Ridge Technical Academy: Top Charter High School in Winter Haven (2026 List)

About Ridge Technical Academy

Ridge Technical Academy is a specialized public high school in Winter Haven, Florida, that serves students in grades 9 through 12. It is one of the best schools for career and technical education and has about 180 students in a focused learning environment. The school is known as one of the best because it teaches by doing and offers vocational programs. The student body is diverse, with 64% of students being minorities and 60% being economically disadvantaged. Ridge Technical Academy is part of the Polk County Public Schools and gets about $10,131 per student from the district. The school is one of the best for training that is in line with the needs of the workforce, and it also runs college entrance exams like the ACT and SAT. It is known as one of the best schools for getting students ready for the workforce right away or for more technical training. The school keeps a professional and growth-oriented environment, and it is one of the best high schools in Florida.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 0%

Reading 0%

State average proficiency is 0% in Math and 0% in Reading.

7

Full-time Teachers

20 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

143

Total Students

$66972

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 36.36%

Asian 0%

Hispanic 45.45%

Black 16.78%

Two+ Races 0.7%

Native Am. 0%

White

36.36%

Asian

0%

Hispanic

45.45%

Black

16.78%

Two+ Races

0.7%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 143

27.97%

40 Female

72.03%

103 Male

Student Population

143 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 20 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Ridge Technical Academy Contact Information

Address

7700 STATE ROAD 544, WINTER HAVEN, FL, 33881

View on Map

Phone

(863) 419-3060

Call Now

Website

http://www.polkedpathways.com/ridge-technical-college/

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:15 AM to 1:50 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:00 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Through hands-on career tracks like the Veterinary Academy and Culinary Arts program, Ridge Technical Academy students are getting valuable real-world experience. They work with animals and compete in local industry competitions. The Discovery Center, a 20,000-square-foot facility that will open this fall, will also help the school add new immersive learning experiences. It will give students specialized training in financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Also, students are using the newest classroom technology, thanks to new tools and furniture that have been updated to meet the needs of modern workforce training.

FAQ

Q1. How does Ridge Technical Academy get students ready for success in the future?

Ans. Planning, skill-building, and guidance programs help students make the transition to college, vocational training, or a job.

Q2. Does Ridge Technical Academy make it easy for students to learn?

Ans. Yes, Ridge Technical Academy stresses inclusion, staff support, and learning to gether to help all students do well.

Q3. What does Ridge Technical Academy do to help students get ready for life after graduation?

Ans. College planning, men to ring, and skill-building programs help students move on to higher education, vocational paths, or jobs.

Q4. Do students get help with standardized tests?

Ans. Yes.The school has resources to help students get ready for the SAT and ACT tests.

Q5. Are students allowed to go to cultural and arts events?

Ans. Yes, Ridge Technical Academy encourages students to be creative by offering programs in music, theater, and the visual arts.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say