All 21 public and charter schools in Wesley Chapel earned a B or higher this year, with a record 18 scoring A's, as Pasco County Schools posted a district-wide A grade and eliminated every D and F campus for the first time in more than two decades.

The Florida Department of Education released grades on July 1. With the Aug. 13 first day of school approaching, the headline number is this: not a single Pasco campus scored below a C, something the 86,000-student district hasn't achieved since 2004.

"This achievement reflects the incredible dedication of our teachers, support staff, administrators, students, and families," Superintendent John Legg said in a district statement on July 2. "An 'A' district rating and the elimination of all schools under state BSI [Bureau of School Improvement] oversight are the result of strong systems, support, and commitment that exist throughout our schools."

The numbers behind Pasco's academic turnaround

District reading proficiency climbed six points to 61%, matching the statewide benchmark, with gains in every grade from third through eighth. Grade 8 math hit 66%. Thirty-one schools improved by at least one letter grade, and 18 earned new A ratings.

The district also went from eight schools under state Bureau of School Improvement oversight to zero. Schools land on that list when academic performance triggers mandatory state intervention. Pasco hadn't cleared the list entirely in years.

Wesley Chapel schools hold steady or climb higher

Closer to home, the results are even stronger. According to Neighborhood News Online, no Wesley Chapel school received a lower grade than it did last year. New River Elementary jumped from a D to an A. Seven other schools moved from B to A: Double Branch, Veterans and Wiregrass elementary schools; Cypress Creek and Weightman middle schools; Innovation Preparatory Academy; and Wesley Chapel High School.

Wiregrass Ranch High School has earned an A every year since 2021-22, serving 2,208 students.

Growth pressures persist despite the academic gains

The achievement comes as Wesley Chapel's rapid residential growth continues to strain school capacity. The district is managing overcrowded campuses on its eastern edge while enrollment declines on the western side. As we reported July 31, the A grade marked Pasco's first since 2009.

Superintendent Legg personally visited Gulf Middle School on June 1 to tell staff their campus was headed to an A after four consecutive D's, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

What's next

Students return Aug. 13. A nonpartisan primary for three school board seats is set for Aug. 18. District 1, which covers parts of Wesley Chapel, is among the open seats after incumbent Al Hernandez announced he would not seek re-election.