The blower roared like hurricane winds. Water poured down like a flood. Ice piled up like a blizzard's fury.Read More

Elementary students from Polk Central Elementary and Sunny View Elementary brought Christmas cheer to Polk County's senior population through caroling performances at local senior living communities in December.Read More

Polk County Schools nurses recently attended the North Carolina School Nursing Conference in Winston-Salem, thanks to funding from the Polk County Community Foundation.Read More

Saluda Elementary School fourth-graders stepped back in time recently during a visit to Hart Square, where historic buildings and traditional crafts brought their Arts and Letters curriculum to life.Read More

Tryon Elementary School third-graders traveled from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space during a field trip to Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville just before winter break.Read More

Fifth-grade students in Ginger Rackley's class at Saluda Elementary School celebrated their completion of the DARE program with a graduation ceremony before the start of winter break.Read More

Two Polk Central Elementary third-grade teachers have earned a grant to bring an innovative digital math program to their classrooms, helping students explore fractions through interactive missions and personalized learning.Read More

One Polk Central Elementary student summed up Polk County Schools' first math festival with a revelation: they didn't know math could be fun.Read More

Jennifer Goforth has an unusual goal for her work as Title I reading interventionist at Saluda Elementary School - she wants to work herself out of a job.Read More

Tony McMinn's social studies class was discussing major events that had occurred within students' lifetimes when a middle schooler posed a question that exemplifies why he teaches.Read More

A text message from a former student recently reminded Brandi Roddy why she teaches.Read More

Polk County High School's FFA senior land judging team has made history, qualifying for nationals for the seventh consecutive year — the longest active streak in the North Carolina FFA Association.Read More

When Polk Central Elementary teachers learned that nationally recognized behavior specialist Amie Dean would be leading a workshop at Western Carolina University, they jumped at the opportunity to learn from the "Behavior Queen" herself.Read More

The telescopes third graders at Tryon Elementary School decorated this fall weren't inspired by pictures in a textbook. They were inspired by teachers who stood in the Galileo Museum in Florence, Italy, just months earlier, studying the very innovations their students would soon recreate.Read More

Polk County Early College students took center stage last week during a regional discussion panel with the RTI Early College Network, showcasing their educational experiences and contributing to conversations about the future of early college programs.Read More

Saluda Elementary School kindergarten students visited Historic Johnson Farm in Hendersonville recently to explore local history and farm life through hands-on learning experiences.Read More

For Macy Dedmon, success isn’t measured in perfection. It’s measured in perseverance, in the small victories that take the most courage to achieve, and in students who leave her classroom knowing they are believed in, loved and supported. As resource special education teacher at Polk Central Elementary School, Dedmon works with students who learn in...Read More

Jennifer Schweitzer didn't just choose teaching as a career. She chose it as a calling – a way to make a meaningful difference in children's lives, inspired by the dedicated teachers who helped her overcome reading struggles and her mother who poured her heart into 30 years of teaching.Read More

Students at Sunny View Elementary School honored military veterans Thursday with a celebration featuring patriotic songs, student performances and heartfelt expressions of gratitude.Read More

First-grade students at Tryon Elementary School recently embarked on an out-of-this-world learning adventure, exploring moon phases through hands-on activities that connected science with personal goal-setting.Read More

Thirteen Polk County Schools math teachers traded their classrooms for pickleball courts and bowling lanes on Oct. 28, combining social time with deep mathematical thinking at the inaugural Thermal Belt Math Circle event.Read More

Students at Polk Central Elementary School are learning more than reading, writing and arithmetic this year. They're building empathy, resilience and positive relationships through a new social-emotional learning program.Read More

Saluda Elementary School students celebrated Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 27-31 with daily themed activities promoting drug-free lifestyles and healthy choices.Read More

Polk County High School's FFA junior and senior land judging teams completed a regional sweep, winning both fall competitions and advancing to the state contest in November.Read More

When Tryon Elementary Principal Dr. John Mauldin brings a challenge to Miranda Hoots, he knows what response he'll get: "I will take care of it."Read More

Polk Central Elementary School recently hosted a Fall Open House, bringing together families, teachers and community organizations to celebrate student learning and connect families with local resources.Read More

Polk County Early College students brought stories about kindness to elementary classrooms across the district during Read Aloud to a Child Week, combining literacy promotion with important lessons about choosing to be kind.Read More

Roanna Green has come full circle at Saluda Elementary School.Read More

Polk County Early College students traded their textbooks for picture books this week, visiting Polk Central Elementary classrooms to read aloud and inspire younger students during Read Aloud to a Child Week.Read More

For Crystal Lawter, the most rewarding part of her day comes in the simple moments when students stop by the Polk County Middle School office just to say good morning.Read More

Students at Tryon Elementary School are trading pencils for shovels as they lead the creation of a school nature trail and outdoor classroom that will serve both the school and local community.Read More

Banjo the rescue dog became the star of the show when he visited Tryon Elementary School first graders, helping launch their "Creature Features" unit with a real-world connection to animal characteristics.Read More

From examining natural history exhibits to walking nature trails and learning about American Indian cultures, Tryon Elementary School fifth graders immersed themselves in hands-on learning at the Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia on Oct. 9.Read More

North Carolina House Rep. Paul Scott visited Sunny View Elementary School on Oct. 15 to teach fourth and fifth grade students about state government.Read More

Second grade students at Sunny View Elementary School began their study of how life in the American West has changed over time with a visit Tuesday from a member of the Native Cherokee community.Read More

Third grade students at Polk Central Elementary School recently completed a six-week project-based learning partnership with Champions for Wildlife focused on turtle conservation and habitats.Read More

Fifth grade students from Saluda Elementary School visited the Schiele Museum in Gastonia recently to explore American Indian cultures through hands-on learning experiences.Read More

Fourth-grade students from Tryon Elementary School recently visited Alexander Ford to experience the Overmountain Victory Trail, continuing their study of North Carolina's role in the nation's journey to independence.Read More

The Polk County High School Band earned multiple awards at its first competition of the season at the Cedar Cliffs Classic at A.C. Reynolds High School.Read More

Polk County High School and Polk County Early College will begin using Yondr pouches Oct. 20 to help maintain a phone-free learning environment during school hours.Read More

Tryon Elementary School kindergarten students visited Historic Johnson Farm in Hendersonville on Oct. 1 for a hands-on learning experience about farm life and local history.Read More

Tryon Elementary School teacher Mandy Wolfe traveled to Paris this summer after receiving a Slater Excellence in Teaching Award from the Polk County Community Foundation.Read More

Recently retired Polk County Schools Superintendent Aaron Greene has received an Honorary State FFA Degree.Read More

Polk County Middle School students traded their classrooms for the outdoors Monday to learn about fall migration patterns during a guided bird walk.Read More

The Polk County High School farm received maintenance support this summer through an internship position funded by a Polk County Community Foundation grant.Read More

Two Polk County students earned top regional placements at the Western NCFFA Regional Truck and Tractor Career Development Event held Sept. 9 at the Mountain State Fair in Asheville.Read More

Sixth grade students from Polk County Middle School experienced two days of outdoor education at Chimney Rock Park on Sept. 10-11, with the trip fully funded by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Learning Happens Here field trip program.Read More

Brentley Harris has discovered that being a lead custodian means much more than traditional cleaning duties during his 20-year tenure at Saluda Elementary School.Read More

Who says math can't be udderly amazing?Read More

Fourth-grade students in J.J. Waddell's class at Tryon Elementary School are conducting hands-on experiments to learn about electrical circuits and various power sources as part of their science curriculum.Read More

Freshmen students in Holly Stone's World History class at Polk County Early College participated in a mock feudal system activity designed to bring medieval history to life through interactive learning.Read More

Students at Polk Central Elementary School participated in dual educational initiatives Tuesday, launching the Box Turtle Project and celebrating the opening of a new Literacy Trail on campus.Read More

Leah Hudgens understands that student success begins the moment young people walk through the doors at Polk County High School. As the school's receptionist, she serves as the first point of contact for students, families and visitors each day.Read More

Fifth-grade students in Nikki Gilreath's mathematics class at Polk Central Elementary School studied coordinate planes this week as part of their curriculum instruction.Read More

Sunny View Elementary School has received a grant from the Polk County Community Foundation and the Marjorie M. & Lawrence R. Bradley Endowment Fund to establish a comprehensive bluegrass music program for students.Read More

Polk County High School agriculture education teacher Ashley Gilbert was recognized Monday at the Polk County Board of Education meeting for being named one of 24 finalists for the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Career and Technical Teacher of the Year Award.Read More

Polk County Schools demonstrated excellent academic performance in the 2024-25 school year, earning recognition as one of North Carolina's top school districts while several individual schools achieved growth milestones.Read More

Second-grade students in Rachel Culbreth's class at Polk Central Elementary School recently participated in a hands-on learning experience that connected literature to real-world application.Read More

Leslie Meeks has discovered what makes Polk County Schools special through experience at four different campuses across the district.Read More

Fourth-grade students at Polk Central Elementary School participated this week in an outdoor education experience with Champions for Wildlife, exploring the school's nature trail to study living organisms in their natural environment.Read More

Polk County Middle School's Advanced Language Arts students recently stepped outside the classroom to discover how native plants serve as crucial rest stops along bird migration routes.Read More

Polk County Schools has experienced a dramatic increase in student meal participation following a $120,000 grant from the Dogwood Health Trust that enabled free meals for all students during the 2024-25 school year.Read More

The Polk County community will come together on Saturday, Sept. 20th for the 11th Annual Walk/Remembrance, a free event dedicated to ending the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction while honoring those who have lost their lives to these conditions.Read More

The Polk County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $750,000 one-time funding request Monday to help Polk County Schools stabilize its operating budget and replenish its fund balance.Read More

The Pacolet Junior Appalachian Musicians recently launched a satellite instruction program at Sunny View Elementary School, introducing students to traditional music through community participation.Read More

Second-grade students in Stacey Stafford's class at Polk Central Elementary have begun exploring the Arts & Letters curriculum, an integrated approach combining reading instruction with visual arts education.Read More

Students in Jessica Simo's math class at Polk County Early College began the school year with an unconventional lesson in persistence and problem-solving through a series of puzzle challenges designed to build growth mindset.Read More

Polk County Schools students will once again be able to enjoy free breakfast and lunch during the 2025-26 school year.Read More

Academically gifted students transformed digital designs into tangible objects during a week-long "3D Printing with TinkerCad" camp that combined hands-on activities with software-based 3D modeling.Read More

Seventeen local middle school students learned to pilot drones during a pair of week-long camps this summer sponsored by the Polk County Community Foundation and GearUP.Read More

Polk County Schools is proud to celebrate Dr. Christopher Lamar Wilson, Director of Bands at Polk County Middle School, on his recent appointment as the new volunteer director of Bounty of Bethlehem. A Hendersonville native, Dr. Wilson has served in education for 26 years, including a successful tenure as assistant principal at Hendersonville High School before...Read More

Academically gifted students transformed into young forensic scientists this summer during a week-long "Crimebusters" Forensics Camp that combined hands-on laboratory work with mystery-solving scenarios.Read More

Seven elementary students from across Polk County combined scientific exploration with artistic expression during a week-long Creative Cultivators Camp this summer.Read More

Five Polk County teachers traded their traditional classrooms earlier this month for a three-day mathematics immersion experience at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching.Read More

Aspiring young authors spent a week this summer learning the craft of novel writing through an AIG Summer Seminars camp at the Polk County Public Library.Read More

Polk County High School FFA Chapter members earned top honors at the North Carolina FFA Camp Program in June, with their Blue team capturing first place and the FFA Banner for the 14th time.Read More

Fourteen elementary students from across Polk County spent a week in June learning to crack codes, solve puzzles and save their fictional school from an enemy threat.Read More

Five educators from four different Polk County schools participated in the 2025 William Friday Teachers Retreat: Rooted in Resilience, a professional development program held June 29-July 1 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville.Read More

Governor Josh Stein signed comprehensive education legislation into law on July 1 that will fundamentally change how North Carolina students interact with technology during school hours, marking one of the most significant digital safety initiatives in the state's history.Read More

Polk County Schools officially has a new leader.Read More

Polk County Middle School will host its annual Sixth Grade Jumpstart program on Monday, July 21, providing incoming students an opportunity to experience middle school life before the academic year begins.Read More

 Stephanie Uhrich, a fourth-grade teacher at Saluda Elementary School, recently returned from a remarkable 10-day journey to Iceland, a land shaped by the dramatic forces of nature.Read More

Polk County High School agriculture education teacher Ashley Gilbert has been named one of 24 finalists for the prestigious NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Career and Technical Teacher of the Year Award.Read More

Teachers at Saluda Elementary School recently completed A+ Professional Development training, participating in music, theater, art and movement activities designed to enhance classroom instruction.Read More

Polk County High School honored members of its senior class during the school’s traditional Senior Awards Night on May 22 in the school auditorium.Read More

What started as a troubling discovery during a spring science class has blossomed into a hands-on conservation project that's given eighth graders real-world experience while providing shelter for some unexpected pond residents.Read More

Dr. Kim McMinn, principal of Polk Central Elementary School, has completed the Distinguished Leadership in Practice Program, a year-long leadership development initiative for practicing school principals statewide.Read More

An educator well-versed in Polk County Schools and known for his dedication to student-centered learning has been named the new principal at Polk Central Elementary School.Read More

Students from the Polk County High School Band finished up a successful year by receiving numerous accolades at the 2025 Western District Solo and Small Ensemble Music Performance Adjudication held May 9 at Cane Creek Middle School. Read More

Polk County High School celebrated its Class of 2025 on Friday during the school's annual graduation ceremony in G.M. Tennant Stadium.Read More

Polk County Schools held a celebration on May 18 at Polk County High School for Superintendent Aaron Greene, who is retiring in June after more than three decades of service to the district.Read More

Keidi Aguilera, a rising junior at Polk County High School, has been named the recipient of this year's Robert Jason Fox Memorial Award.Read More

Scholastic Books recently brought a reading reward - and a special guest - to Polk County Schools to honor retiring Superintendent Aaron Greene.Read More

Polk County Schools will celebrate graduating students with three ceremonies in late May, beginning with Polk County Early College graduates this week.Read More

Two educators from Polk County Schools have earned spots in the highly competitive Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, joining an elite group of 30 teachers selected statewide for the 2025-26 cohort.Read More

For the second year in a row, Polk County Schools has been honored with the State Superintendent's Purple Star District Award, recognizing the district's commitment to supporting military students and their families.Read More

Polk County High School's FFA chapter demonstrated exceptional skill and preparation at the 2025 NC FFA West Region Rally held April 30 at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, with multiple teams bringing home top honors.Read More

Polk County Early College celebrated the completion Tuesday of a public art installation developed through a creative partnership with acclaimed steel sculptor Bob Doster.Read More

A few spots remain available for the 2025 summer camps organized by Polk County educators for rising 4th-9th grade students. These educational camps, funded by the Polk County Community Foundation, offer unique opportunities for local youth to engage in hands-on learning experiences during the summer break.Read More