The Polk County Board of Public Instruction, which later became the Polk County School Board, was formed in 1869. By the turn of the century, the school district had grown to over eighty schools — and the growth hasn't stopped.Today, Polk County Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the nation, encompassing more than 150 schools and serving more than 100,000 students through both traditional K-12 schools and a variety of other programs. As it grows and innovates, Polk County Public Schools remains true to its mission of delivering a high-quality education to every student … because at Polk County Public Schools, students always come first.