Pasco County Schools has earned its first 'A' district grade since 2009, a milestone that touches every campus Wesley Chapel families send their kids to, from Wesley Chapel High to Wiregrass Ranch to Cypress Creek.

Superintendent Dr. John Legg shared details of the turnaround in a July 31 interview with Tampa Bay 28, two weeks before the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 13.

"We moved up 15.15 rankings this year," Legg told anchor Deiah Riley. "If we do another 15, we are going to be in the top 10, and that's our goal."

The district jumped from a B to an A in the state's 2026 school grades, released in early July. For the first time since 2004, every Pasco school earned a C or higher. Last year, eight schools across the district carried D or F ratings. This year: zero.

Gulf Middle's D-to-A leap

Gulf Middle School in New Port Richey produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds statewide, vaulting from a D to an A. Legg called the 796-student school a "blueprint" for other struggling campuses, crediting its principal with rallying teachers around student achievement and removing distractions from the learning environment.

The district's broader strategy focused on phonics and math fundamentals in elementary grades, acceleration programs in middle school, and career and technical education at the high school level.

Truancy court and teacher hiring

One of the more striking initiatives: Pasco revived truancy court mid-year after identifying more than 500 students who had missed more than 50 days in a 90-day stretch. The district had not held truancy court in roughly two decades. The program brings parents before a local judge who issues community support and service requirements. Legg said it has produced "dramatic improvements" in attendance.

On staffing, the picture has shifted sharply. Three years ago, Pasco opened the school year with nearly 350 teacher vacancies. Last year, that number was near zero on the first day. As of July 31, the district still has 30 to 40 openings to fill before Aug. 13. Legg credited a voter-approved referendum passed three years ago with closing the gap and urged voters to renew it.

Safety and AI

Every Pasco campus now has an armed security guard on site, along with upgraded fencing, cameras, and single-point entry where visitors must check in and be escorted. The district also passed AI guidelines during the 2025-26 school year, emphasizing that artificial intelligence should support learning but never replace critical thinking.

What parents should know

Legg identified math and science as the two subjects still needing the most improvement heading into 2026-27. His advice to families before school starts: limit children's screen time and prioritize face-to-face conversation daily.

As we reported July 29, Wesley Chapel homeowners are also looking at higher school taxes under the district's tentative budget. The 'A' grade arrives as context for that spending debate.

School starts Thursday, Aug. 13. The district's remaining 30 to 40 teacher vacancies are concentrated in math and science.