our Polk School District Young Georgia Authors winners! 🎉🏆 🍰 Silent Cake Auction & Gift Basket Raffles! Join us for an afternoon of celebration, delicious treats, and community fun as we honor these talented student writers! Everyone is welcome! 📅 Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 📍 Location: PCCCA Cedartown Campus - HON Room Let's come together to celebrate our young authors and support literacy in Polk County! 💛🖤❤️ #YoungGeorgiaAuthors #FerstReaders #PSDProud

Happy School Resource Officer Appreciation Day to our phenomenal Polk School District Police officers that work tirelessly to serve the students and families of Polk County. Thank you for everything you do to ensure the safety and security of our students, staff, schools, and community! 💛🖤❤️

🌟 Empowering Educators, Supporting Students! 🌟 Polk School District is proud to partner with Pathways to Partnerships (P2P), Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) District Manager Scott Hendrix, and his exceptional team to provide valuable professional learning opportunities for our Exceptional Students Staff at Cedartown Middle, Cedartown High, Rockmart Middle, and Rockmart High School. During this impactful session, educators: ✅ Reflected on and discussed their dreams for students with disabilities. ✅ Gained insight into the Pathway to Dreams initiative, providing early intervention in soft skills, career exploration, and transition planning for 8th graders. ✅ Explored GVRA services from middle school through high school, ensuring students receive support every step of the way. ✅ Engaged with GVRA and NWGACIL to better understand the resources available to students and families. ✅ Left with valuable tools to assist families in accessing support for their children’s future success. This session strengthened our mission to equip students with disabilities with the skills and resources they need for a seamless transition into high school and beyond. 📚🎓 We are #PSDProud! 💛🖤❤️ #SupportingStudents #EmpoweringEducators #PathwaysToSuccess

Polk School District Opts In to Georgia House Bill 581 Please see the attached release and check out some key facts about HB 581. 💛🖤❤️ This information can also be found on our website at https://www.polk.k12.ga.us/page/taxdigest

📚 Free Online Tutoring for Students! 📚 Polk School District is excited to share that Varsity Tutors, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, is offering free online tutoring sessions to help students prepare for the upcoming Georgia Milestones or receive additional academic support. 🔹 Get ready for Georgia Milestones testing 🔹 Strengthen skills in challenging subjects 🔹 Access free, high-quality tutoring 💡 Upcoming Sessions: 📝 Habits of Successful Test Takers – Register Here https://info.varsitytutors.com/habits-of-successful-test-takers 📖 Efficient, Effective Reading Strategies – Register Here https://info.varsitytutors.com/efficient-effective-reading-strategies 📌 Additional Resources: 📖 GA Milestones Parent Resources: https://lor2.gadoe.org/gadoe/file/65da261d-7393-457b-bd7e-b7721b2f15cf/1/GM_Parent_Resources.pdf 📝 GA Milestones Test Practice & Online Guides: Click Here https://wbte.drcedirect.com/GA/portals/ga Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to support student success! 🎯 #PSDProud #MilestonesReady #StudentSuccess

🎉IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE CTAE!🎉 The month of February celebrates Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE). CTAE Month is a public awareness campaign designed to recognize the value, achievements and accomplishments of CTAE programs across the country. CTAE directly prepares students for high-wage, high-demand professions through real-world experience and training throughout their high school career. Our programs offered through Polk County College and Career Academy cover various fields, including health care, agriculture, construction, welding, automotive technology, engineering, and more! “The mission of CTAE is to educate Georgia’s future workforce by engaging students in experiences that will prepare them for workplace success,” The Georgia Department of Education states. “Through CTAE, students see the relevance of their high school efforts to their future career goals.” The curriculum is preparing Georgia’s students for their future, whether that is college, beginning a career, registered apprenticeships or the military. Each Program Concentration has Career Pathways with three or four specialized courses developed to provide students with rigorous core elements, performance standards and skills necessary after high school graduation. 📌 CTAE delivers: ✅ Hands-on experience & workforce skills ✅ Real high school experiences with added value ✅ Opportunities for college & rewarding careers Another key part of CTAE Month is recognizing our Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)! These organizations play a vital role in preparing students for leadership and success in their chosen careers. Through competitions, leadership training, service projects, and conferences, students gain invaluable skills that help shape their futures. Join us in celebrating CTAE Month and the amazing students, teachers, and industry partners who make these opportunities possible! 👏 We are #PSDProud! ❤️🖤💛 #CTAEDelivers #PCCCAProud #psdtheplacetobe