Polk County Early College is an initiative of Polk County Public Schools. This is a program to assist high school students in taking college courses while still enrolled in high school.

Students can pursue a five-year program to achieve a high school diploma and a two-year associate’s degree. These students are motivated to achieve high goals, which include managing projects for the good of the local community.

Recently the students, spearheaded by Mikayla Newton, focused on a project to benefit Foothills Humane Society (FHS).  From August through October of this year, the students developed several creative ways to collect money and goods for the animals at the shelter.  This even included an outdoor movie for Halloween evening; admission was pet supplies.