The Pasco County School Board has approved the charter application for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, a charter school that plans to open in that community.
Now that the school board has approved the application, work is underway to develop a contract with the charter school applicant, said Jeff Yungmann, coordinator for charter schools in Pasco County Schools.
The new charter school is expected to open in 2018-19, or 2019-2020, Yungmann said.
The application identifies that the school would open with a maximum of 652 kindergarten through sixth grade students, Yungmann said. In the second year, it would add seventh grade and would have a total enrollment of 900; in Year 3, it would add eighth grade and would have 1,134 students; in Year 4 and thereafter, it would have 1,200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
“The mission of Pinecrest Academy Inc., is to provide individualized instruction, in a nurturing environment ensuring college and career success, using rigor, relevance, and relationships to empower students to become tomorrow’s global leaders,” according to a school board document.
The Charter Application Review Committee conducted a rigorous evaluation process utilizing the Florida Charter School Application Evaluation Instrument, including the capacity interview on August 17, 2017. In its comprehensive evaluation, the Committee concluded that 21 of the 22 sections of the Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel’s application “met the standard of review.” One of the 22 sections of the application “partially met the standard of review.” There were no sections rated as “did not meet the standard of review,” according to the backup material for the board agenda item.
The applicant has not yet identified a specific location for the school, other than indicating it will be in Wesley Chapel, Yungmann said.
Yungmann characterized the applicant’s submittal as an “outstanding application” and called it one of the best he’s reviewed. “They had a good solid plan,” he said.
The charter school operators have locations in other parts of the state, but this would be their first location in Pasco County.
Yungmann said the charter has a strong governing board and a good track record.
“We hope they’re going to do well,” he said.
Published October 25, 2017
