PASCO SCHOOLS Ramping Up Advanced Classes

 Pasco schools raise the bar with expanded advanced courses. Pasco County Schools is taking a bold step to push more students toward college and career success by expanding advanced coursework across every grade level. Beginning this fall, the district will introduce more dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), and Cambridge AICE classes. At the center of the plan is Journey to Success—a new dual enrollment course offered on every high school campus in partnership with Pasco-Hernando State College. It targets juniors and seniors, especially those with GPAs of 2.5 or higher who haven’t yet taken advanced classes.

The move comes as nearly 60% of Pasco seniors graduate without earning an “acceleration point,” a key measure of college or career readiness. Superintendent Kurt Browning Legg says it’s time for a change. “We need to do something strategic to impact the 2,500 students who haven’t done acceleration,” he said. His goal: “push rigor, push students to rise to the top.” The district is also strengthening its pipeline earlier on—expanding gifted programs in elementary schools and accelerating middle school math so more students reach Algebra by eighth grade.

Student reactions are mixed. Some welcome the opportunity to get a head start on college, while others worry that making courses mandatory could affect classroom focus. Still, many agree that exposure matters. Legg believes this initiative could be transformative. “I have the fundamental belief that all of our students possess some type of giftedness or academic talent,” he said. “This allows access in a meaningful way…to me, this is a win all around.”

The takeaway: By raising expectations and expanding access, Pasco is betting more students will discover their potential—and take the next step toward a brighter future. ♥