Area schools

Six schools serve more than 2,400 students:

- Polk Central Elementary School - Kindergarten through eighth grade. 828-894-8233

- Saluda School - Kindergarten through eighth grade. 828-749-5571

- Sunny View Elementary School - Kindergarten through fifth grade. 828-625-2530

- Tryon Elementary School - Kindergarten through fifth grade. 828-859-6584

- Tryon Middle School - Grades six through eight. 828-859-6636

- Polk County High School - Grades nine through twelve. 828-894-2525

New students will need two documents: a birth certificate and immunization certificate. State law requires immunization against diptheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, red and german measles.

Located on sixty scenic acres just northeast of Columbus and funded through a $14 million bond referendum passed in 1989, Polk County High School has a 750-seat, fully equipped theatre, modern athletic complex, up-to-the-minute science labs, high-tech media center, updated vocational education department, and bright, attractive classrooms. The curriculum, provides a continuum of outcome-based, integrated courses to prepare students for higher education as well as careers.

Curriculum changes continue to be made in all six schools to enhance student learning. Polk County’s student achievement scores, the professional background of its teachers, and the guidance of its forward-thinking, Board of Education give students at every age a competitive edge in the fast-changing job market.

Polk County is a recognized state leader in computer technology applications in the schools. In the past five years Polk County Schools has invested over $1,000,000 from state and local sources to install state-of-the-art technology in each of its schools, providing local area networks (LANS), school-wide servers, CD-ROM technology, VCRs, TVs, laser disc players and automated media centers. All schools have a computer lab staffed by a fulltime technology specialist and are online with the internet. All schools are part of a wide area network (WAN) connected to the state computer network.

Classrooms in every school are networked with the main file server in the media centers to facilitate student research and enhance instructional capabilities. All ninth grade students have been issued laptop computers for use during the school year.

A gifted program, in each school, is designed to challenge and motivate the creativity and intelligence of academically gifted students. Advanced-placement courses offer college credit for statisfactory work in English, U.S. History, Calculus, Biology and Chemistry. The schools participate in TIP, a Talent Identification Program sponsored by Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Polk County Schools offer a day-long program for four-year-olds at four sites: Forbes Preschool Center, Tryon Elementary, Polk Central and Saluda. Polk County Schools’ administrative office is at Stearns Education Center in Columbus. Telephone 828-894-3051.