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(Editor's Note: Lake Wales High School is not included in this report, since it is part of the charter system and not considered a traditional Polk high school. Its graduation rate will be reported separately.)

Polk County Public Schools' graduation rate jumped to 86.5 percent last year - a new record high - even as seniors faced unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic.

The district's latest graduation rate was a 5.3 percentage point increase from the previous year (81.2 percent in 2018-19), according to the Florida Department of Education.

"I am so proud of our teachers, staff, stud...