LAND O’ LAKES – Pasco County Schools is adjusting attendance boundaries at several campuses after forming Paul R. Smith K-8.
“The board has already voted to create the new Paul R. Smith K-8 by merging Gulfside Elementary School and Paul R. Smith Middle School,” school board chair Colleen Beaudoin said during the Nov. 18 meeting. “With that decision made, it’s necessary for us to formally adjust the attendance boundaries of the two existing schools so they can be combined into a single coherent boundary for the new K-8. I’m genuinely excited about the new opportunities that this will provide students and families.”
Other tweaks to attendance boundaries were necessary.
“Due to ongoing residential development in the county, several school attendance boundaries are proposed to be adjusted to accommodate future growth and ensure that components of neighborhoods are zoned for the same school,” Chris Williams, planning services director, wrote in a memo to the school board.
Williams added that changes would go into effect July 1, 2026 and do not apply to existing students. School choice for affected schools won’t be impacted either.
Affected schools are as follows:
- Elementary: Gulfside, New River and Wiregrass.
- Middle: Centennial, Paul R. Smith, R. B. Stewart and Thomas E. Weightman.
- High: Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.
“I also want to acknowledge and appreciate Mr. Williams and his team for proactively planning boundary adjustments ahead of land development when that information becomes available,” Beaudoin said. “Their work to anticipate future growth and keep neighborhood areas together is important and it minimizes disruptions for families who deserve clarity about which schools their children will attend when new homes are built.”
She added: “While future adjustments are always possible as our county continues to grow, I’m grateful we’re planning ahead rather than reacting after the fact.”
